WESTERN BUREAU – The National Association of Taxi Operators, still hoping to convince Transport and Works Minister Robert Pickersgill that its 20,000 members deserve a fare hike, will give him more supporting data within another week.

The minister met with association secretary Egeton Newman yesterday, talks which Newman said were “fruitful”. He remained optimistic yesterday that his members will be able to add $10 to their fares soon, a fallout from spiralling gas prices.

Pickersgill could not be reached for comment.

“We will be going back to the bargaining table within another week to put forth some additional figures to the minister in order to come up with a fare increase and after that meeting, we are confident that a fare increase will be granted,” Newman told the Observer.

But not all cabbies are pushing for the fare hike.

Yesterday, the United Route Taxi Association out of Kingston made it clear that it was not seeking a fare increase.

President Raymond Byrnes and his members, the release said, had taken that decision from last weekend.

There were also reports that St Ann cabbies did not want a fare hike. Passengers, they said, were unable to absorb such an increase at this time.

Last week Newman had warned that taxi operators would have no choice but to increase fares by Monday if gas prices were increased on Thursday.

But following yesterday’s meeting, he said he had asked cabbies not to increase fares until after next week’s meeting with Minister Pickersgill.