Hotel after he suggested a limousine service for guests on the Island.

And they will refuse to drive between the hours of 10 p.m. and midnight -- in protest at having the late night surcharge put back two hours.

Taxi drivers are also to give the cold shoulder to the Bermuda Hosts airport firm by refusing to drive for it as well.

In the House of Assembly yesterday, Opposition MPs protested a conflict of interest because Transport Minister Wayne Furbert had shares in Bermuda Hosts.

They said Mr. Furbert should have declared his interest.

Furious Bermuda Taxi Federation secretary Joe Brown set a collision course with Government last night -- only minutes after controversial new regulations on taxi charges passed in the House of Assembly.

MPs passed a cut of two hours in the late-night surcharge period, which was coupled to a 20 percent increase in meter rates.

Mr. Dodwell caused fury among cabbies watching the debate from the public gallery when he suggested a hotel limousine service similar to those found in other countries. The drivers walked out en masse from the gallery but returned after Mr. Dodwell had finished his speech.

Mr. Brown warned: "The first hotel we are going to boycott will be the Reefs and we are calling on all of the taxis not to drive for Bermuda Hosts.'' He said: "By their vote to take away the 10 p.m. to midnight surcharge Government has given us carte blanche to do whatever we need to do.

"And there will be sporadic action throughout Bermuda for as long as it takes.'' A 24-hour strike on Christmas Day from 8 a.m. will also go ahead, said Mr.

Brown.

About 50 taxis -- a fraction of the 600 on the Island -- yesterday morning circled the House of Assembly in protest at Government's settlement to try and win a 25 percent increase and a U-turn on the surcharge cut.

And the cabbies hit their horns as they drove around to create a racket clearly heard in the debating chamber.

The protest took place just before MPs considered the draft regulations of The Motor Taxi Amendment Act 1996, giving taxi drivers their first pay rise for eight years.

Afterwards, drivers packed the public gallery of the House of Assembly to listen to the long and angry debate on the proposals.

The regulation passed by 21 votes to 17 -- with a promise from Transport Minister Wayne Furbert that the regulations would be reviewed in February next year.

The numbers taking part in the protest were far fewer than the 300 hoped for by Bermuda Taxi Federation secretary Joe Brown.

But he insisted that the small number involved was not a reflection of lack of support.

And he said more drivers parked their cabs away from the House and walked up to Parliament Hill.

"I gave a figure because I was asked -- there is no real way of knowing what the numbers will be in advance,'' he said. "We are all independent. I was a little disappointed in the numbers, but it was just a guesstimate.'' Police officers on points duty minimised disruption as the drivers drove around Sessions House for around 15 minutes.

Cabbies launched the protest to object to Government's offer of 20 percent on the meter charge -- but tied into a cutback in two hours on the 25 percent late night surcharge from midnight to 10 p.m.

The taxi drivers wanted a flat 25 percent increase on the meter rate with no conditions and they claimed the surcharge hours cut would cost the average driver $3,000 a year.

Drivers threaten industrial action Mr. Brown admitted drivers' opinions may differ over the meter rate increase.

But he said: "We have not had any taxi driver speak in favour of taking away the 10 p.m. to midnight surcharge -- and that is now the main issue.'' He added: "We fought for 25 percent but we are responsible people. We are not going to accept the cut in surcharge time.'' Mr. Brown said Mr. Furbert had told him he would have to go ahead with the legislation yesterday but pledged to review it in February.

But he added: "He should have withdrawn it altogether. But now we want a definitive statement that they will change it -- he has not said that yet.'' And he claimed: "This Minister never says `yes' and he never says `no' to us -- he always says he'll look at it and that's what upsets us.'' But Mr. Furbert said it would have been "crazy'' to withdraw the legislation.

He said: "The taxis would lose a lot of money between now and February and that money would never be recovered.

"Government will discuss that particular surcharge in the light of experience when the time comes.'' Mr. Brown was backed by rank-and-file taxi drivers on Front Street.

Most parked there yesterday afternoon said they had joined in the protest or supported it -- although most were reluctant to be named.

One who joined in said: "I support them -- until tax drivers are treated fairly, the Country will never get a decent service.'' Hubert Franks -- a 30-year cab veteran -- said: "I was up there -- I couldn't get into the House, it was too crowded. The drivers need a rise, it's as simple as that.'' A middle-aged male driver added: "I would have been there, but I had to work at home. The support is definitely there.'' But another, who did not join in the protest, said: "I thought it was a waste of time. I've seen demonstrations before. Nothing's going to come of it.'' He added: "Everybody's got their own views whether the rates should go up -- I think a 20 percent hike is enough.'' The driver said he did not work much at nights, but added he felt a 10 p.m.

start time for late-night surcharges was too early, particularly given the trade's reliance on the tourist trade.

He explained: "A lot of visitors don't have the big bucks they used to have.

But a driver hanging out to the wee hours should be reimbursed.''