to Dockyard ferry yesterday, saying it was planned "in fairness to the travelling public''.

Taxi drivers fuming over the plan were being unreasonable, the St. George's South MP said.

It was a "well thought out plan'' by the Corporation of St. George's and Government to meet an expected influx of visitors in the Old Town this season due to the arrival of the new cruise ship, she said.

"They thoroughly thrashed out the idea and the only voice of dissent as far as I know was (PLP MP and Corporation) member Mr. Leon (Jimmy) Williams,'' she said.

"The consensus was to give it a try. They did not want to have a whole lot of people on the square not being able to get around freely.

"As far as I'm concerned it sounds like a positive thing. You have to give people choices. And with two ships in port the square is going to be very congested.'' Mrs. Bell noted local residents would also be able to take the 750-passenger Government ferry.

It will make two trips west and back every Wednesday, which is when a number of activities take place on King's Square.

She did not believe it would take away business from taxi drivers. She pointed out the Corporation and Government had assured they would monitor demand for it to see if it was harming cabbies or tour boat operators' business.

Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess confirmed plans for the ferry service at a meeting for taxi drivers on Monday, saying it would cost $10 a head.

Cabbies greeted the news with cries of protest saying it was "one more way'' Government would be directly competing with them for fares.

They claimed they had not been consulted by Government over the plan.

And they felt Government was "cutting off'' much-needed new business before it even arrived.

But Mr. Burgess said the service was clearly needed.

An obvious "glitch'' had been predicted in expected visitors numbers in St.

George's due to the new ship and available ground transportation.

"It is only fair that if you invite people to your country, you make sure they can get around reasonably,'' he told them.