Close to 250 taxi operators met last night to decide the way forward after talks with the Government stalled again yesterday over proposals to make the use of GPS technology in the industry mandatory.

At the end of the two and a half hour meeting, it was decided to go ahead with a meeting with Transport Minister Ewart Brown tomorrow.

"We'll see what happens at that point," said Lee Tucker spokesperson for the Bermuda Taxi Operators Association (BTOA).

"The taxi operators are not conceding defeat," he added. So the taxi row continues despite a good faith initiative by the ruling party's backbench to reach a compromise before a bill requiring computerised dispatching is debated in the House on Friday.

Talks took place yesterday morning between Transport Minister Ewart Brown and representatives of dispatchers and taxi drivers.

"The Minister wants what he wants, so there's no headway... none whatsoever," said Radio Cabs owner Edward Darrell soon after the roughly two hour meeting with Government officials.

Present at that meeting were Dr. Brown, officials of the Transport Control Department, Senator Calvin Smith, Mr. Darrell and Lee Tucker spokesperson for the Bermuda Taxi Operators Association.

Dr. Brown had scheduled another meeting for tomorrow but later told broadcast news that he was "standing firm" on the issue of the satellite based tracking system.

Mr. Tucker said then the morning meeting was "not too encouraging" and he would have to go back to his members for a briefing. He said after meetings with Government backbenchers last week and the one week delay of the bill there had been a feeling that some progress was being made.

But yesterday's meeting ended with "little progress" for the taxi drivers, according to Mr. Tucker and Mr. Darrell.

The main sticking point remains the proposal to implement the satellite based tracking system known as GPS on a mandatory industry wide basis.

The BTOA has suggested computerised dispatching without GPS or at the very least that the Government make the GPS technology optional.

Mr. Tucker said that the Minister had given no reason for not making GPS optional. He added that he wasn't too confident of any strong support from the backbenchers.

"I think some of them are sitting on the fence and feel if they have their own way they'd vote against the bill but feel pressured by the party to vote for it."

At last night's meeting at the Warwick Workmen's Club, the issue was "very hotly debated," Mr. Tucker said.

"Many suggestions came forward - the thing is ongoing."

Asked what proposals were being taken to the Minister tomorrow, he said : "We're going to sit and listen to what he has to offer. We've given our views and we'll see if he has a change of heart. We stand behind our earlier proposals to make it (GPS) optional."

The BTOA will meet again next week after Friday's debate of the bill which would force the industry to adopt new technology.