Government could still make global positioning mandatory in taxis despite imminent moves within the industry to modernise.

This week Co-op Taxi Transportation, which has around 100 cabs, announced it would install computer dispatching, which will log customer details for future use, and install GPS early next year.

Recently, Bermuda's largest dispatching firm, Radio Cabs, which serves 480 cabs, announced it was installing computerised dispatching system to improve efficiency within the next few months. The technology will be GPS-compatible.

Last night, Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said he welcomed the moves, which will modernise 580 out of the Island's 600 cabs, but said it was still not enough, and he stopped short of a commitment to reintroduce the GPS bill which was twice been thrown out by the Senate.

"It's too early to tell, the commitment to have cars fitted with GPS is still there, but right now we have accepted the decision of the Senate," Dr. Brown said.

He noted that the technology was all GPS compatible.

"The only difference is we wanted to install GPS and at the same time make it mandatory.

"I am pleased with this (industry modernisation) but ultimately we want the GPS component, but they will see it.

"We'll take the next best thing we can get. If that means a computerised service, that's a step. It isn't about a GPS-or-no-GPS victory.

"The real victory is the modernisation of the industry but no, it is not sufficient."

United Bermuda Party Transport spokesman Jamahl Simmons said his party had always wanted the industry to come up with its own solutions.

He said the Senate defeat gave the industry a chance to regroup without heavy-handed Government legislation.

He said some drivers hadn't been anti-GPS but had mistrusted Government's motives because of the high-profile Government supporters who stood to profit from the move.

The move to modernise also gave the lie to claims the industry was run by stuck-in-the-mud drivers who were running scared of technology, said Mr. Simmons.

"It's a golden opportunity," he said. "When Government gets involved in business it doesn't often work out too well.

"It needs the people who are out there taking the risks to improve their industry.

"We should give them a chance to come up with their own proposals."