Transport Minister Derrick Burgess and his predecessor Terry Lister last night dismissed suggestions Government picked on Paget and Warwick residents for a price hike.The Progressive Labour Party duo took issue with One Bermuda Alliance MPs for Paget, Patricia Gordon-Pamplin and Grant Gibbons, saying their constituents had been unfairly targeted for fee increases.Mr Burgess said the 25 percent rise on the Paget/Warwick pink route, reduced from a 100 percent rise by amendments passed last night, was based entirely on numbers and was not a deliberate attempt to single out Paget.Mr Lister, the Minister until last month, said he was happy for a 100 percent rise to be enforced as it still only worked out at $2.20 a trip for each passenger who buys a monthly pass.MPs last night passed amendments to the Marine Board (Ferry Services Fares) Amendment (No 2) Regulations which fix the cost of a regular single ticket at $3.25.The fare had initially been $2.50, but was doubled to $5 on November 1, sparking an angry boycott from commuters.Speaking in the House of Assembly last night, Mr Burgess said the Ministry of Transport is aiming to reduce the crew from three to two so it can afford to keep the fare down.He said Government had to strike a balance between providing value for money for commuters and the need to increase revenue.Mrs Gordon-Pamplin said her party supports the legislation but believe it should have gone further and brought the fare back to its original cost.She said former ferry passengers had told her they now planned to use their cars as a result of the increased fee, leading to more congestion on the road from the West End to Hamilton.The Shadow Transport Minister said she had received more calls on this issue than any other in her time as an MP.Noting no other route faced increases, she said: “Why were pink route customers picked on?”Dr Gibbons later added: “It’s a question of fairness and equity. There’s no reason to single out Paget travellers to pay an additional fare when the overall ferry is service is subsidised by 80 percent.”Mr Lister responded: “It was no attempt to pick on Paget. The attempt was to go across the system and find out where the worst areas are.”He said after fielding complaints about the initial rise, Government consulted with commuters who said they wouldn’t object to a smaller increase.St George’s West MP Kim Swan, who was elected as a United Bermuda Party MP, also spoke during the debate to repeat his concerns at the absence of any morning service from the East End.The amendments were passed.