Government made its final compromise yesterday over a disputed bill that will force the Island's taxi industry to accept global positioning system (GPS) technology.

A one-year grace period before enforcement will be extended to 18 months, and the suggestion by the Bermuda Taxi Operators Association (BTOA) and Radio Cabs to enforce two-way radios in the interim has been accepted.

All drivers will have 60 days to make sure they are equipped with two-way radios. Government has already offered interest-free financing for installing the technology.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown met industry representatives yesterday morning and took the final proposals to a parliamentary caucus meeting yesterday.

The bill - the Motor Car Amendment Act - will be debated in the House of Assembly tomorrow.

"It's the best we can do," the Minister said. "I feel ready to cross this bridge and I'm very excited about what we can now do with the level of organisation they appear to have reached. I am very happy the Government has extended itself as far as we can without neglecting the public."

The BTOA met last night to brief taxi drivers on Government's offer, but members could not be contacted by press time for comment.

"We had a good meeting this morning. Of course what I call a good meeting somebody will call something else," the Minister said shortly after meeting with representatives of the industry yesterday.

The Minister said that those who oppose the introduction of computerised dispatching technology should realise that they are missing out on a good business opportunity.

Bermuda Central Dispatch Company, which was set up as a central dispatching company has been open to all players in the industry, including taxi drivers and dispatchers.

While the smaller dispatchers have signed on, Radio Cabs, the Island's leading dispatcher has refused to get involved.

"They were all at the table and for various reasons they left and decided to fight it," he said.

He said that in the past previous Governments had often given in to the taxi industry when they "raised a loud voice".

"But because our position has been well thought out and we are responsive to the wishes of the public, we are confident that we are on the right track."

He added: "We really believe that this system could be the beginning of the reform movement of the taxi industry. It will provide the basic data that will allow us to establish new policies and build an industry that is already good into the best one in the world. And when we finish, the people who will decide whether the system has been successful or not will be the travelling public, the taxi operators and the government."

Dr. Brown denied rumours that he was a shareholder of Advanced Tech Systems, the local vendor of the dispatch technology.

"I'm not real bright, but I'm not stupid," he said.

"I don't know who the shareholders are - I stay away from that kind of stuff. I have no idea."

While George Scott and Rolfe Commissiong are shareholders of the venture, The Royal Gazette yesterday incorrectly reported that Murray Brown was also involved.

Mr. Scott would not confirm if there were any additional shareholders. Trott and Duncan, which incorporated the company in 1998 said that the information would be accessible today.