`fare' deal for the industry.

Last night taxi drivers not only elected their new officers but determined their future.

During the Federation's Annual General Meeting, at the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce boardroom, the former secretary of the organisation was elected its new president.

The new executive will feature Joe Brown as the president, Richard Powell as the first vice president, Dennis (Junior) DeSilva as second vice president, Albert Swan will be secretary, Walter Byron as assistant secretary and Rupert Holdipp as treasurer.

Mr. Brown last night told The Royal Gazette that the four remaining executive positions will be filled by the taxi owners of his choice.

"The group decided to allow me to sound out people who were interested and who I know I can work with,'' he explained. "I hope to fill the remaining positions in the next three or four days.'' The Federation unanimously voted to stay united in a bid to achieve a bigger say in the running of the taxi trade.

On the eve of the meeting Mr. Brown predicted a decision would be reached whether to form a separate taxi owners group.

Mr. Brown had said he hoped the meeting would see taxi drivers pulling together for their industry.

He said he did not want a taxi owners-only body.

"We need a united front. Together we can conquer and improve the quality of the taxi industry,'' he had said.

Last night Mr. Brown got his wish.

"The members unanimously decided that the Federation continue as it is,'' he said. "This is the way of the future for the industry.

"There are taxi owners that wanted to go alone,'' he revealed. "I wish that they would see the wisdom of staying. Some have already left.'' But he said those taxi owners that left the organisation will be welcomed back to the Federation if they ever wanted to return.

Despite the recent upheaval, Mr. Brown said he planned to concentrate on accomplishing his goal -- unity.

"The biggest thing that I could ever achieve would be unity,'' he said. "I want to get our house in order and then we can deal with the Government.

"We want to negotiate with them. We want to be part of the decision-making process, at the moment the Government makes all the decisions.

"Everyone else, like the hotel industry, gets a say in determining their future. But at the moment Government determines our future. We want a say.''