Shadow Transport spokesman Jamahl Simmons has attacked Government for spending taxpayers? money on plugging global positioning systems (GPS) for taxis.

An advert ran in this week claiming the system will improve cab dispatching during busy periods.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown has promised to soon reintroduce legislation mandating GPS after Senators blocked the law in 2002 after opposition from drivers.

Mr. Simmons said: ?After almost three years the Minister of Transport has failed to convince the public or the taxi industry of the merits of GPS system.

?Now he is desperately resorting to taxpayer-funded propaganda, hoping it will achieve what he could not.

?We believe it is highly inappropriate and unethical for the Minister of Transport to be running ads, using the people?s money to promote a commercial product.

?By extolling the alleged virtues of digital taxi dispatching in these ads, it appears the Minister is acting on behalf of the private companies that intend to sell this product.

?The apparent inability of Government to distinguish between the best interest of the people and the best interest of a private venture is at the heart of the taxi industry?s refusal to submit to the Minister?s dictates.

?We believe advertisements such as these should be the moral and financial responsibility of the companies and individuals who stand to financially benefit from the sale of this product. The Minister must pull these ads immediately.?

Dr. Brown declined to comment on Mr. Simmon?s statement.