In efforts to contain costs, the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) will be revamping this year's format of Fireworks on the Waterfront, resulting in a reduction of more than 50 per cent of the actual expenditure on last year's programme.

Last year, the fireworks show cost between $10 million and $12 million but, due to the global recession, the organiser had to scale down the entertainment package to fit a tight financial budget.

As a result, the staged concert will not be included this year. However, Director of Corporate Relations and Marketing, Doreen O'Connor, said it would not affect the usual fun.

"We only had the big concert for a few years and persons always enjoy themselves as there is other entertainment, so it will still be a lot of fun," O'Connor told The Gleaner.

Street party

Several corporate sponsors have joined with the UDC to support the venture.

O'Connor said that despite the financial crises, it was important that the event be staged to herald in the New Year.

The UDC indicated that the event, which will begin at 4 p.m. New Year's Eve, will comprise a grand street party reminiscent of Jamaica of former years. It will also feature a kiddies area.

Fireworks on the Waterfront was first staged by the UDC in 1999 to usher in the new millennium and was intended to be a one-off event. However, its absence the following year resulted in public outcry, pushing the UDC to stage the event in subsequent years.