The Minister of Transport has given a false account of a meeting about the Government’s ridesharing plans, the Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association has claimed.

Wayne Furbert met representatives of the BTOA on June 25 to discuss the contentious plan to introduce the service designed to complement the taxi industry.

The taxi association has taken issue with the minister’s description of the meeting discussing industry concerns, saying he mischaracterised its outcome.

Mr Furbert said in a letter to the BTOA that the meeting had been “fruitful”.

He added: “I am glad that we were able to address all the questions you had submitted before the meeting, as well as those that emerged during our conversation.

“I hope that this has clarified some of the misconceptions and doubts about the ridesharing programme and its impact on the taxi sector.

“As we discussed, the ridesharing programme is not meant to replace the taxi industry, but rather to complement and enhance it.

“The dispatching system for ridesharing will give priority to taxis over ridesharing operators, ensuring that you will have more opportunities to serve the public.”

Ricky Tucker, the BTOA president, wrote back to Mr Furbert saying the members of the association “strongly disagree with your recent communication regarding our meeting on June 25”.

“Contrary to your statement, the meeting was not fruitful, and our concerns and perspectives were not adequately addressed.”

He outlined five key points and disagreement, saying concerns were not heard, there was no agreement that ridesharing would complement or enhance the industry, there was opposition to the public service vehicle licensing structure, unfair dispatch fees and use of private vehicles for use in ridesharing.

The group said the logic to develop the plan was “fundamentally flawed” and that their business was being undermined.

Mr Tucker added: “We urge the Government to reconsider these plans and to engage in meaningful dialogue with the BTOA to find fair and equitable solutions for Bermuda’s ground transportation needs.”

The BTOA held a press conference last month taking issue with the plan and declaring it will set up its own dispatch service.

A pilot ridesharing programme was approved in March.

The Cabinet authorised the granting of a maximum of 150 new permits to be known as rideshare permits, which can be issued to the holder of a public service vehicle licence for $1,000.

A rideshare-permitted vehicle will be allowed to operate daily from April 1 through September 30 and during the rest of the year, and on weekends and public holidays when out of season.

Mr Furbert said then: “One crucial condition of the rideshare permit is that permit-holders are only allowed to be dispatched through an online platform, ensuring a controlled and orderly ridesharing service.

“It is our intention to put this programme in place for a one-year pilot period so that adjustments can be made to ensure that we enhance the transportation.”

Last night, a Ministry of Transport spokesman said: “There is no single dispatching company that will be offering ridesharing services, as has been falsely stated. All licensed dispatching companies will be required to dispatch to ridesharing cars to supplement taxi services during busy periods.

“As stated by the minister in his letter, ridesharing vehicles will get a request from a customer only if no taxi is available. This means that taxis will still get the first option to transport customers, and only if there are no taxis available, licensed dispatchers will then see if there are rideshare vehicles able to take a customer to their destination.

“The ministry feels this is a win-win, to ensure that residents and visitors have more options during peak periods to get to their destination, while taxis will remain the primary transportation option.”