Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown is being sued for $60 million by a taxi driver who claims he first came up with the idea for a controversial central dispatching system.

Lloyd Smith has lodged the writ with the Supreme Court and claims that the Minister's promotion of the Global Positioning Satelite system for the Island's taxi fleet prevented him from starting a business to do the same thing.

Mr. Smith, 52, of Trackside Lane, Devonshire, said that he had been trying to pursue the venture since 2000.

And he threatened that if the legal battle came to court he would sue for $120 million.

"In March, 2000, I submitted a letter requesting permission from TCD and the Public Service Vehicle Licensing Board for permission to form my own taxi dispatch company using the same technology that Dr. Brown is now promoting," he said.

"It is the same product and same manufacturer."

Mr. Smith contends that he had not received any response from the board until December 4,2001. A length of time, he believes, which gave Dr. Brown ample opportunity to research the pros and cons of the GPS system.

Mr. Smith said: "Once he did his research, he ran with the idea."

The thirty-year taxi veteran said that he has been promoting the GPS system for sixteen years.

"I've wanted to submit the application for some years now but with the previous government Transport Ministers changed so frequently, it became challenging to do so." He claimed that Dr. Brown was directly responsible for blocking his business venture as, according to him, "two board members would testify to this".

On March 18 this year, Mr. Smith filed the lawsuit, indicating that he is suing Dr. Brown for the amount he believes the taxi industry is worth annually - $60 million.

When contacted by The Royal Gazette Dr. Brown said: "I wouldn't want to comment on specifics. It has been forwarded to the Attorney General, as in all situations.

"Mr. Smith has been afforded the same opportunities as others to establish a dispatching service if he so wishes. I have not stopped him."

After speaking with The Royal Gazette, Mr. Smith headed to Magistrates Court to find out whether Dr. Brown had responded to his lawsuit, saying that if he had to face the Transport Minister in court he would sue for higher damages: "I'll be seeking $120 million."