THE Town of St. George's remains one of the safest tourist destinations in the world despite allegations by the Canadian government to the contrary, Deputy Mayor Kenneth Bascome argued this week.

His comments followed news that the country is warning its citizens not to visit the World Heritage Site or risk facing the criminal activity, physical and verbal abuse, and gang violence found there.

Mr. Bascome, however, dismissed the validity of such claims, insisting that the advisory was really issued in response to Bermuda's botched prosecution of suspects in the brutal murder of 17-year-old Canadian Rebecca Middleton in 1996.