Government announced yesterday that it will meet disgruntled taxi drivers to discuss their opposition to its controversial plans to force them to join a centralised dispatching system.

Acting Transport Minister Dennis Lister made the revelation to MPs at the end of a day in which hundreds of drivers went on strike or a go-slow, causing disruption to tourists and traffic.

But Mr. Lister did not bow to calls from the United Bermuda Party to withdraw the legislation tabled last week which, if passed, will force drivers to install global positioning satellite (GPS) systems in their vehicles until the talks are completed.

Drivers announced the strike after Government stunned them by tabling the legislation before its discussed the alternative solutions which the cabbies had proposed.

Mr. Lister said yesterday: "There is room for further conversations on this issue to come to the point where we ride down the road together.

"I have been made to understand there are actions in place to put together a meeting next Monday to try to bring together both sides.

"Let level heads come to the table and let us get to a proper resolution."

Strike organisers claim 100 out of the Island's 600 cabs joined the go-slow protest around the airport while up to 400 cabs stayed at home in support of the action. Neither Police nor Government could confirm the figure.

Taxis converged on the airport and circled it and then drove up and down the causeway at a snail's pace to the Swizzle Inn and back before Police pounced and issued tickets for obstruction.

Cabs also drove slowly past the House of Assembly in protest over the GPS system.

Protest organiser Lee Tucker of the Bermuda Taxi Owners Association said further action would depend upon Monday's talks.

He said cabbies wanted Government to make GPS optional or pay for it. He said: "If Government want it they can provide it. We can't afford it."

Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb said: "Taxi drivers will eventually see it was necessary for them.

"Very often Bermudian people buck change but Government has to look out for the majority. We need to look after the interests of the consumer."

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown flew off the Island yesterday.

Mr. Lister said GPS would provide a high quality taxi service by improving communications between dispatchers and taxis.

He said: "That is the essence of the plan - to equip taxis with a radio, mobile data terminal and a GPS."

He praised the drivers who worked and he said a joint contingency plan between Government and the Bermuda Hotel Association to provide buses, airport limousines and minibuses had minimised disruption.

Cabbies say GPS is intrusive and, at around $1,500 per cab, an unnecessary expense during a down turn in tourism.

Transportation Programme Manager Larry Jacobs said Government had contingency plans if drivers chose to continue their action.

He said there were relatively few queues at the airport.

He said he had no idea how many taxi drivers were involved in the demonstration. He said: "There were a number of taxi drivers in operation but not enough to move all arrivals.

"On the whole we were able to accommodate our passengers with minimum disruption, a few taxi operators provided a service."

Airport General Manager James Howes said authorities had coped with the lunchtime crunch. "We had 500 passengers arriving between noon and 12.20 from Newark, Baltimore, Atlanta and Boston but we cleared them out nicely. We did bring some extra vehicles. My own car was used along with a number of Government vehicles."

He said some staff were delayed getting to work but buses had minimised disruption.

He said some taxis circled the airport but Police kept them moving and ticketed some for obstruction.

Mr. Tucker added: "It's a very good response. I hope the message gets through to the Premier and Government that this is a serious business."

In March hundreds of taxi drivers took part in a go slow at protest over Government plans.

In the House of Assembly, Opposition Leader Dr Grant Gibbons urged Government to withdraw the legislation while talks continued.

And he accused the PLP of forcing the issue before the Premier had even met with drivers to discuss the alternatives which she had asked them to submit.

"It should never have reached this stage. Why wasn't this sorted out in the last few weeks when it was supposed to be?" said Dr Gibbons. The taxi drivers were invited to come the the Premier with a plan a few weeks ago. They developed a plan and before they could even submit the plan, they found there was a piece of legislation that would have meant them being prosecuted within a year for what was (supposed to be) under negotiation.

"The Transport Minister (should) withdraw that legislation and allow the taxi drivers and owners and all the individuals to calmly negotiate and talk about the plans they have in place. You can't legislate people to to do what they don't want to do. One way would be to back off, withdraw the legislation and work on something that everyone can get something from."