The Bermuda Taxi Owners Association is considering investing in three different digital dispatch systems, it was revealed at a meeting of the BTOA last night ? all of which could be upgraded to accommodate GPS.

However the majority of members at the meeting still stood firm against GPS, with committee members noting the upgrade was useful only should Transport Minister Ewart Brown exercise his right to write the controversial global positioning system into law next year.

The BTOA also voted to remind Government of its obligation to address discrepancies in fare increases which came into effect on September 1.

In a rare opportunity, was allowed to sit in on last night's BTOA meeting at the Warwick Workmen's Club while members discussed different dispatch systems and their next move regarding the fare increases.

About 90 members attended the meeting, with many lamenting that the full BTOA body was not present to hear different presentations. Different options included dispatching systems relying entirely on text-messaging in cellphones and variations in the percentage of ownership the BTOA would have in digital dispatching systems.

Another meeting is planned for November, when a voluntary research committee will continue to present information on different dispatching systems available, and the different paths the BTOA can take towards ownership of those systems. Several members also called for the digital dispatching vendors themselves to demonstrate their products to the BTOA.

Last night BTOA spokesperson Lee Tucker also addressed the issue of discrepancies in the fare increases.

A Government press statement received by this newspaper last night noted that Government and the BTOA discussed the fare increases at a meeting held on Tuesday evening.

Calling that meeting "productive", Transport Control Director Kevin Monkman said points of discussion included the baggage charge on new rate cards and metered fares which did not reflect the rates on the conversion cards.

TCD agreed to change the layout to make it clear that the new baggage charge reflected $1 per bag as well as to reprint conversion cards to ensure the accurate rates were displayed.

The Department also asked the BTOA to submit a proposal outlining any changes they would like to see in the fare structure and committed to forward that proposal to the Transport Ministry for consideration. However, taxi representatives were asked to consider the fact that taxi meters which have already been recalibrated would then have to be recalibrated again at the owner's expense.

At last night's meeting the membership passed a motion reminding Government of their obligation to increase fares by an even 20 percent, not less, as discrepancies showed in some cases.

However with many concerns about the cost of meter recalibration ? which some put at $250 for a ten-minute job ? BTOA heads promised members they would look into ways to bring the cost down.

Government has already said the Department has no legal right to tell private companies what they can charge, and recommended the BTOA discuss the issue with Consumer Affairs if they wished to lodge a formal complaint.

Though tempers flared several times throughout last night's meeting, the Ministry said last night it was encouraged to see the BTOA is continuing to meet and discuss the matters at hands. The Ministry also looked forward to receiving proposals stemming from last night's meeting.