Transport Minister Ewart Brown is demanding better service from taxi drivers after recently hearing about a man who to turn to the Police to take him home.

Dr. Brown told : "When someone calls for a cab, they should be able to get one within 15 minutes from the time they call ? it's not rocket science."

On Thursday, a Government spokeswoman said there had been an increase in calls to the Ministry of Transport about the lack of available taxis between 11 p.m. and midnight.

A letter written to the Ministry ? which greatly disturbed Dr. Brown ? was from a man who placed numerous calls to a dispatching company between 11.30 p.m. and 12.30 a.m. After no response, the man was forced to walk several miles to a Police station for assistance.

The man said the Police tried to help him by calling the cab company, but continued to receive a busy signal. Eventually the Police escorted the man to his destination.

Dr. Brown said: "I want to commend the Police for their help, but this is very disturbing to me on so many levels.

"First, this was on a Tuesday night, around midnight and by all accounts it was not very busy, yet no one from the cab company was responding.

"Second, our Police officers should not have to serve as taxi drivers. Because, of this incident and so many other similar reports which are coming to the Ministry lately, I feel it is necessary to renew my plea to the taxi industry and the taxi dispatchers to be cognisant that they are in the service industry."

Dr. Brown encouraged a dialogue some taxi operators are having with regard to modernising their industry, possibly with the Global Positioning System.

"In the meantime, they must understand that we have visitors and residents who must be serviced in a courteous and timely manner," he said.

He added what happened to the man was completely unacceptable and he urged people who receive this kind of treatment to contact the Ministry.

Bermuda Taxi Operators Association spokesman Lee Tucker said that Dr. Brown was barking up the wrong tree and should have taken his plea to the dispatch companies not the taxi operators.

Mr. Tucker said he believes that the incident Dr. Brown was referring to happened in the West End. He said the Sandys taxi service closes at ten or 11 p.m.

Mr. Tucker pointed out that the Dockyard area is very hard to operate.

"Yes, Dockyard needs to be serviced but you can't expect a driver to wait there all day just for one job," he said.

Mr. Tucker said taxi drivers are going to go where they are more likely to get business and suggested people calling ahead to reserve a taxi if they know they are going to be in a remote place.