to an election -- including the arrival of a new cruise ship, the parish's Progressive Labour Party candidates told a rally last night.

More than 100 people filled the Town Hall theatre as others listened from the square below.

Mr. Leon (Jimmy) Williams, a PLP candidate in St. George's North, told the crowd that "Government has only contempt for St. George's''.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan promised the Old Town a cruise ship just prior to the last general election in 1989, he said.

"Where is that ship?'' Mr. Williams asked. "We are still waiting, four and a half years later, for a full-time ship. They are offering the same promise,'' he said of the United Bermuda Party.

Mr. Williams then asked a series of rhetorical questions about Boston-Bermuda Cruising Ltd., the company Government has been dealing with to provide a St.

George's ship starting in May of 1994.

A Boston-Bermuda deal to bring the Sally Albatross to Bermuda recently fell through, but the company is said to have offered a replacement. As part of the deal that collapsed, the Sally Albatross was to be purchased by Cruise Investments Ltd. and operated by Majesty Cruise Lines.

"Who is Cruise Investments?'' asked Mr. Williams, a businessman and member of the Corporation of St. George."Who is the Boston-Bermuda group? Who is Majesty Cruise Line? "How many ships have Majesty Cruise Line?'' Was the new ship Bermuda was to get actually a renovated Baltic sea ferry, like the Sally Albatross ? And the corker: "Does Harold Stavisky have any involvement in the Boston-Bermuda group?'' asked Mr. Williams, urging the news media present to investigate this suggestion.

Boston-based Mr. Stavisky, 55, was indicted before a US Grand Jury in March, accused of embezzling $150,000 intended to develop condominiums at the Hamiltonian Hotel and Island Club, where he was co-owner. Earlier, Mr.

Stavisky was involved in plans to purchase the Bermudiana Hotel.

Approached by a reporter outside the St. George Town Hall and asked why he raised Mr. Stavisky's name, Mr. Williams would provide no evidence linking him to the cruise deal.

"That's your job,'' the first-time PLP candidate said. "Do your job.'' In criticising St. George Mayor the Wor. Henry Hayward for calling a news conference yesterday and naming a St. George's ship, Mr. Williams said: "He may be promised the agency for the ship.'' Mr. Hayward is a principal with Meyer Agencies Ltd.

Mr. Williams also harshly attacked his St. George's North UBP opponents Mr. E.

Michael Jones and Mr. Philip Smith.

He said he sat on the Corporation with Mr. Jones and his contribution was "zero.'' "We're still waiting for Mr. Jones to make his inaugural speech,'' he said.

As for Mr. Smith, he had "kept a seat warm'' in Parliament for 11 years, Mr.

Williams said. "Philip Smith has no political power to get anything done for the residents and businesses of this community.'' The PLP had invited the UBP candidates to debate, and ridiculed their absence by hanging signs with their names on them across the backs of empty chairs.

St. George's North incumbent Ms Jennifer Smith and St. George's South hopeful Mr. Arthur Pitcher also addressed the rally.