Government is to push ahead with plans to introduce an electronic taxi tracking system ? despite no mention of it in the Throne Speech.

Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown said legislation could come before Christmas.

The plan to make it mandatory to install global positioning systems (GPS) in taxis was quashed by the Senate after passing the House of Assembly in 2002 but the Senate is not allowed to block a bill a second time.

The GPS bill had sparked taxi strikes and protests from drivers who said it was unnecessary and expensive.

Dr. Brown told : ?It is our intention to introduce a computerised dispatch system this coming year.

?It wasn?t mentioned in the Throne Speech simply because I have to get clarification as to how restricted we are in reintroducing it.?

Dr. Brown said it was his intention to reintroduce essentially the same legislation.

He said he believed it could be tabled before Christmas.

Taxi drivers? income will be boosted by law changes allowing them to charge multiple fares for shared rides from the airport while drivers will be allowed bigger cabs because of a dwindling amount of smaller cabs being sold.

The Transport Minister said he was excited about the creation of rental trucks in the Throne Speech because it would reduce traffic.

Instead of people having to buy trucks for temporary projects they will soon be allowed to hire them.

Other truck amendments will ban use of heavy trucks for passenger transport and bring in a new smaller category where this was allowed.

Government is also going to examine the feasibility of a limousine service. Two new ferries are promised in 2004 to boost service to other parts of the Island. And Government is to buy ex-US army tug boat the which could also be pressed into service to add extra range than current rescue craft but Dr. Brown stressed it would only play a small part of any rescue system.