Progressive Labour Party backbenchers were instrumental in delaying debate of the bill which would require the taxi industry to implement GPS technology.

However, that doesn't mean taxi operators opposed to the plans can take their support for granted.

According to Edward Darrell, the owner of Radio Cabs, the Island's leading dispatching company, at least some of the backbenchers will not support the bill in its current form.

But government backbencher El James told The Royal Gazette that the backbenchers are simply playing a mediating role in finding a compromise.

The Motor Car Amendment Act, which would mandate the use of computerised dispatching technology and a satellite based tracking system, was delayed for one more week on Friday in order to allow more consultation to take place between Government and taxi operators.

Yesterday Mr. Darrell said that Dr. Brown and the bill's supporters in the House of Assembly were heading for “political suicide” if they went ahead with it in its current form.

Hesaid that his company had no problem with computerised dispatching and was looking at spending about $30,000 to purchase equipment. But GPS, he says, is a “totally different kettle of fish” and won't be part of his company's upgrade unless the Government pays for it.

Mr. Darrell and the Bermuda Taxi Operators Association have been lobbying the UBP and PLP backbenchers to stop the current bill in its tracks.

“The backbenchers are trying to get our point of view,” he said. “They have been listening and they have to take it to the Minister.” He added: “The backbenchers won't support the bill... the actual research has not been done.”

About a dozen ruling party backbenchers had been lobbied and practically everybody in the UBP parliamentary group Mr. Darrell said.

“He (Dr. Brown) doesn't have all the support he thinks he has because those individuals have to go to their constituencies next year to get a vote... I am more optimistic that I ever was.”

He added: “Dr. Brown is a hard guy but reality has to set in at some point because this is like political suicide.”

Mr. James said it was fair to say that the bill would not have been delayed had it not been for the talks between the backbenchers and the taxi operators. But he indicated that Mr. Darrell could not take backbencher support for granted.

“We're just trying to get some compromise... I'm not saying that GPS is going to be removed,” the former taxi owner said.

“If we can marry the two (proposals) together, then so be it. Both sides have to give and take. If the taxi operators don't give then we are wasting our time.”

He added that Transport Minister Ewart Brown had shown good faith by agreeing to delay the bill by one week.

“The Minister has made it quite clear what is needed... If they have a system that provides that then so be it.”

Asked whether he would support the bill in its present form, Mr. James said: “All will be revealed on Friday... But I support my Minister all the way, but if we can get some type of compromise so that everybody will be part of the process it will be even better.” He said he was sympathetic to the taxi operators and he hoped some changes could be made that would be acceptable to all.

Dale Butler, who has in the past shown no qualms about voting against the party line, was not impressed by talk of losing votes at the polls if he did not vote against the bill.

“We will not be intimidated by anyone to make a decision,” he said. “Should people feel we have not made a decision in the best interest of the country as a whole, they can vote accordingly.” He confirmed that the “last ditch” effort to continue looking for a compromise was a backbench initiative and did not meet with the slightest opposition by the Transport Minister.

“He was very diplomatic about the whole thing... I never saw Dr. Brown try to force anybody.” He added: “I certainly have not been asked by any other member of the backbench not to support it. I have listened to Dr. Brown, I listened to the taxi drivers and I'll indicate how I'm going to vote on Friday.”

Mr. Darrell supports a package which would include enforcing mandatory radios in all taxis and conducting a year long independent study to determine whether GPS can solve some of the problems plaguing the industry.

“I think he's (Dr. Brown) trying to do his best and the people that are leading him in that direction are doing it for their own (financial) interests.”

But he wondered whether his company and the taxi drivers could sell their GPS equipment if the initiative failed.

Shadow Transport Minister Erwin Adderley told The Royal Gazette that he was pleased that debate on the bill had been delayed.

“The Minister, apparently - and I use that word advisedly - is prepared to listen and come up with a solution that would be acceptable to both parties. My opinion is consultation is always better than confrontation.”

He gave a definite “yes” when asked specifically if he would support a bill that included a subsidy for the voluntary use of GPS technology, but said the most important thing was that the package is acceptable to the taxi drivers.

Asked where he expected any subsidy money to come from, he said: “The same place they're getting the money from to subsidise the minibuses to and from the ferry stops... If you can find money to subsidise an industry that is in competition with the taxi business why not subsidise the technology?”

Government has already made a number of compromises with the BTOA, including a year's grace period before the bill's provision will be enforced and offering an interest free loan to help with the estimated $2,000 cost of installing the equipment in each taxi.

The Government is also considering relaxing regulations to allow the importation and use of secondhand taxis and has promised to review taxi fares.