yesterday.

And Government has been slammed for stalling on moves to combat the problem.

The accusation was made by the Licensed Dispatchers and Transportation Association.

It has called for a crackdown on non-licensed Civil Air Terminal operators.

One firm is said to have charged six people $88 for a Hamilton-Dockyard return trip.

Another six-strong group allegedly forked out $219 for a three-hour Island tour.

Mr. Mike Fields, chairman of the LDTA, spoke out during a press conference yesterday.

He was backed by association member Lt. Col. Eugene Raynor, former president of the Bermuda Taxi Owners Union.

They spoke of fruitless meetings with the Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan, and the Minister of Transport the Hon. Ralph Marshall.

Both vented their frustration with Government, accusing it of ignoring their plight.

They said cabbies needed licenses to ply their trade at the airport, according to 1980 regulations.

Government should enforce the regulations -- and protect the rights of licensed dispatch companies.

Mr. Fields claimed unlicensed operators -- with "no commitment to the transportation industry'' -- were ripping visitors off.

"They are charging exorbitant prices,'' he said.

He added "price-gouging'' sometimes left people paying triple-meter rates.

Mr. Fields described passenger pick-ups at the airport as chaotic and a "fiasco.'' Congestion in the Arrivals Hall led to confusion, and often passenger badgering.

"Arriving guests are sometimes treated in a most unfortunate manner,'' said Mr. Fields.

He said taxi drivers were consulted in the early stages of designing the arrivals area.

"The final drafts, however, did not allow them further input into the design.'' Lt. Col. Raynor said taxi problems had been raised in a 1980 Board of Inquiry report.

But many issues remained unresolved because of Government turning a deaf ear, he claimed.

Lt. Col. Raynor said Government departments often received complaints about airport chaos.

"Very rarely do they act positively to these complaints.'' He added Government regularly chopped and change its mind over tackling the issue.

Lt. Col. Raynor said the association hoped exposure of the airport problems -- and the way they were being handled -- would spur Government into action.

Last night Mr. Marshall could not be reached for comment.