A busy racing weekend lies ahead for taxi drivers and other providers of transport, with Hamilton’s hotels sold out and others running at near capacity.

Individual dispatch companies and 1609 VIP Executive Transportation are set to collaborate, fielding crowds for the first major round of America’s Cup events on the Island.

“It is fair to say there are a lot of people coming to the Island who need transportation via taxis,” an America’s Cup Event Authority spokesman said.

“We are looking forward to a busy weekend, for the taxis and also hotels, bars, restaurants and, of course, the vendors in the Event Village.”

Last-minute concerns loomed with some drivers expressing confusion at VIP’s role, and sources within the Department of Marine and Ports saying that low-grade industrial action could have an impact on ferry services over the weekend.

Marine and Ports workers yesterday renewed a call on Government for the department’s director Lieutenant Commander Richard Russell to be terminated.

Bermuda Industrial Union president, Chris Furbert, made the revelation as he announced that staff had decided to lift a “work-to-rule” action yesterday morning. The overtime ban had been imposed this week over concerns about the behaviour of Mr Russell that had been raised over a month ago, Mr Furbert told a press conference.

Mr Furbert added: “Since Mr Russell arrived here, there have been occasions when he has seen fit to speak to our members in a completely disrespectful way.

“We went to Cabinet so we could report that we were not satisfied with Mr Russell’s behaviour.

“It has taken some time for Cabinet to look at the concerns we raised and we received a letter from Dr Derrick Binns on October 13.

“He has looked at our concerns, now Mr Russell has to bring his representation and clearly he has to put his position on these issues. We are very concerned about this situation.”

Mr Furbert told the press conference that the original complaint against him had been lodged on September 9, and the timing of the “work-to-rule” action had nothing to do with this weekend’s America’s Cup World Series.

“This has absolutely nothing to do with the America’s Cup,” he said. “We made that crystal clear from the start and no services were interrupted.”

“It should not take industrial action for us to get the results we want. I understand timeframes are important.

“We represent the rights of workers and we understand that Mr Russell has rights too. If he is going to be represented by the BPSU then fine, the process will be followed. However, this process seems to drag its feet.”

Mr Furbert said he was not sure how long the “next phase” of the complaint process against Mr Russell would take.

Attempts to contact Mr Russell for a response to the union’s claims were unsuccessful.