Representatives from industries claiming government policies are damaging their livelihoods are planning a third protest.

Fishermen, farmers, taxi drivers and holiday-rental owners, as well as some education stakeholders, will stage the event in December, with details yet to be finalised.

They plan to precede the protest with a “community day” on December 9 with the aim of engaging with the public about the various issues at hand.

The group held its first protest on September 20 at Kindley Field, St George’s, and a second protest through Hamilton on September 29.

Shari-Lynn Pringle, the secretary for the Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association, said a meeting was held on Monday evening to discuss the next steps.

She told The Royal Gazette: “We are going to do a joint community event, so there will be a large farmers market and a large fish market. The taxi drivers will do something creative to help the community, like bring groceries and let people pick an item to go in their bag.

“We are really excited about the event, where everybody will come together and show some solidarity.

“At our meeting, we went around the table and each group was asked, ‘Were you mentioned in the Throne Speech?’ No one was mentioned except us and our mention was basically lip service.

“So we plan to stage a protest the week after the community day.”

The Government signalled in the Throne Speech last Friday that taxi drivers would receive a fare increase — the first in almost a decade.

A BTOA representative said that there were many concerns within the taxi industry that needed to be addressed apart from the fare rate, not least the idea that a ride-sharing app similar to Uber being considered by the Government could jeopardise members’ income.

Jamie Walsh, the secretary of the Fishermen’s Association of Bermuda, said she had attended a meeting with the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme on Monday evening to discuss concerns it had about the implementation of a marine protected area covering 20 per cent of Bermuda’s waters.

BOPP is working with the Government on the plan.

She said it was too early to discuss the full content of the meeting but added: “I have reason for cautious optimism. We still need for BOPP to get on the same wavelength as fishermen to correctly evaluate the actual impact of current local fishing practices before management decisions are made but it’s possible we can learn to speak each other’s languages.

”There’s lots more than just fishing going on and we’ve had glimmers of hope dangled at us before. So until we see real change in how stakeholder engagement is handled by this government, FAB will continue to join our voice to those who also are not being heard.“

Delvin Bean, a member of FAB, added: “We are having the community day so we can engage with people and keep them abreast of what is going on in the industry. We are still engaged with government.”

Velda Franco, chairwoman of the Bermuda Rental Association of Vacation-Home Owners, which is against an owners’ fee being implemented by the Government, said her members would be at the community day and protest.

The group has said there was a lack of public consultation on the introduction of The Vacation Rental (Application and Registration) Fees Act 2023, which was implemented on September 1.

Ms Franco said that the group had scheduled a meeting with Vance Campbell, the tourism minister, for November 15.

On Sunday, it will be participating in the Insight talk show on Magic 102.7 from 8pm to 10pm to discuss the issues facing the industry.

On November 21, the organisation plans to host a town-hall meeting, inviting the general public discuss their concerns. Details are still being finalised.

Ms Franco said: “We will be in attendance at the protest as this affects all of us at the end of the day.”

She said the town hall would be guided by the meeting held with Mr Campbell.

Farmers have also clashed with Government, not least over restrictions on the import of plant materials.

Tom Wadson, of the Bermuda Farmers Association, said the group was in communication with the Government and was trying to finalise a date to meet with Walter Roban, the Minister of Home Affairs.

Speaking of the Government and the Board of Agriculture, Mr Wadson said: “We are dealing with a bunch of people who are set in their ways. They are limiting our ability to produce while increasing the cost of our goods and services to the consumer.”