Premier Jennifer Smith met protesting taxi drivers yesterday, but gave a strong indication she will turn down their demand that she fires Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown.

Just under 100 drivers gathered at Cabinet Office to hand in a petition calling for Dr. Brown's resignation in protest at his plans to force all drivers to join a computerised central dispatch system run by a new company using global positioning satellite (GPS) technology.

But the Premier told the drivers, led by Bermuda Taxi Owners Association (BTOA) President Gordon Flood, that all Cabinet ministers act collectively and that the initiatives are from the Ministry of Transport, not Dr. Brown.

She agreed to read the petition and talk to Dr. Brown about the concerns and will meet the protestors again within a week.

After the meeting, Mr. Flood said taxi owners may still wish to carry out a go-slow drive around the House of Assembly when MPs meet today.

Dr. Brown said yesterday he will be making a statement today, which he hopes will allay the fears of the taxi industry, but he said he had no intention of resigning, nor had the Premier asked him to do so.

Speaking outside Cabinet Office, Mr. Flood said: "We are asking her (the Premier) to listen to our pleas and we have called for her to get the resignation of Dr. Brown because we are not happy with Dr. Brown."

But the Premier replied: "All of our Ministers act collectively. We have to have an awareness of the concerns of the riding public." Mr. Flood replied: "If the taxi industry goes the way Dr. Brown wants it to go, there will be no riding public."

The Premier reiterated: "These are not Dr. Brown's initiatives, they are Ministry initiatives."

She said plans to make the GPS system, which will be run by new company Bermuda Central Dispatch Corporation, mandatory for all taxis had not yet been approved by Cabinet.

"It has not come to Cabinet yet. Nothing is going to be imposed on you like that.".

At an angry meeting in Pembroke Primary School on Wednesday, more than 300 drivers and owners also objected to a raft of proposals contained in the recently published National Transportation Plan, including water taxis, limousines, and airport shuttles.

They set up a legal fund and agreed to try to get leading lawyer Saul Froomkin to act for them to fight the central dispatch system through the courts if necessary.

As well as calling for Dr. Brown's resignation, the petition handed in yesterday stated: "In order to protect our investments, our livelihood and the well-being of our families, other forms of protest have been put forward if we are forced by the Minister to accept the transport proposals and initiatives."

Mr. Flood also told the Premier the drivers wanted the Transport Control Department to reinstate radios in all taxis.

After handing in the petition, Mr. Flood told the drivers and owners: "The Premier is going to approach the Transport Minister and will answer us within a week. Anyone who feels they want to drive around the House of Assembly tomorrow, feel free."

At the meeting on Wednesday night, drivers discussed a number of options including driving at no more than 35 kph and an all-out strike if they are forced to accept the central dispatch system.

Referring to the resignation calls, Dr. Brown told The Royal Gazette yesterday: "I've heard them, but I've been too busy working trying to bring the situation to a close. I've been listening to everyone, including those calling for my resignation, but my main focus is the general public and their unmet needs.

"The focus is still on serving the unserved public and that's what I'll be concentrating on. The Premier has not asked for my resignation. I'm part of a team and that's the way we work.

"I'll be making a statement tomorrow to further clarify where the Ministry stands and hopefully that will serve the purpose of making it abundantly clear to those who are opposed to what we are doing, that what we are doing is for the industry, for Bermuda, and for visitors, and not against anyone."