Premier Ewart Brown said TCD vastly improved under his leadership, despite controversy over millions of dollars spent in cost overruns.

He said the department had been plagued with complaints in the past but has since been upgraded with state-of-the-art technology.

Making his final address as Minister of Tourism and Transport on Tuesday, Dr. Brown said: "If judged in accordance to the number of complaints, one would say that TCD was once considered the most ineffective and inefficient department in government.

"Today this department is the recipient of many accolades. It is housed in a new, state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility, and wait time for customers has been reduced from 1.5 hours to less than 15 minutes.

"The vastly improved brick-and-mortar service is complemented by e-TCD online licensing that permits vehicle owners the option of licensing their private vehicles from the comfort of their home or office."

The new TCD facilities have been the subject of much scrutiny after Auditor General Heather Matthews revealed that the project had almost tripled in cost, rising from $5.3 million to $15.2 million on completion.

Dr. Brown has said the report was inaccurate.

He did not mention the controversy at this week's press conference.

Taxi drivers will be made to install GPS technology in their vehicles as of next week, the Transport Minister said.

Dr. Brown said that officials would be carrying out random checks to make sure taxis are compliant with the Motor Vehicle Act 1951, including having a GPS device installed and activated.

Bermuda became the first Island nation to adopt electronic vehicle registration (EVR) in 2008, and is now consulting other jurisdictions on the technology.

"Vehicles that are not licensed or insured are now flagged by the EVR system in 'real time' with the owners notified and given the chance to become compliant before they are issued a ticket for their violation," Dr. Brown said.

The Premier also praised Ministry endeavours, such as the Bermuda Youth Licence, which can only be earned by going through the Project Ride Programme.

And regarding Bermuda's Aircraft Register, Dr. Brown revealed that next month, the Department of Civil Aviation will open its first overseas office in the UK.

The office will be located inside the existing Bermuda Government Office in London, and will focus on private and corporate non-AOC aircraft owners, and on contracts for commercially owned aircraft in Russia, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

"The office will be launched with a small team consisting of a contractor to carry out an airworthiness inspection function and general administration," the Premier said.