Politics, according to the axiom, is the art of the possible.

The same might be said for the seemingly endless and intractable fight between the taxi industry and the Government over the central dispatch system.

If there is to be any resolution to the dispute, both sides need to demonstrate willingness to compromise. Until last week, the Government seemed to be intent on ramming the global positioning devices down the throats of the taxi operators, regardless of how they felt about them. Indeed, Government's determination on the issue was such that it was beginning to make people wonder if there was more to it than a commitment to making the industry more efficient.

Nonetheless, with Transport Minister Ewart Brown away last week, acting Minister Dennis Lister proposed a subsidy to the operators.

As a matter of policy, offering subsidies to different industries is a dangerous path to take, especially when there is no guarantee that central dispatch will improve service for the passengers and income for the drivers.

Nonetheless, it was a sign, for the first time, that Government was prepared to compromise.

Because of that, it is disappointing that the taxi operators would reject the proposal without even considering it as a basis for negotiation.

Bermuda Taxi Operators Association (BTOA) spokesperson Lee Tucker said the offer was rejected because the organisation did not feel it could trust Government and because it did not come with a commitment that the monthly fees to the dispatch companies would not be continually increased.

The drivers have reasonable grounds on both issues; Government promised to talk with the drivers and then introduced the GPS bill in the House of Assembly. The second point is valid too; what use is a subsidy if user fees to the dispatch companies are not controlled?

But the BTOA was wrong to walk away from the talks when they at least had a basis for negotiation. Government may now ram the legislation through, saying it has done all it can to help the drivers and had been rejected.

In the meantime, the people who really count in all of this - the consumers - are being forgotten. The aim of both sides is supposed to be about improving service to the customer, not some kind of macho test of strength.

This newspaper continues to believe the onus on improving service needs to be placed on the drivers, who should be required to carry radios and should have the rules on the number of hours taxis should be on the road enforced. If after a year, service has not improved, the central dispatch system should be made mandatory.