THE only way for taxi drivers to avoid having to install global positioning satellite (GPS) equipment is for the Government to be voted out of office or for Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown to be sacked, according to taxi owners spokesman Lee Tucker.

The leadership of the Bermuda Taxi Owners Association (BTOA) has advised members to vote in next Thursday's General Election according to their conscience.

But Mr. Tucker said drivers had also been urged to remember which politicians had supported them in their opposition to GPS when they go to the ballot box.

As Mr. Tucker spoke yesterday, another taxi driver, Earl Brown, was making his feelings clear by putting on display outside his Warwick home a banner visible from Middle Road, which read: "Doctor Brown Must Go!!"

Dr. Brown says the GPS system, which allows the precise whereabouts of all taxis to be known, is important to improve the service for passengers.

But drivers oppose the GPS scheme, mainly because of the expense of installation, and have proposed an alternative computerised dispatch system to the Public Service Vehicle Licensing Board, a system they say would be effective and less expensive.

In June last year, the House of Assembly passed GPS legislation, but the Senate rejected the proposals and thus prevented them from becoming law.

There are an estimated 3,000 taxi drivers on the island, amounting to nearly eight per cent of the registered electorate. And historically, most have tended to support the PLP.

Mr. Tucker said there had been mixed messages from the Government on whether or not the GPS legislation would go through.

The Opposition United Bermuda Party opposes GPS.

"Dr. Brown continues to say he's going to pursue GPS, while other people in the Government say they will not pursue it," said Mr. Tucker. "This is where we are confused.

"The only way for us to get around the problem of GPS is for the Government to be defeated or for the Premier to remove Dr. Brown as Transport Minister."

A meeting of taxi drivers was held on Monday this week at Warwick Workmen's Club, attended by around 100 drivers, fewer than hoped for, because it was a busy night for cabbies.

"There were a few who said they would support the PLP, but the general tone of the meeting was strongly anti-Government and anti-Dr. Brown in particular," said Mr. Tucker.

"(Government MP) El James was there as the chairman of the Public Service Vehicle Licensing Board and he had a softening effect, but there was still a lot of strong feeling against Dr. Brown."

He said the BTOA leadership had been split on what to advise drivers about voting next week.

"We decided to leave it to the conscience of the drivers," Mr. Tucker said. "But we recommended that they support the people who supported us on GPS. The Opposition supported us, but so did a couple of Government members. (Government MP) Ottie Simmons walked out of the House of Assembly.

"The unfortunate thing is that if GPS becomes law, then it will cost us a lot of money and it's the passenger who will pay. We know we will get objections from passengers and that's not something we are looking forward to."

Under the Constitution, the Government can wait for one year and the legislation blocked by the Senate last year will automatically become law.

Because Parliament was dissolved when the Premier called the election last month, GPS cannot become law until after the election.