Car dealers have mixed feelings about the Transport Ministry's proposals to reduce car ownership and traffic congestion on the roads.

While they said they understood Government's concerns over increased road use and car ownership, they said every consequence had to be considered before decisions were made.

Bermuda Automobile Dealers' Association chairman Richard Davidge, who owns Eurocar Ltd., said the five major vehicle importers would meet next Monday and included on the agenda will be a number of proposals that impacted on the car industry.

He said he wanted to reserve all comment until they had decided on their position.

However Star Motors' owner John Bento said he was against the Ministry's suggestion to ban all second-hand cars and argued that they should introduce an age limit for cars and phase it in over a number of years instead.

That way, he said, less well-off people would still be able to afford a car and the standard of vehicles on the road would be higher.

Mr. Bento said: "I believe ultimately that an age limit of seven years be placed on cars. Once a car reaches that age, it is difficult to get new parts anyway. At the moment, there are vehicles on the road that simply should not be on the road. I don't think it will necessarily have a positive impact on our business, but I think that what we have to consider is the future of Bermuda and I think introducing an age limit would reduce cars."

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown last Thursday unveiled 120 proposals to ease traffic congestion in Bermuda and to get people using public transport.

Dr. Brown made it clear that the proposals put forward in the National Transportation Management Report were just proposals and must be discussed at length.

He plans to hold three public meetings at the end of February and beginning of March to hear public opinion, but warned that he and Government were serious about reducing traffic.

On the issues of banning certain sections of the community from owning a car, such as non-Bermudians, or introducing an upper limit on the number of cars allowed on the Island, Mr. Bento said he believed there would be Human Rights implications.

He added: "I don't believe it would be right for Government to decide who should qualify for a car and who shouldn't. It would be discriminatory and there would be Human Rights issues. Singapore did that and it cost them dearly. Can you imagine telling a blue chip company that they can come to Bermuda, but that their executives will have to ride bikes or ride the ferry? I support the Government 100 percent because something needs to be done, but I don't think outright bans are the answer."

Continental Motors' senior salesman Mike Cordeiro said there was no doubt that the proposals, if accepted, would impact on business and his pay.

But he added that he understood Government's position on road use and fully accepted their concerns for the future of transport in Bermuda.

However all consequences and effects had to be considered, he said.

He said: "Banning second-hand cars will impact on sales and my salary because the sale of second-hand cars can create business for the new car trade and sales people like myself generate income through commission.

"The ban would mean that people had to buy new cars, which may lead to people holding on to their old cars for longer. Not everyone can afford a new ca and if people have to buy a new car, they may want a small car and the smallest class we sell is D. I think there is a place for second-hand cars. Selling a car on can often give some cars an extended life.

"For those people that can afford to buy a new car after a few years, what are they going to do with the old one - throw away their five-year-old car because they are not allowed to sell it?"

But Mr. Cordeiro backed the plan for a limousine service and said he believed it could work really well in Bermuda.

He added: "I agree with the limousine service. It could be provided to executives of the big companies on a 24-hour basis. The logistics of it would have to be worked out, but for people coming to the Island to work, it would take away their need for a private car. A lot of these people spend a lot of time off the Island anyway. The service could be there for them when they wished to use it."

Dr. Brown was off the Island and unavailable for comment last night.