The United Bermuda Party will not vote for a mandatory GPS system in taxis, members said yesterday.

And if the measure is put into law, the UBP will repeal it if they win the next General Election.

But Transport Minister Ewart Brown characterised the promise as "electioneering at its worst" and said the UBP would end up doing nothing to solve the problems of the taxi industry.

The GPS (global positioning system) initiative has been heavily opposed by taxi drivers since Dr. Brown introduced it in a bill to the House of Assembly almost one year ago.

The Senate rejected the proposals last June after they were passed in the House of Assembly. Under the Constitution this means the Government can wait one year and the plans automatically become law.

Dr. Brown said on Tuesday night that he will be implementing GPS this year, though he had not yet determined a date.

On Tuesday, taxi drivers threatened even stronger opposition to the bill this summer, including a strike at the height of the tourist season. Drivers were also pushing for an increase in fares to compensate for implementing either GPS or an alternative system proposed by taxi owners, such as a computerised radio dispatch.

Yesterday Shadow Transport Minister Trevor Moniz, Shadow Works Minister Erwin Adderley, and former UBP Transport Minister Wayne Furbert spoke out against the initiative.

"Dr. Ewart Brown seems to have a short memory regarding the protests and work stoppages that occurred when he first attempted to ram GPS down the taxi industry's throat," said Mr. Furbert. "Minister Brown's intention to re-introduce GPS over the objections of the industry is misguided and ill-advised."

With so many different dispatching companies communication within the industry was difficult, he said. "We must find a way for everyone to listen on the same frequency. We don't believe a GPS will help improve the (response) time."

The UBP has been meeting with the taxi industry, said Mr. Adderley, and was developing a plan to improve customer service and response time. "We are determined not to repeat Minister Brown's mistakes," he said.

Mr. Moniz also urged the Minister to avoid the conflict and instead focus on a cooperative and bipartisan approach.

"Improving service and response time will not be achieved through dubious and questionable solutions," he said.

Last night Dr. Brown said the timetable for introducing GPS had not been set.

"It's an election insult," he said of the UBP's statement. "It is electioneering at its worse and an insult to the intelligence of taxi operators - Vote for me and I'll repeal GPS."

He wouldn't say whether the plans would be pushed through before the elections, though.

"There's significant support for GPS. We are now having operators coming forward and volunteering to do it. Many of the progressive operators are ready to go with GPS but we haven't determined our schedule yet and the schedule will not be determined by the unrefined electioneering of the Opposition."