Taxi chief Mr. George Scott yesterday said taxi drivers were mainly to blame for the gathering of "gypsy'' drivers around supermarkets.

He said registered drivers ignored local fares in favour of more lucrative business from hotels and visitors.

Mr. Scott is president of Co-op Taxis.

Gypsy drivers were yesterday accused of pestering customers at some Hamilton supermarkets by snatching shopping baskets and blocking store exits.

An irate Market Place customer complained in a letter to The Royal Gazette that car drivers should be barred from the stores.

"They should be told to stay outside. When I want a car I will ask for one,'' the customer declared.m Market Place executive vice-president, Mr. Alan Doughty said the store does not allow unlicensed cab drivers to enter the property to solicit rides.

But he added that gypsy drivers do provide an unofficial service to customers.

Other Hamilton stores admitted elderly customers sometimes specifically ask for the drivers who are prepared to do short runs for a set fare and carry groceries.

"Most people look for these people. It makes it easier for some senior citizens,'' said Co-op Supermarket manager Mr. Trenton Butterfield.

Manager of the Shopping Centre on Victoria Street, Mr. Hubert Ferras also admitted the drivers fill a gap left by taxi drivers unwilling to provide service to grocery store customers.

"We do have them (unlicensed drivers) but they would be escorted off if they came onto the premises,'' Mr. Ferras said.

But he added that many taxi drivers are reluctant to service grocery stores because of the time consuming task of unloading groceries and helping customers carry bags into their homes.

One former cab driver, now a supermarket manager admitted he disliked picking up customers from stores.

"You would always have to squeeze the cab down a tight driveway and then you would have to unload their bags for them and take them inside. It was a nuisance,'' he said.

Mr. Scott yesterday accused supermarkets of encouraging the illegal practice.

But he admitted that taxi drivers themselves were to blame by ignoring local fares in favour of more lucrative business from hotels and visitors.

Cab drivers ignoring locals -- Co-op boss From Page 1 "The industry should be asking itself: `Do we want to take full responsibility or do we want someone else to do it?''' he said.

"We cannot discriminate. Tourism is important but we can't forget the local resident. We should be servicing the whole market because everyone at some time or another needs a cab.'' And he told cab drivers who choose one customer over another, to get out of the business.

"These may be strong words but the taxi service does not choose its customers,'' he said.

"If cab drivers are just chasing tourists in high season and there are no taxis outside the supermarkets, then there is something wrong,'' he said.

Instead Mr. Scott suggested that drivers encourage shoppers who live close-by to band together, thereby turning a $5 fare into a $15 fare.

"We have to position ourselves to get the work -- it's logical,'' Mr. Scott said.

"Bermuda is only 22 miles -- we don't need any more cars,'' he said.

But the haunting spectre of Bermuda going the way of Caribbean destinations where visitors are besieged by gypsy cabbies hawking rides is unlikely to happen.

Major hotels agree the problem of hawkers pestering tourists is non-existent in Bermuda.

One hotel manager said a regular line-up of licensed taxis outside the hotels precluded the possibility of unlicensed drivers entering the hotels and vying for rides.

"The practice is killed by organisation,'' he claimed.

But, he said, drivers target the Hamilton supermarkets instead, picking up the shortfall left by regular taxi drivers.

"Taxi drivers have brought it on themselves because they won't provide a service,'' he said.

And he warned the problem would continue in Bermuda until drivers are prepared to provide short services.

Director of Transport Control, Mr. David Johnson was yesterday unavailable for comment.