Cab drivers have rejected Government?s offer to pay for half the purchase and installation costs for the first 300 cabs to get global positioning systems (GPS).

The offer was made during two and a half hours of talks on the eve of the bill going to Parliament today to make the systems mandatory.

Government estimates the cost of the GPS to be between $1,500 and $3,000 per cab depending on whether they are bought singly or in bulk.

Government also offered to pay for 25 percent of the buying and installation costs for the remaining 300 cabs.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown said both offers had been rejected last night.

He said: ?I am terribly disappointed because Government was reaching out to the taxi industry with a view that we would begin to service the public. After extending this offer to them we still remain open to conversations.

?We will have to proceed with our programme.?

He has already stated a refusal to back down on mandatory GPS installation.

Yesterday afternoon outside City Hall, protesting drivers who have been off the road for more than a week, held up signs aimed at Dr. Brown as he made his way to a Press conference.

He said: ?There are other ways to resolve disagreements. Constructive conversation ? yes, and we?re still willing to do this in spite of what happened, the disrespect to the Premier, the torching of a taxi vehicle.?

The GPS bill is set to be debated in the House of Assembly today. Cabbies have invited the public to join them in a protest march from Bernard Park to Parliament beginning at 9.15 a.m.

The strike has now stretched into its second week and although many drivers remain committed to the protest some are drifting back to work due to financial constraints.

Dr. Brown said Government has the right and the duty to regulate the industry.

?I have a deep level of respect for drivers but at the same time Government must see the public served,? he said.

?We believe there are some operators with issues beyond GPS. We want the drivers to come back to work, but we are aware at the same time of their right to protest,? he said.

When asked if he felt drivers were fully informed about the GPS system and how it worked, Dr. Brown said he felt emotions played a stronger role in the protest than clear reasoning.

?We haven?t been able to move beyond the emotive aspect of this and look at what made this system acceptable to more than 150 jurisdictions in the world. What is it that makes it so difficult for Bermuda??

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