Taxi operators are more worried than ever now that Transport Minister Ewart Brown has taken over the Tourism Ministry.

“We haven't been able to work with him in Transport so I don't think it's going to be much easier with Tourism,” said Bermuda Taxi Operators Association president Lee Tucker.

Mr. Tucker told that he now hoped that Premier Alex Scott would bypass Dr. Brown in Government's efforts to resolve the problems facing the industry.

“We are very concerned because we haven't been able to make headway with our present situation and we are concerned this will complicate matters further,” he said.

“So we are hoping the Premier will see fit to bypass the Minister because it is important for the public as well as the transportation industry that we arrive at some resolution to the problem.”

Mr. Tucker said the industry had reason to mistrust Dr. Brown because he had not followed through on suggestions from the industry on addressing service problems.

“The bulk of our business is tourism and we've also made suggestions to the hotels and others that have difficulty getting transportation and we're hoping to collectively move forward because it needs a collective effort, not just a dispatching service.”

Dr. Brown, who is currently off the Island, was appointed Tourism Minister following Ren?e Webb's shock resignation on Tuesday.

Mr. Tucker added that Government had “changed the goalposts” by promising to implement rate increases and then bundling it in with the disputed GPS legislation.

‘When we sat down and negotiated it wasn't in the legislation, so they changed the goalposts.

“We were made to understand that GPS was not part of the package.

“The shared ride and the increase were part of the package.

“The shared ride is one point that can help the tourist tremendously, but it's got to be implemented and worked out.”

He said allowing shared rides would help to clear up shortages of taxis at the Airport.

“Taxis don't want to go to the Airport because of infrequent work. You're not going to go up there to get one job.”