President of the Bermuda Industrial Union, Derrick Burgess has called a meeting for taxi operators to discuss the proposed Central Dispatch Service.

Mr. Burgess spoke with The Royal Gazette last night and highlighted some of the issues that will be discussed at the meeting in January.

He said: "Bermuda has a severe problem within the taxi industry. Residents and guests find it difficult to catch a taxi when needed and virtually impossible to get a cab at peak periods.'' Mr. Burgess said that after numerous meetings with various stake holders within the taxi industry as well as Government, it was resolved that the solution was the establishment of a Central Dispatch Service, and although such a service will not be publicly owned, he said it would certainly be accountable and answerable to Government.

Mr. Burgess continued: "A Central Dispatch Service means that owners and operators will be effectively monitored to ensure that they live up to their obligation of legitimately operating their vehicle for the mandatory 16 hour minimum in accordance with the motor Taxi Regulations 1987.

"When all drivers operate in accordance with the law, the public will be better served because there is no shortage of owners willing to operate under terms of their permit. And in addition, a Central Dispatch Service will know drivers whereabouts and be able to discern threats when drivers deviate from their routes.'' Mr. Burgess said the service would additionally assist the public by ensuring that taxis were readily available at all times throughout the Island.

There are currently four dispatch services on the Island and Mr. Burgess said: "Representatives from dispatch companies attended numerous meetings to discuss the service.'' Burgess touts benefits of central dispatch "It was their obligation to inform all concerned about the ongoing talks regarding the Central Dispatch Service to ensure that a Central Dispatch Service is operating sooner rather than later.

Mr. Burgess said that after numerous requests the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) had agreed to finance the project and he added: "In addition, dispatch operators have repeatedly been asked to come on board and partner in the efficient operation of the taxi industry. As a result, all dispatches have been offered the opportunity to become equal partners.

"But the Bermuda Industrial Union will be assuming the greatest risk, therefore it is prudent business sense that the union assumes the running of the service during the initial stages.'' However, Mr. Burgess said that the service will be supported by a board consisting of representatives from the current slate of dispatchers as well as others who have a commitment to ensuring that the public is better served by the taxi industry.

And he said that after the service was up and running, the objective is for the stake holders (taxi owners/operators) to own and operate the service.

He said: "This undertaking is a huge financial obligation but the Union is committed to ensuring that Bermuda's taxi problems become a thing of the past.

And to ensure those concerned are kept updated, Mr. Burgess invited all stake holders to attend a public meeting at BIU headquarters on Thursday January 18 at 7 p.m. to discuss the Central Dispatch Service.

The BIU will invest just over one million dollars in the project, and Mr.

Burgess said he wasn't sure of support from within the industry as they had not had a meeting with all concerned.

The final structure of the plan still needs to be discussed such as how much taxi operators will have to pay to use the service, and where the actual dispatch will be based.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said he hoped to have the system up and running by the middle of next year and said that if the system works like it should no one should have to wait longer than 15 minutes to get a cab.

There are over 600 taxis on the Island and the new system would require each vehicle have a Global Positioning System (GPS) installed so that it could be located and tracked at all times.