Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess wants to discuss transport needs for the upcoming season with emphasis on taxi services in the St. George's area.

"The arrival of the dedicated cruise ship Royal Majesty in St. George's (at the end of May) will create a greater demand for services there and throughout the Island,'' Mr. Burgess noted.

However, he did not think the taxi industry would be unable to cope with the new demand.

"They will be challenged in light of the anticipated increase in arrivals of visitors,'' he said. "They have just come out of recession like everyone else and we would like for them to be in a position to be the benefactors of what we believe will increase their level of business.'' He said he was hoping for a full turn-out at the meeting, to be held at 6 p.m.

at St. John's Church Pembroke Sunday School.

A Cabinet-appointed committee's report on the taxi industry -- released last month and attacked by the Taxi Advisory Committee -- was not up for discussion, Mr. Burgess said. However, he did not rule out the possibility of taxi drivers raising the issue.

Committee head Lt. Col. Eugene Raynor criticised some suggestions as being "far removed from reality''.

The report proposed ways to combat Airport chaos and suggested a wide-ranging investigation of taxi laws with licensing and registration being scrutinised.

Suggestions included rerouting the flow of passengers out of Customs and extending the taxi ramp. It was also suggested that dispatch firms should not be responsible for greeting and directing arriving people to taxis and buses.