Transport Minister Ewart Brown accepted a petition yesterday from public ferry users protesting schedule changes and noted that "democracy is alive and well''.

And the protesters got some concessions from Dr. Brown in a meeting at the Ministry including an extension of "flag service'' to Belmont, Hodgson's and Salt Kettle ferry stops.

These will join the long time service at Hinson's Island but no indication of when flag service will begin at those points was given.

Organiser Miriam Simmons said she was happy with the results of the meeting "to a point'' but underlined her disappointment that the schedule was tampered with.

She presented a petition to Dr. Brown made up of 232 signatures, mainly of local riders but including a small number of visitors.

Representatives of small hotels and guest houses in the West End also took part in the petition on behalf of visitors who use the ferry system during the summer.

Dr. Brown said: "This afternoon we have another example of the fact that democracy is alive and well here in Bermuda and especially in this Ministry.

"We have been presented with a petition by concerned citizens representing the ridership and the interests of our visitors. We have had an opportunity to have a healthy confrontation here to put forward their views.

"And I think we've made progress.'' Dr. Brown defended the Ministry's decision-making, saying it took a "lot of hard work'' to produce the new schedule after receiving "considerable feedback'' during public meetings.

The new schedule was implemented on April 17.

"We are already having adjustment reactions to that schedule and there are some that feel that it needs to be adjusted again,'' Dr. Brown explained.

"What we did agree on is the Ministry's commitment at the last meeting to have on-demand service for areas that are not scheduled in our policy. "We will stick to that. When people need the ferry, they will get ferry service.'' Dr. Brown said while "adjustments have to be made'' to the ferry service, it would likely never satisfy everybody.

"On demand service is how we intend to satisfy people that are not formally represented in the new ferry schedule,'' he added.

Dr. Brown also noted that, since the Progressive Labour Party came to power, ferry service to the west end had increased 55 percent during the evening hours.

"The commuter should not have complaints,'' he said. "The person who finishes at 7.30 p.m. is not the typical commuter. But we'll try to even service people who have that kind of schedule.

"This is not a punitive issue. This is not a take your ferries from you initiative. We aim to serve as many people as we can serve. And in so doing it is likely that some will feel inconvenienced. But just as people got used to the old schedule they'll get used to the new one.'' Afterward, Ms Simmons said: "I was satisfied with Dr. Brown to a point.

They'll be implementing the flag service and that is good but we're still concerned they haven't put back the evening service.

"Night service to Warwick and Paget still stops between 6.15 p.m. and 9 p.m.

during summer months,'' she said. "Don't fix what ain't broke.''