Transport Minister Ewart Brown this week warned Paget hoteliers against trying to pressurise Government into changing the ferry schedule.

And he accused them of getting their facts wrong when they claimed he promised to get back to them last week after receiving a petition and letters of protest about the axing of some evening ferry services.

Hoteliers and guest house owners, including Bermuda's new hotelier of the year Hazel Lowe of Salt Kettle House, handed the petition from guests to Dr. Brown on April 24.

They said the lack of evening ferries during the summer forced guests to take expensive taxis to Hamilton for dinner and evening entertainment and spoiled the pleasure of sailing across the harbour.

The owners of Salt Kettle, Greenbank Guest House and Cottages, Fourways Inn, Greenaway and the Newstead Hotel, sent a second letter to Dr. Brown on Tuesday, which was copied to The Royal Gazette , Tourism Minister David Allen and Paget West MP Tim Smith.

The Royal Gazette revealed last month that guests were dismayed that the 7.19 p.m., 7.46 p.m. and 8.44 p.m., ferries from Salt Kettle to Hamilton were not available.

The hoteliers' meeting with Dr. Brown was apparently partially successful as an amended ferry schedule issued on Tuesday has reinstated the 9.45 p.m. ferry from Hamilton to Salt Kettle.

Dr. Brown, who said he had not seen the second letter, said last night: "Mrs.

Lowe has to decide whether she wants to work directly through the Ministry or through the media. If this lady would like to make this a highly politicised issue, I like politics and we'll deal with it in this manner. If she wants to deal with it as a need which she thinks needs to be met, we'll deal with that too, but she needs to make up her mind what she wants to do.

"I haven't seen the second letter. When she finished the meeting, the plan was for the Permanent Secretary (Herman Tucker) to meet our people from Marine and Ports, which was finalising any adjustments that can be made to the ferry service.

"She needs to get back to the Permanent Secretary or Ron Ross of Marine and Ports and they'll confirm the result of our conversation.

"What will not happen is that she and others will not pressure us into changing substantively the ferry schedule.

"The ferry schedule has been changed and it will remain changed to give it an opportunity to work. If she's looking for more, she's knocking on the wrong door.'' The cutbacks in the Paget/Warwick route were announced by Government because the services require a $1 million subsidy due to loss of business caused by the closures of the Belmont, Glencoe and Palm Reef hotels. The latest letter to Dr. Brown stated: "You asked us to be patient and accept the changes with the new ferry schedule. Also, you promised to get back to us by the end of the week having read all the letters and signatures we brought in and this has not happened.

"We are now in the second week and I can't begin to tell you the utter misery and disappointment the lack of evening ferries has caused our visitors as well as those local residents who work late.

"Our busy tourist season is upon us and it is ludicrous to cut back at this time.

"Most of my visitors like to eat between 7.30 pm. and 8.30 p.m., so this affects the restaurants, but also sadly Harbour Nights, Beating of the Retreat and theatre productions, etc.

"I implore you not to be short-sighted over this matter, as three evening ferries have been cut.

"Please put back the 6.55 p.m. ferry from Hamilton that takes in all five stops; Lower Ferry, Hodson's, Salt Kettle, Darrell's and Belmont, as well as the late ferry back from Hamilton at 11 p.m.'' Ewart Brown