A Commission that was set up to look into the taxi industry has recommended a 20 percent increase on base rate fares.

And the Commission, chaired by former Premier Sir John Sharpe, has asked that the increase come into effect in January, 1997.

Transport Minister Wayne Furbert placed the 51-page report and the Motor Taxi Amendment Regulations 1996, which contain the rate changes, before Parliament yesterday morning. The regulations will be debated in two weeks' time.

Among its 14 recommendations, the Commission said the 20 percent increase should be reviewed in two years and the night surcharge should revert to midnight from the current 10 p.m.

Additionally, there would be no change in the 25 percent surcharge for Sunday fares.

Mr. Furbert postponed the legislation affecting taxi fares last summer because he said some people in the industry were worried about the effect of a 15 percent increase in taxi fares in the first year and a ten percent increase hike in the second year.

Consequently he named a special commission to look into all the issues affecting the industry including pricing, marketing, fuel rebates and operational costs.

The Commission recommended that the "shared ride'' concept -- where unrelated parties use the same taxi to reach their proximate destinations -- would be a benefit to the industry, especially during the peak season from May to September.

However the Commissioners suggested that there be no duty rebate on fuel for taxis or parts and said that taxis should not be used as mini-buses.

And they called on Government to take an interest in the matter of improving dispatching equipment by offering advice and assistance where necessary.

This assistance, the Commission ruled, could take the form of waiving the duty on new and improved replacements of current equipment.

The report follows a meeting last week when angry taxi drivers decided not to strike at a night meeting.

They vowed to take "selective industrial action,'' although it was never spelled out exactly what that meant.

It was understood that the planned actions were contingent on the contents of the taxi report.

Bermuda Taxi Federation officials could not be reached for comment on the report last night.