Taxi drivers have reacted angrily to Government?s plan to put on mini-buses to move people over the four-day Cup Match break.

Bermuda Taxi Association Michael Ray said drivers should have been given time to make sure enough cabs were running but Government said the move came after lack of cover in the last few years.

Transport spokesman Mark Telemaque said: ?People have been hunting the Minister to complain. Cup Match is a busy period.

?This is not to place blame. It is a direct result of a lack of service.?

Drivers fear the move to allow minibuses to compete for business could become permanent after a Press release described it as a pilot programme.

The fee structure will be the same as buses operating on the same zones. Journeys will cost $3 or $4.50 but the Ministry statement said the fee structure will be looked at again by the Public Services Vehicle Licensing Board after the holiday.

The statement added: ?This is a pilot programme which may require some adjustments once assessed after the holidays.?

However the Press release which came on Wednesday, too late to make the three newspapers published before the holiday, did not say where people could pick up the minibus and how it would operate.

Mr. Ray said: ?It?s definitely an after thought. Government could have said to me, as president of the BTA, and ask for a contingency plan to make sure there was adequate cover.

?We need support in getting better utilisation of the taxi service.?

Mr. Ray conceded some drivers would also take a holiday during the annual break but he said other part-time drivers could have been urged to fill in.

?I don?t think it is a major, major problem. There will be quite a few taxis on the road.?

And he said he wasn?t aware of any major complaints from recent Cup Matches.

He said last week Government withdrew plans to allow Airport bus companies to run a dine around service.