Cabbies will be attending an emergency meeting tonight to discuss Government's 20 percent taxi fare increases they claim are incorrect.

Bermuda Taxi Operators Association spokesperson Lee Tucker said the 20 percent fare increases, which kicked in on September 1, included a miscalculation which resulted in thousands of dollars in losses. Mr. Tucker said up to 500 drivers are expected to attend the meeting with the aim of coming to a resolution over what the fares should be.

“We are making a special appeal to Government to clarify and correct the deficiency in the increase as this is a figure based on the increase prior to September 1,” said Mr. Tucker.

“The purpose of the meeting is to explain to the public the rate increase is not correct and that operators want to rectify this with Government.”

An example of how the rate increase works relates to the change in tour rates. Rates were increased by 20 percent, meaning that a $30 per hour tour for four people should increase to $36 per hour. However the regulations increased the fare to $35.50. The odd figure means that the next time fares are increased they will be increased by 20 percent of $35.50, not $36.

Mr. Tucker also pointed out that the increases did not take into account work after 12 a.m., weekends or public holidays.

He said that BTOA representatives had met with Transport Control Department Director Kevin Monkman yesterday and said he agreed to rectify the situation. “Mr. Monkman agreed that a mistake had been made somewhere in the calculations,” he said.

Mr. Tucker would not comment on the possibility of a strike if the issues was not resolved, but he said Government's commitment to rectifying the mistake would “depend on how much pressure we apply”.

The BTOA is also concerned at the cost of recalibrating meters in taxis. Though the process takes only three to five minutes, it costs around $250. Dr. Brown announced in a Press conference alongside Bermuda Taxi Owners Association representatives that taxi fares will be increased by 20 percent and shared rides were to be introduced to and from the Bermuda International Airport.