Taxi representatives are to have crisis talks with Premier Jennifer Smith on Monday night, but one industry leader admitted they had little to offer except a plan to strictly enforce radios in cabs.

Cabbies and dispatchers are trying to stave off Government attempts to introduce electronic global positioning systems (GPS) which would assign jobs to the nearest cab.

Bermuda Taxi Association spokesman Kimmie Mello, spokesman for an umbrella group of drivers, owners and dispatchers known as the Bermuda Taxi Association said the group's counter proposals go far beyond enforcing the law on radios in cabs.

But Gordon Flood, who heads the Bermuda Taxi Owners Association, said the offer basically hinged around radios, which are mandatory in law, but are not strictly enforced.

He said: "It's simple enough." He said he couldn't remember about the specifics of what else was on offer.

Mr. Mello admitted some drivers refused short fares and were overcharging passengers.

He added: "Most of the concern is at the western and eastern areas for getting cars late at night. We will address that."

He claimed that the $2,000 global positioning system (GPS) would not improve service at the island's extremities.

He said a 1 a.m. call for a taxi in Dockyard might find that the nearest car was in Southampton - 25 minutes away.

Mr. Mello said the new system proposed by the industry would guarantee cabs but he added: "I can't go too deeply into it."

However Mr. Flood said there wasn't much hope for those requesting far flung calls under the old system or new system. He said: "GPS won't guarantee that."

Asked about a system using more strictly enforced radios he said there would be "a lot of problems in the logistics".

Mr. Flood said cab drivers feared if they set off to pick up fares from the ends of the island then they would run the risk of the person getting picked up while they waited.

He said: "Bermudians know everybody - they might take a ride with a friend."

Asked how this would help tourists who were stuck in Dockyard Mr. Flood said: "Nothing is fool proof."

Asked if the GPS system was trying to weed out cabbies who ignored jobs, Mr. Flood said drivers would simply pretend they had a puncture if summoned to a job they didn't want to do. He said: "What can they do?"

He said taxi drivers would continue to gravitate to towards Hamilton, especially in the winter.

He said: "In the off-season there is nothing from Flatts to St. George's."

Mr. Flood said drivers might want to suggest payment for both the cab journey and the trip to pick up a distant fare.

Mr. Mello admitted some cars were parked for seven days or more - in defiance of the law which says cabs must be on the road for at least 16 hours a day.

Transport Control needed to police this more stringently said Mr. Mello.

He said: "There are real problems, we realise this. We are not saying there is no problem."

But a bit later he said: "I think the problems are exaggerated, they are not that big."

He said the Bermuda Taxi Association proposals would be presented to the Premier and Transport Minister before they were made public.

He said: "They go far beyond just installing radios in cars but we are keeping it close to our chest."