Taxi drivers are to have crisis talks with the Premier as they seek to block Government plans for an electronic cab tracking system.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown wants legislation forcing all cabbies to install the $2,000 global positioning systems to boost efficiency and cut passenger waiting times.

Bermuda Taxi Owners Association President Gordon Flood said the Premier Jennifer Smith had written to his group last Thursday telling them she would met to discuss the issue.

It follows a petition that was given to her February and a demonstration earlier this month when drivers circled the House of Assembly in protest.

Mr. Flood said: “The demonstration must have had some sort of effect and she wants a meeting with us.” But he said no date had been set as drivers had been unable to contact the Premier's Chief of Staff Colonel Burch.

Mr. Flood said: “He hasn't called us to make arrangements. Hopefully it will be early in the week.”

Mr. Flood said he was optimistic talks could settle the differences. He said: “At least we are talking and communication hasn't stopped. We will have proposals ready to take over from what Dr. Brown wants.

“It can be sorted out but both parties have got to be willing to sit down and talk. There's always room for compromise.”

He said Dr. Brown's unwillingness to budge had led to the recent action by drivers.

“We got nowhere with him.”

Further industrial action is off the agenda for the time being as long as talks are set up as quickly as possible, said Mr. Flood.

He said: “It's difficult to keep the emotions down if you think nothing is being done. We have to assure the general membership things are going on.” He said other meetings had been set up with Government and Opposition MPs but they had not heard from PLP backbencher Elvin James.

Mr. Flood said: “He's supposed to be the taxi liaison but he's made no attempt to talk to us whatsoever.

“It really doesn't make that much difference. I get the feeling he's in Dr. Brown's corner anyhow.”

Dr. Brown welcomed the fact that taxi owners were meeting the Premier. He said: “As long as the meetings are constructive they are being productive.”

But he said there had been a great deal of compromise on the Government's side with owners allowed to pick which dispatching agency to go with rather than having to use one agency, and owners having a year's grace to get the equipment once the legislation is introduced.

He said legislation would be tabled in the first week of the new session which starts in April.

He said: “Now the emphasis needs to be about how it's implemented.”

He said those operators who didn't see the taxi industry as a public service would need to enter into more discussions with Government.