waterways.

In a bid to find out what people really want on the routes into Hamilton, Transport Minister Wayne Furbert will travel today on the early morning service as part of a fact-finding mission.

In addition, officials carried out a survey of passengers on the 8.10 a.m. and 8.50 a.m. routes, to find out what people want in a ferry service.

The move comes after an increase in the number of passengers was noted yesterday -- hours after the abandonment of a three-month free ferry trial was announced.

West End Opposition MPs hit out at the Government for their handling of the ferry system. Shadow Transport Minister and Sandys North MP Dennis Lister said the whole affair was mis-managed and conducted in a hasty fashion.

"A trial is something that, wherever it goes, you let it run so you can get a full appraisal. If you are asking people to change their habits, they won't do it overnight, you have to give them time,'' he said.

Mr. Lister felt that any changes or trials with the ferries should have waited until the proposed National Transportation Authority was in place.

Mr. Furbert said the trial was not done in haste and said the new NTA would look at the alternatives available and see how they could be improved.

Marine and Ports Service assistant director Mike Dolding said the survey would directly question what people wanted.

"We are going to ask what time they want to arrive in Hamilton, what time they want to leave Hamilton, what stop they get on at and if they have any suggestions,'' he said.

GOVERNMENT GVT