St. George's Mayor Henry Hayward will not be standing again for the top job in October's election but senior alderman Mariea Caisey will, The Royal Gazette has learned.

And Town Crier E. Michael Jones, who lost the mayoral election to Mr. Hayward three years ago, said yesterday he is considering running again.

Kenneth Bascome, who narrowly missed toppling former Premier Jennifer Smith at the last general election, announced he will be backing Mrs. Caisey and will be running to be re-elected as an alderman.

Voters go to the polls in October to elect nine people to the Corporation of St. George, and Corporation Secretary Nancy Hooper is hoping more voters will register for the poll than in 2000.

Mrs. Caisey said breaking the deadlock with Government to allow the waterfront to be developed would be one of her top priorities.

The St. George's Foundation has a plan to develop a boardwalk from the White Horse to Dowling's gas station, but this would require extending out beyond the shore onto the water.

Private individuals own boardwalk over the water and if it is to be further developed, the Crown, through Government, has the right to charge a "Queen's bottom" fee for building over the water.

Money has been donated for the project and the Corporation and Foundation have been trying without success to get Government to waive the right to charge the Queen's bottom fee.

Mrs. Caisey told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "I'd like to get approval from Government to get the go-ahead for the waterfront promenade.

"There is no agreement and we've not had concrete meetings so it has been on hold and I'd like to take things to completion.

"For over a year, the Foundation has had the money and the money is just sitting there and I want to go through with the wishes of the person who donated the money.

"There are some people in the town against it, but with people on cruise ships, we will be able to spread the people out better so they are not all crowded on Water Street."

She said Mr. Hayward, who was off the Island yesterday, had confirmed to her he was not standing again for mayor, and she was hopeful she can win.

"I don't take anything for granted, but I am hopeful I will win because I really want to serve the community of St. George's," she said.

"I've been (on the Corporation) for five years and I have filled in when the mayor has been off the Island and I feel I have really got my feet wet on the job."

Mr. Jones said yesterday: "I lost by a handful of votes at the last election and many people have asked me to run again. I am still considering and will make an announcement at the appropriate time."

In the 2000 election, Mr. Hayward, who was mayor from 1988 to 1997, got 106 votes, followed by Mr. Jones with 83 and Ross Smith with 65.

The aldermen elected were Mrs Caisey, Kenneth Bascome and Louis DeSilva. The five common councillors, who were returned unopposed, were Edward Benevides, William Davis, Beau Evans, Alison Outerbridge, and David Raine.