was revealed last night.

Angry cabbies are to meet later this month to discuss their next move in a long-running battle for fare increases to meet the rising cost of keeping a cab on the road.

And industry insiders yesterday confirmed that many cabbies see a strike as the only way Government will take them seriously.

One said: "We've bent over backwards to avoid anything which would disrupt ourselves and cause a slow-down in the industry -- but we are running out of options.'' But he added selective industrial action would be more likely than an all-out strike.

Last night Bermuda Taxi Federation spokesman Joe Brown was staying tight-lipped over drivers' plans.

"We don't want to say anything about what the meeting is about yet. We don't want to give people other than the taxi drivers too much of an advantage,'' he said. "All I can say is that certain decisions will be taken at the meeting in relation to the taxi industry.'' He added: "At the moment all we hear is tourism, tourism, tourism -- we are an integral part of this but Government doesn't seem to recognise it.'' The strike move comes only a fortnight before a Special Taxi Commission, set up to examine the fares structure and headed by former Premier Sir John Sharpe, is due to report to Government.

Its brief also included examining operating costs, taxi size, duty on parts and the possibility of fuel rebates. Use of taxi minibuses during restricted hours, zone fares, shared ride taxis and a policy on future fare increases were also looked at.

But taxi industry chiefs urged a boycott of the Commission, which was set up in August.

They slammed the lack of any representatives from the industry among its members and called for direct talks with Government.

The BTF also opposed a questionnaire sent to 500 cab drivers, claiming it was designed to provide ammunition for Government by appearing to present the industry as divided.

About 100 drivers failed to heed a BTF call to ignore the questionnaire and returned completed forms.

Last night, Transport Minister Wayne Furbert urged taxi drivers to wait until the Commission delivers its final report. He said: "We are doing everything we can as quickly as we can. I'm hoping they will at least wait until the Commission reports and Government has a chance to act on that.

"Industrial action would have a very detrimental effect on our tourism industry and on local business as well.

"We have already basically agreed to everything they put forward and even accept the amount of the increase -- except we want to do it over two years instead of all at once.''