Taxi operators and the Transport Minister appear to be headed for a new showdown over the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) in their vehicles.

Taxi Owners Association spokesman Lee Tucker said yesterday that instead of GPS, drivers wanted dispatchers to change to a system similar to one used by Four Star Pizza outlets.

?It would be more efficient and we will be able to receive more calls,? said Mr. Tucker. ?We do not have any intentions of going ahead with the GPS system or anything similar to it.?

Transport Minister Ewart Brown, however, remained steadfast in his plan to ?move forward with GPS?.

?In the next few weeks you will hear more about it.?

And asked what he thought about a taxi rate increase called fro by drivers, Dr. Brown said: ?I think it is interesting. ... We have not heard from the taxi drivers in a long time and 2004 will be an exciting year for them.?