Senators passed the Motor Car Amendment Act 1995 yesterday making the instalment of two-way dispatch radios in taxis optional.

The legislation will remove the burden of cost to taxi drivers during the off season, said Sen. Mr. Lawrence Scott (UBP) in the Senate yesterday.

But he admitted not all parties welcomed the amendment.

Sen. Neletha Butterfield (PLP) asked why concerns of taxi drivers highlighted in the Drinkwater Report had not been brought to light.

Sen. Milton Scott (PLP) questioned why Government had recently put forward an amendment to make two-way radios compulsory.

"Why in such a short period of time has that changed?'' he asked.

Drivers, he said, were concerned that the bulk of the taxi business was being monopolised by a handful of ground tour operators. These operators were charging per person for pre-booked tours thus increasing the cost of a taxi ride by up to 60 percent.

Sen. Norma Astwood (Independent) said the safety, security and protection of taxi drivers was a top priority in light of the changing nature of the business.

A two-way radio she said should be standard equipment for taxi drivers to call for help in an emergency.

She added local people were more likely to suffer from the change. While visitors easily find taxis at hotels, the Airport and shopping centres local customers, she said, did not usually have the same opportunities.

She asked if taxi drivers had been surveyed on their views on the matter.

"Have they agreed this is something they really want?'' she asked.

And had Government looked at alternatives to amending the law such as reducing the cost of operating radios? she asked.

Mr. Scott replied the industry had been surveyed and the amendment had been made at the request of drivers.

With changes in the industry, he said, dispatching had become a dying practice. Many independent operators used cellular telephones and did not need radios.

But he admitted he had not heard of the illegal charging referred to by Sen.

Milton Scott.