it forced through controversial legislation allowing funeral firms to run limo services for mourners.

Backbench MP and Bermuda Industrial Union president Derrick Burgess said he, Reginald Burrows and taxi owner Elvin James had all opted not to support their party's bill.

The trio pointedly rejoined the chamber immediately after the 20-12 vote. Dale Butler (PLP) also stayed away but he refused to tell The Royal Gazette why.

The Opposition United Bermuda Party voted solidly against the Motor Car Amendment Act which they criticised for not being in the PLP's manifesto.

At the start of the lengthy debate, former Premier Pamela Gordon challenged the PLP to explain what was driving their bid to allow funeral directors to operate limousines.

The Opposition Leader said there had been no demand for The Motor Car Amendment Act.

"Where does this amendment come from? Why is it so urgent? It wasn't in your manifesto. There was no hue and cry in the community,'' she said.

She claimed PLP members had expressed support for taxi drivers picketing the House in protest at the bill which they fear will take away business.

She added: "So when it comes to the vote I would like to see how much true support taxi drivers will have.

"We saw the taxi drivers in full force this morning but we haven't seen funeral directors with such a desire to get limos. We have been canvassing funeral directors to try to find out where the impetus came from but there was no great push for them. So why now?'' Ms Gordon said the taxi drivers had not been consulted on the move. She said: "The Taxi Association has been to a meeting but they were told what to do.

Earlier Transport Minister Ewart Brown said he welcomed the new unity in the taxi industry which he hoped would allow better dialogue with the government.

And he downplayed the effect lost funeral business would have on cab drivers.

He said there were 500 funerals a year and he estimated this amounted to a maximum of $50,000 worth of business. He said this would be about $17 worth of lost trade each if split between the island's 3,000 taxi drivers.

Dr. Brown said: "This bill is not designed to have a heavy economic impact on anyone. This is not the thin edge of a bad wedge. It is the dawning of a new day.'' He said: "Bermudians should have choice in the transport industry. Where there is choice the quality of service will improve.'' However Mr. Burgess said the industry was facing tough times.

He said: "Taxi drivers are the ambassadors of this country yet it's not a pleasant job like it was.

"They work long hours to make money, sometimes 12 to 16 hours a day. In winter they sometimes spend more money on gas trying to find a job than they actually make.'' Sahdow Tourism Minister David Dodwell said there had been insufficient consultation by the Government with the taxi industry on the matter of permitting funeral homes to import and use limousines.

The Government strongly challenged Mr. Dodwell's comment that the taxi industry had helped put the PLP into power. He then asked: "What happened to the hand that feeds you?'' Mr. Dodwell said there was already sufficient capacity in the taxi industry to handle demands and more cars were not needed.

Mr. Dodwell demanded that the Government reveal who was behind the bill.

He said that if the bill was passed, the limousines would soon be used for weddings, graduations and so on. The livelihood of taxi drivers would be further threatened.

International companies, hotels and others would want to be able to have limos too. Mr. Dodwell asked "Where is this all leading?'' Former BIU president Ottiwell Simmons (PLP) said the PLP had never been against the taxi industry and he did not think the proposed bill ran contrary to their interests.

He said that this was the first time the industry had experienced a Government friendly to their interests.

Mr. Simmons said the bill made provision for the Minister to grant permits to the funeral home of which there were only five in Bermuda, compared to 600 taxi cabs.

He said that taxis operated 24 hours every day and the limos would only operate three or four hours a few days a week.

Mr. Simmons did ask the taxi drivers to listen to the concerns of the public and stressed that taxis were important to tourism.

He commented that he had never seen the UBP so supportive of the taxi drivers.

When it was in government, the UBP had increased competition amongst taxi drivers by issuing 50 new permits.

Mr. Simmons urged the taxi industry to unite and said he was not satisfied that the industry was taking advantage of its strength.

C.V. (Jim) Woolridge (UBP) said Mr. Simmons' speech was "a snow job''.

He said the taxi drivers had helped "make it happen'' and asked: "Now what is happening to them?'' He said Government should be decreasing the number of cars on the road; there was no need for these very large vehicles which would only provide two more seats than the current six-seater taxis.

Defending the UBP's decision to add 50 new permits, Mr. Woolridge said that at the time there was a need for more taxis to service the newly developed Dockyard and the increased number of flights arriving at the Airport.

By doing this, the UBP had given people the opportunity to become small businessmen and the 50 permits had been snapped up.

"Don't turn Bermuda into California,'' he said. "Tourists come here because its quaint,'' he added.

He then called on the Minister of Transport to resign because his plans had upset almost 600 small businessmen (the taxi drivers) and would impact on their families and ultimately the country as a whole.

John Barritt (UBP) urged Government to look at the greater good of the country rather than the small interests of the funeral home directors.

He said that there was potentially great impact on road users because the limosines proposed were "girt big cars''.

He also commented that in the transport section of the PLP's Election manifesto there was no mention of bringing such a bill forward and like his UBP colleagues, Mr. Barritt wanted to know why this bill was "jumping the queue''.

Mr. James said the action of the taxi drivers in picketing the House of Assembly was regrettable but was symptomatic of longstanding problems in the industry.

He added the taxi drivers were taking the action to tell Government they needed help and he went on to call for a complete review of the taxi industry.

Randolph Horton (PLP) commented Government could not be limited to do only things that were refered to in the PLP election manifesto.

He accused the Opposition of using "scare tactics'' as they had during the run-up to the Election when they said the bill would threaten the livelihood of the taxi drivers.

He asked: "How is one vehicle going to have such an impact?'' Youth and Sport Minister Dennis Lister said Mr. Burgess' comments would have been accurate if the bill had proposed direct competition between the taxi industry and the funeral homes.

He added the bill was not going to open up the floodgates and threaten the livelihood of the taxi drivers. "I will ensure that the interests of the taxi drivers are looked after,'' he pledged.

Dr. Brown said the new Government would not shirk tough decisions, even though the UBP had said the PLP were in danger of letting down their own supporters in the taxi industry.

He denied the bill would affect the taxi trade saying: "There are people in my family who would not eat next week if the taxi industry was destroyed.'' In response to the charge that it was a non-urgent piece of legislation he said: "We are a high-energy ministry. It has been part of the agenda for a long time. We are a get-it-done ministry.'' He claimed the funeral industry had pushed for it and it would benefit Bermudians who would no longer have to go abroad to ride in comfort for funerals.

But Dr. Brown added: "This bill does nothing to prevent families from using taxis at funerals.'' He added Government was working with the taxi industry to help drivers and raise standards.

The bill then went to a roll call vote in which Mr. Burgess, Mr. James. Mr.

Burrows and Mr. Butler all absented themselves.

Choice: Ewart Brown Abstained: Derrick Burgess Suspicious: Pamela Gordon