Taxi drivers have hit back at Government claims that they are providing poor service for visitors arriving at L. F. Wade International Airport.

Junior Transport Minister Marc Bean said earlier this week that there was a severe shortage of cabs at the airport on the Remembrance Day holiday, leaving 316 passengers stranded for up to an hour-and-a-half.

Two American Airlines flights, from New York and Miami, arrived at about 8.30 p.m. on the evening of Wednesday, November 11. But Sen. Bean said the last passenger didn't leave the airport until after 10 p.m.

"I must once again express the Government's extreme displeasure with the calibre of service being provided at this most critical port of entry," he said.

"Both returning residents and valued visitors are met with the most unwelcome circumstances upon arrival in Bermuda."

He said there were "ongoing complaints" about the lack of taxis and the failure of drivers to use the GPS machines, which they are required by law to install in their cabs.

"Clearly the taxi industry is forcing Government to make radical changes," he said. "I challenge the taxi industry to adhere to the 16 hours per day service standard for licensed vehicles and I remind all owners that there is no provision for reduced service hours on public holidays."

The Royal Gazette canvassed taxi drivers on Front Street, many of whom denied they were at fault for the lack of taxis on Remembrance Day.

Lloyd Smart said one of the flights on the evening in question was delayed. "I am out here to make a living," he said. "As a businessman it does not make sense to me to sit around when I could go somewhere else and do business.

"This sort of thing has been going on for years and it makes us look bad."

Another operator, Claude Wright, claimed that it was hard to fulfil the needs of passengers at the airport when two flights arrive at once.

He said it could take more than an hour to get back to the airport after dropping off his first client.

"Most hotels are not on the East End of the island," he said. "It will be at least an hour by the time I have dropped a passenger at their hotel and returned to the airport and sometimes it can take even longer."

Mr. Wright added that it was unfair to demand that taxi operators work every holiday without provisions.

"We as taxi drivers are being made into scapegoats," he said. "We are human, we have families, we can't always be on the road. The only day that I don't work is Christmas Day."

A driver who would only give his name as Anthony put the blame on disorganisation among taxi operators and dispatchers.

"The dispatching system is still out of whack," he said. "One company is complying with GPS and another is not — everyone is confused."