Horse and carriage drivers ? who have been battling with the Transport Control Department for over a year to get a rate increase ? may soon be cleared to raise prices.

?I understand Mr. Kevin Monkman was sitting on our proposal for a rate increase for over a year. He apologised about that and now I am speaking with Mr. Charles Clarke at TCD, who has been very helpful,? said horse and carriage driver and owner Dee Charles yesterday.

Mrs. Charles ? who owns about 20 horses with her husband Howard (Hobby) Charles ? said that Bermuda has some of the cheapest rates for horse and carriage rides in the world. She said for half an hour ride, New Orleans charge $50, New York City charge $60, Philadelphia charge $50, and the Bahamas charge $40.

The rates currently in Bermuda are $30 for half an hour ride and $60 for an hour, which is not per person. Rates have not increased since 2000 ? in that year it went from $20 for half an hour ride to $30, she said.

But, Mrs. Charles who has been driving a horse and carriage since 1989, hopes to get the go ahead from TCD to charge $40 for half an hour and any group over four people would be $10 a head.