Taxi owners and drivers are meeting tonight to discuss possible strike action or boycotts of hotels and the airport in protest at plans for a mandatory central dispatch system.

The cabbies will also object to a series of ideas contained in the National Transportation Plan published last month, including water taxis, limousines, and shuttles for hotels.

Bermuda Taxi Owners Association (BTOA) spokesman Lee Tucker said up to 90 percent of the 500 owners objected to the central dispatch system using global satellite positioning system technology, which Transport Minister Dr Ewart Brown will make mandatory when he achieves Cabinet approval. When asked what action the drivers may decide to take, he told The Royal Gazette last night: "It could be protest action. It could be a strike, it could be a march, it could be driving according to the rules of the road (at no more than 35 kilometres per hour).

"It could be boycotting certain hotels or the airport. All of these are options and I am not going to comment on that at the moment. It will be for the general membership, and those others who attend, who will make the decision. It will be open to the floor." He predicted the meeting, slated for 7 p.m. tonight at West Pembroke School, would be "loud and noisy" because the drivers were so angry at Dr. Brown's "dictatorial" proposals.

"Most of the operators who are opposing the central dispatch system will turn out. It should be a large meeting and it might get a little bit loud and noisy because some of the operators are angry at the dictatorial attitude the minister is taking."

When asked why the owners and drivers were opposed to suggestions in the Transportation Plan for water taxis, limousines and hotel shuttles, he said they had already been hit hard by falling income.

And the cost of having the install the global positioning satellite equipment for the central dispatch system would be an added financial burden.

"Our business has been down drastically, and our expenses are being increased because of the GPS, and it is felt at this stage that there is no good reason for implementing these things," he said.

The BTOA represent more than 100 of the 500 taxis owners in Bermuda. There are a total of 600 taxis on the Island.

Meanwhile, Dr. Brown gave the green light for larger taxis to give better access to the disabled.