The Senate defeated the controversial GPS bill for a second time last night after a split vote prevented it from progressing through the Upper House.

But, as Senate President Alf Oughton pointed out, digital dispatch could still be introduced "come hell or high water".

The Senate also defeated a similar bill in 2002, after it passed for the first time in the House of Assembly.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown has only to wait another 12 months before he can bring the bill before the House of Assembly once more.

If it passes in the House and is rejected by the Senate for a third time, Mr. Oughton said, Dr. Brown can take the bill straight to the Governor to be signed into law.

Dr. Brown declined to comment last night on whether or not he will be taking that route.

If he does, however, Senators hoped those 12 months will be used wisely by both Government and the taxi industry.

Sen. Oughton said it seemed obvious to the Independent Senators that Government and the taxi stakeholders had not discussed many of the alternatives ideas for improving the industry.

Calling for a facilitator to help both sides communicate and discuss problems, he said taxi drivers must come together and that Government must try to erase some of the mistrust that has built up over the issue.

Both groups will have to give some ground, he said, and realise that the other has a voice.

Noting the taxi industry will have to realise GPS is still very much on the table, Sen. Oughton said: "It's much better to have a pill you can swallow than one that's going to make you gag."

After the debate, Shadow Transport Minister Jamahl Simmons volunteered to take up the challenge presented by Sen. Oughton and act as a facilitator between Government and the taxi industry.

In a debate which at times was so fiery that Senators were likened to volcanoes, Mr. Oughton had to step in more than once to keep them on track.

The five Government Senators: Reginald Burrows, Raymond Tannock, Walter Roban, Neville Tyrrell and Government Senate leader Larry Mussenden all voted for the second reading of the bill.

Opposition Sen. Leonard Santucci, who holds a taxi licence, abstained from the vote, while Opposition Senator Kenneth Bascome and Opposition Senate leader Kim Swan voted against the second reading as expected.

That left the three independent senators: Sen. Walwyn Hughes, Sne. Carol Ann Bassett, and Sen. Oughton. All three objected to the second reading of the bill. The even vote of five to five meant the bill could not pass.

Jubilant taxi drivers shook hands with and hugged Mr. Simmons outside the Senate after the vote.

"It's been a long struggle," Sen. Swan told The Royal Gazette. "But I think at the end reason prevailed."

Bermuda Taxi Owners Association president Gordon Flood and spokesman Lee Tucker could not be contacted by The Royal Gazette last night.