Airport, as well as introducing a warmer, friendlier atmosphere, Transport Minister Ewart Brown said yesterday.

"We are re-studying the jetway issue,'' the Warwick West MP said. "The previous Government said it wasn't feasible because of the cost but there is one major air carrier who is committed to paying for a substantial portion of the jetway -- that's the beginning of discussion.

"We need to liven up the Airport so that when you come in you are going to hear music and visitors and Bermudians will be offered a choice of drinks.

"We want to liven it up so that it's not a military experience. At the moment it's not user-friendly, there's a cold, scary, feeling. People say about the Airport that they don't feel as though they are coming home.'' Dr. Brown also said that, in a bid to improve the taxi industry, a computerised central dispatch system could be introduced.

And he urged taxi drivers to step aboard and cooperate with the new Government.

"We are going to have an unprecedented number of taxi operators on each of the transport boards,'' he said. "But if taxi drivers are going to have this level of say, we expect that the taxi industry will talk to us in a constructive manner and come forward with creative ideas.

"Don't let your problems within the industry affect your ability to service the public.

"I can't promise this House that I have some great and magical solution to the taxi problem but I can tell you that we're not going to be trying the same old things over and over again.

"They have claimed that they're on the outside, well now you're on the inside, so let's sit down and get it on.'' Dr. Brown added that the Government's key strategy for reducing traffic congestion on the Island was to provide "effective and efficient'' alternatives to the car.

And he said that, in February he and transport officials will go overseas to "take a look at the hard stuff'' -- examining various fast ferries with a view to improving the Island's ferry fleet.

"If we can get some of those vessels here people will be more inclined to leave the car at home,'' he said.

Shadow Transport Minister Erwin Adderley praised Government for "resisting temptation'' and not throwing out all of the good ideas that did not originate with the PLP.

He told the House that a lot of the ideas outlined by Dr. Brown had been mentioned in previous transportation documents.

"We looked at jet ways for the Airport,'' Mr. Adderley said. "But they were rejected because they were too expensive.'' And he said that the UBP was working on a number of measures, like extending ferry hours, purchasing high-speed ferries and displaying local art in the Airport before its Election defeat on November 9.

Mr. Adderley also threw his support behind transportation legislation that will allow non-family members to legally drive someone's car.

But he warned Dr. Brown that the taxi industry was a complex one.

He said that because of the number of taxi drivers and owners on the road, in addition to the several companies that dispatch them, the Transport Minister would have trouble developing a consensus.

"These are matters the Minister needs to be aware of when addressing this.''