again. The problems of the taxi industry seem to be a regular feature of the news in Bermuda.

One of the problems appears to be a lack of togetherness on the part of taxi operators themselves. Operators are split between a number of groups and there are also a few vocal individuals. The lack of cohesion makes it very difficult for anyone, Government and various Ministers of Transport included, to deal with their problems. If taxi operators would get their own act together, agree on what they see as their overall problems, and we do mean problems and not individual gripes, then the problems would be easier to deal with and operators might make some real progress. As it stands now, it is difficult to make a decision on who really represents the taxi operators and on which complaints are justified, which are politically motivated by PLP adherents to embarrass the Government, and which are simply confusing individual causes.

The taxi operators are running the risk of becoming equated with the fishermen. If you constantly complain, you become looked upon as simply moaners and not as people with a legitimate problem. Over the years, disgruntled, always complaining and disunited fishermen, who made a good deal of noise but talked too little sense, became their own enemies. Thus they were unable to achieve much of their cause. Taxi operators may well have a real cause but they have to learn to present their case calmly and rationally and with a united front. If what they say is true, they should certainly not have to compete with people operating illegally at the Airport.

We think that part of the Airport problem is that Government is cautious about listening to Airport complaints because so many were made as a political weapon by the taxi driving PLP Senator Trevor Woolridge.

Clearly the Transport Ministry has gone to great lengths to design and redesign the traffic system in a small space at the Airport arrivals terminal.

It will probably never be perfect. The travelling public, especially visitors, has to be the primary consideration at the Airport. The public's needs must come first. The Airport is for the convenience of those travelling and should be arranged in a way to make travelling as comfortable as possible. Too often, we think, taxi drivers want to come first. It can't be that way.

We think that taxi operators are also suffering from price resistance. We recognise that cars are expensive and that gas is expensive but that does not change the fact that visitors consider taxi fares high and try to avoid using taxis. That is one of the things they might present to the Ministry of Transport in a calm and rational way because some things can be done.

Over the years the Ministry of Transport has begun to look on taxi operators as a necessary nuisance. A fresh look at taxis appears to us desirable therefore a task force may be necessary but a response to a task force will still require operator unity.