The move was announced by Transport Minister Wayne Furbert at a public meeting in Smith's Parish.

"Currently if you get caught without a licence you will be fined $100. It's ridiculously low and we have to change that,'' he said.

Mr. Furbert estimated some 800 cars in Bermuda were unlicensed.

But some of these vehicles were reckoned to be off the road -- and, therefore, did not need licences.

Also last night Premier David Saul rejected accusations of "cronyism'' over Government's decision to approve the incorporation of Grape Bay Ltd.

The company -- run by ex-Premier Sir John Swan and Government backbencher Maxwell Burgess -- wants to operate a McDonald's restaurant in Bermuda.

Dr. Saul dismissed one woman's suspicions that Government had given Sir John a "pat on the back'' by allowing the incorporation.

He said the incorporation complied completely with Government's anti-franchise policy.

He said Grape Bay had followed the example of Four-Star Pizza of getting round the policy by incorporating a local company and not signing a franchise agreement.

About 25 people turned up at Harrington Sound School last night for the Government Town Hall meeting. They had the chance to fire questions at Dr.

Saul, Mr. Furbert and Works and Engineering Minister Leonard Gibbons.

GOVERNMENT GVT