Transport Minister Ewart Brown (pictured) is pushing for a fifth new ferry to serve the East End in the coming budget, despite the competing claims of the Jew's Bay, Southampton area.

Since 2002 four new fast ferries have been added to Bermuda's fleet.

Dr. Brown said the west end had been the priority but now it was time to turn attention to the other end of the island.

He said: "We are hoping to have a fifth ferry. The four that we have now, especially during the commuter period are flat out.

"If we are fortunate to get a fifth ferry we would then begin the east end commuter run. To serve 250-500 commuters every morning.

"The traffic is worse in the west, that's why the programme started in the west that's why Rockaway was constructed because we were aware most of the traffic was from the west.

"Jew's Bay has been considered as a stop but the East End would come first. We have got to begin to service the east end."

He said he was trying to get it into the next budget.