popular bash on King's Square is to continue.

But St. George's Mayor the Wor. Henry Hayward yesterday promised that the gala event would not be scrapped or that people would be charged to attend.

The St. George's Activities Committee has this week been putting the final touches to its third annual New Year's Eve celebration on the square, which includes live entertainment and a midnight fireworks display.

But noting that organisers had struggled to come up with the $10,000 needed to stage this year's event, Mr. Hayward said the committee might have to cut back on entertainment.

"We'll have to sit down and look carefully at next year's party as far as bands are concerned,'' he said. "Entertainment will depend on the amount of money available.'' Organisers are aiming to make the celebration less of an all-night show and more of a way to see in the New Year, he said.

Committee chairperson Ms Maria Caisey said the cash shortage this year was due to sponsors cutting back on donations.

Another hitch the committee faced, she said, was having to scramble to find a replacement for Mr. Gene (Smooth Operator) Blakeney who was supposed to MC for the night, but had pulled out because of job commitments.

However, she was yesterday confident another MC would be found and that the fireworks and entertainment would be better than in previous years.

There is even a "big surprise'' in store for the thousands of partygoers expected to attend, Ms Caisey said.

The only clue she would give was that the surprise was "a thing''.

Ms Caisey noted entertainment this year would not include choir singing or carolling as organisers were aiming to keep people "rocking and rolling all night''.

"We think people last year may have been put off by the choirs,'' Ms Caisey said.

The line-up is set to include music from the 1920s to 1990s by DJs Shawn Bleeker and Billy Gringley and performances by Studio Six.

Mr. Hayward, stressing the bash would not be cancelled, said: "I think it has established itself as an annual event and people look forward to it. It's not only good for the town, but for the whole Island.'' Restaurant owners in the East End yesterday all agreed the event was good for business.

The balcony at O'Malley's Pub on the Square has been booked since last New Year's Eve, while other restaurants reported they were all nearly full for the evening.

"It gives the town some excitement and people certainly look forward to it,'' Mr. George Herman of the Carriage House said.

Mrs. Carol West, who recently took over the White Horse Tavern, said she was excited with bookings so far. She added townfolk had warned her New Year's Eve was a very busy time in St. George's.