POOR communication skills have landed Transport Minister Ewart Brown in hot water with taxi drivers.

Operators feel the Minister should have consulted with them before publicly announcing plans to reintroduce the controversial Global Positioning System (GPS) in taxi cabs. And they were angry to learn after the fact, that a long-awaited fare increase would be based on service rather than inflationary rises.

"He could have called us," said Lee Tucker, president of the Bermuda Taxi Owners Association. "When we were in negotiations with the Government board, there was nothing mentioned about (the increase) being based on performance.

"It was to be based on cost of living increases, which over a period of time had outdistanced our position. We felt we should be in line for a rate increase and the Licensing Board and (Transport Control Department director) Kevin Monkman negotiated with us and agreed in principle. For the Minister to come out like that and say it would be based on performance, we took exception to that."

Dr. Brown unveiled a list of taxi changes, including fare rises, last week. At that time he said the increases would be linked to service, although he gave no date for the hike.

"We are tying that to a level of performance. You cannot be rewarded for not performing," he said, explaining that new drivers would be expected to undergo training in locating streets, meter use and customer service similar to the ambassador programme undertaken by bus drivers.

A decision had not been made on whether established drivers would be required to take the training when their three-year licences expire.

It was on learning that the rates were to be attached to performance levels that the BTOA requested a meeting with the Minister, Mr. Tucker said.

"We tried to set up a meeting with him late last week. We haven't had any success to this day. We were told he'd call us back but we haven't heard anything further."

The group were granted an audience with Permanent Secretary Marc Telemaque, at which time they were able to air their complaints. Only days later, the Ministry took out a full-page advertisement in in which Dr. Brown made a specific appeal to the taxi industry.

"It is time for all of us to do our part to ensure that the 'visitor experience' is first-class. The role of the taxi industry in this area cannot be overstated. We want our visitors to have prompt, efficient and friendly service as they move around the island . . . (I) appeal to the taxi industry, as partners in transport, to energetically fulfil the role into which they have been cast and to make this year in particular, a great one for Bermuda."

The advert was described as a waste of taxpayers' money by Shadow Transport Minister Jahmal Simmons, who also cited Dr. Brown's failure to sit down and discuss the issues with the drivers instead, as an example of why relations between the two groups are so poor.

When contacted yesterday, Dr. Brown would only say: "My only comment is that if and when Mr. Simmons becomes the Minister of Transport, he will have the opportunity to make those kinds of decisions. Other than that, no comment."

And, when pressed as to whether Government had informed taxi drivers of its recent decision to push ahead with plans to introduce GPS in cabs before announcing it to the public, he said: "No comment. You can speak with Mr. Monkman or the Permanent Secretary. They're handling that issue right now."

Drivers celebrated in 2002 when the Senate defeated Dr. Brown's plans to make GPS mandatory in all taxis. He said then, he would wait one year and bring back the legislation to the House of Assembly, at which time the GPS dispatch system would become compulsory.

Yesterday Mr. Tucker said the BTOA had made little inroads in changing Dr. Brown's decision because, in spite of repeated attempts on their part, he refused to meet with them as a group.

"He's very unsociable when it comes to meeting with us. Very unsociable. He's not a very communicative person and that is the main problem. We knew there was a rumour that he was going to proceed with (GPS) and we're not happy about it."

Mr. Tucker said the BTOA would be having a general meeting on Monday and "leave it to the general body to make a decision as to what's going to take place following our mass meeting ? if they decide they don't want it and they're prepared to take action, or if they're prepared to accept it."