The island’s Drug Advice Service and Helpline is warning users of Ecstasy to be aware of the risks after a number of deaths across the UK in recent months.

Shelly Stanley, director of service, said that there is never a guarantee of the contents of what’s in an Ecstasy pill nor its strength.

She said that so far it appears the some pills have included the Class A drug Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA and PMMA) either alone or in conjunction with Ecstasy (MDMA).

Miss Stanley said: ‘PMA or PMMA is less likely to be deliberately used recreationally due to the toxicity but it has appeared in tablets sold as Ecstasy for a number of years but only recently have fatalities linked to it increased in such as short space of time.

‘PMA effects are similar to Ecstasy but take longer to cause an effect so users may take another pill in the mistaken belief that the first has not worked, resulting in a massive dose.

‘Added to this that Ecstasy patterns of use may involve users using multiple quantities of tablets in one session and thus presents a serious health risk.’

DASH’s advice for anyone who uses it is to take only half a tablet and wait an hour before taking the other half.

The organisations says: ‘Do not mix with other drugs including alcohol, caffeine and prescribed medications as this can increase the potency increasing risk. Tablets causing problems have varied from colour to colour and design, so there is no “one” identifying tablet, although we will post links and updates to what we know so far on our website.

‘The message will always be that the only way to stay safe is not to take drugs at all.

‘However, there will always be those who ignore that message.

‘Like drug services in the UK we’re saying if you intend to use Ecstasy or other tablets then be aware of the risks and what to do in an emergency, it could save your own or a friend’s life.

‘If someone becomes unwell after taking a tablet they need to get to A&E immediately, don’t try and sleep it off. For further confidential advice and information call us on 615622 or email info@drugs.org.im.’

Signs of an overdose could include:

Hyperthermia (very high body temperature or overheating)

Dehydration

Rapid heart rate

Increased blood pressure

Breathing difficulties

Seizures

Severe nausea and vomiting

It was a vibrant week at Castle Rushen, as open air dramatics, theatrical tours and musical performances made up the Unlocked weekend at one of the Isle of Man’s most historic and iconic structures.

From Wednesday to Saturday were nightly performances of the TNT Theatre and Manx National Heritage production The Ghost of Illiam Dhone, re-igniting the ‘patriot or traitor’ debate of the politician in the 350th anniversary year of his execution.

Throughout the weekend were the History in Action Group’s Labyrinth Tours of the passageways and spiral staircases of the castle keep, as actors played out the historic tales of the fortress, which has a past including spells as a prison and the seat of Manx political power.

The multi-period Living History Village in the castle grounds included starring roles from Vikings of Mann, the Isle of Man Homeguard Re-enactment Society, Play People and performances of The Buggane from Mhelliah Musical Theatre, and Unlocked all ended on Sunday night with a 10-act concert organised by Soundcheck, featuring Full Moon Fallout, Mae Challis, Azariah, The Same, Exit Left, Alice Dudley, Bring Out Your Dead, Mark McCabe, Jake Orritt and ROC Vannin.

President of Tynwald Clare Christian has congratulated the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their son on behalf of Tynwald.

Mrs Christian said: ‘It was with great pleasure that we welcomed the announcement of the birth of the royal couple’s first child. We extend to their Royal Highnesses our warmest congratulations and wish them and their families every happiness at this time of great joy and cause for celebration.’

The boy is third in line to the throne and the title Lord of Mann.

The royal couple also received congratulations from Allan Bell MHK, the Chief Minister, on behalf of the government, and the Lieutenant Governor, Adam Wood, on behalf of the people of the Isle of Man.

A service and dedication of a memorial to mark the 40th anniversary of the Summerland fire disaster will be held on Friday, August 2, at the Kaye Memorial Garden, Queen’s Promenade, Douglas, at 7.45pm.

The Mayor of Douglas, Councillor Carol Malarkey, will preside over the proceedings and the service will be led by Andrew Brown, Archdeacon of Mann.

A spectator area has been set aside and the Summer Hill slip road will be closed to traffic on that date from 7pm to 9.30pm and that parking will be suspended on a section of King Edward Road opposite the Kaye Memorial Garden.

Fifty people lost their lives in the tragedy after fire broke out in the leisure complex, built at the Onchan end of Douglas Promenade.

Share your memories of that terrible day: Email newsdesk@newsiom.co.im

A number of cars were damaged in the area of York Road in Douglas on Monday evening.

The culprits scratched the vehicles, which were parked outside their home addresses overnight.

A police spokesman said: ‘A large number of cars have been targeted and the damage cause will cost the owners a considerable amount of money to rectify.’

Anyone with more information should contact any police officer or ring police headquarters on 631212.

This week, Cat Turner, secretary of the Isle of Man Friends of the Earth, looks at new legislation which aims to protect bees

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This column has had plenty to say in the past about how reliant we are on our stripy little buddies.

Without them, there’d have been precious little on our breakfast plates this morning, since (depending on your diet) foods pollinated by bees account for between 30 and 60 per cent of what we consume each day.

They’re essential for growing at least two thirds of the world’s food crops – if we had no bees tomorrow, billions would die of hunger.

And I’ve also banged on about how vulnerable the little chaps are at present; around the world, bee populations are – no exaggeration – absolutely plummeting, with damaging pesticides, herbicides, monocrop agriculture, habitat loss and (in the UK but not here in the Isle of Man) varoa mite adding to the woes of more and more weather wierding.

In the past couple of weeks alone, there have been multiple reports of mass bee die-offs some in the (I’m not kidding) millions.

In one notable case some tens of thousands of crunchy little corpses were found strewn across one of those humongous parking lots, overshaded by an array of linden trees which had just been sprayed by a chemical cocktail known to knock out bees’ nervous systems.

Neonicotinoid pesticides are the best-known of these offenders, but they’re not the only ones.

So hurrah for a spot of good news. The European Union has just announced a new ban on Fipronil, yet another bee-toxic agricultural poison.

Fipronil is produced by those lovely boys at Bayer, a huge and powerful German chemicals company.

It’s a nerve agent and has been widely used by farmers to kill off insects, but of course it’s been killing the bees too.

You might come across this charmless cocktail under the brand name ‘Regent’.

From December 31, it’ll be illegal to use Fibronil to field crops such as sunflower seeds and maize right across Europe (hurraaaay!).

It will still be allowed in greenhouses, and on the sort of legumes (leeks, onions, etc) which are harvested before they flower, posing much less of a risk to foraging bees.

This comes hard on the heels of an earlier ban in April this year of three other nasties, all of them neonicotinoids and all of them previously very heavily used (double huraaay!).

It reflects growing concerns about the collapse in honeybee populations, and the knock-on effects of this on food security in an already pressured system.

The UK has to follow suit, being as it is a part of the EU, and despite resistance from a few benighted MPs.

Here in the Isle of Man, we are, of course, not a part of the EU – so there’s no obligation for our government to follow suit; and for the time being it may not be a big deal.

Neonicotinoids at least are not known to be heavily used by our local farming community – though there’s no hard data on this, and it’s even harder to know what’s happening in private and market gardens.

But that could easily change, especially when growers are under financial pressure.

At Isle of Man Friends of the Earth, we’d welcome a ban on such pesticides where they threaten the island’s pollinator population, and thereby our already precarious food security.

We think that as well as protecting our biodiversity, we would be wise to work towards a situation where a decent proportion of the island’s food needs can be grown locally.

What do you think? Would you support a campaign for a ban?

Thanks, as ever, for reading this. Let us know if you have views – or better yet, come along to one of our monthly meetings to see how you can get involved.

It’s a measly £7.50 for annual membership, and our next gathering is at 7.30pm on Wednesday, August 14, at the Green Centre, near to Iceland supermarket in Douglas.

We’d love to see you!

The last time I had any dealings with Dr Malcolm Couch, an amiable gentleman, it was to do with me parting with a substantial sum of money, on his urging, to the Manx Treasury.

Now he is giving me money. Well, let us say that in essence he is giving me back some of the money I pay in income tax.

There has been a fundamental change in our professional relationship.

He used to be the Assessor of Income Tax at the Treasury. Now he has re-mustered to Chief Financial Officer at the Treasury and it is in this capacity that he has just sent me a refund on the jack I sent him in January this year to meet my 2012/13 tax commitment. (As a sole trader I have to come up to scratch with the scratch on an annual basis; every January when it should be a case of Happy New Year, let me say).

The refund amounts to £211.43 plus 50p, the latter for what is described in the official covering letter as a repayment supplement.

I don’t get this in the sense that I don’t understand what it means, like most of my dealings with the Treasury.

But I do get the 50p, which is what matters.

Mind you, when I got the cheque, I didn’t know it had come from the Good Doctor Couch.

I didn’t know he had changed jobs. I imagined that the cheque was signed by him but the signature defied comprehension. It was no more than a hasty wriggle of the pen.

Presumably he had written it in haste along with a whole lot of other refund cheques which were piled up on his desk that morning.

But I made some inquiries at Government Office and this revealed his identity and offered my opportunity today to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to him.

After all one does have to show good manners in such circumstances.

Of course, I don’t understand the complex exercise in doing sums that led to the refund.

I have had them before over the years and I have asked my accountant, who is also an old and valued friend, to explain them to me. But he has always refused.

He knows me all too well I’m afraid. All he would say, in a kindly voice, was: ‘You just wouldn’t understand. My advice to you is this: Carpe diem.’

This is a Latin tag I do understand. In rough – very rough – translation it means take the goddam money and run.

Meanwhile, the remorseless annual cycle of income tax payment is grinding away at the faces of rich and poor alike, and I already have my income tax demand on my 2013/14 assessment to be delivered to Dr Couch at the required time in early January next year.

The deadline is actually three days after my 83rd birthday. Can I have next year’s refund early Dr C? You know, in time for a proper celebration.

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There is a notice on the glass entry door to the Big Apple New York Deli at the bottom of Eskdale Road in Onchan, which says: ‘I swing both ways.’

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Richard Hetherington reports the following Manx crossword clue in the Daily Telegraph: Man, say, in Paisley (4) – ISLE.

Members of the Southern 100 Motorcycle Club have offered condolences to families of the three riders who lost their lives during this year’s event and have given assurances the races will continue in the future.

Clerk of the course Phil Taubman said: ‘Our thoughts are with those families who were bereaved by the tragic events this year.’

But he said the club had also received many messages of support from both competitors and spectators.

‘Thank you to everyone who has helped out in any way, we really appreciate what they have done. We especially have to thank those people who helped out at the accident scenes,’ he said.

Three men, all of whom lived in the island, died during this year’s event. On Monday David Jukes died near Ballakeighan corner. On the Thursday’s race day Mark Madsen-Mygdal lost his life in an accident near Stadium corner and sidecar passenger Paul Thomas also died in a separate accident.

One civil servant has been suspended on full pay since April 1 this year.

Alfred Cannan, chairman of the Civil Service Commission, said that no additional cost had been incurred following the suspension, other than the job holder’s pay.

He was replying to a Tynwald question from Peter Karran (Liberal Vannin, Onchan) who asked how many civil servants have been suspended on full pay and at what cost - and why ‘so many’ personnel and HR managers were employed at St Andrew’s House.

Mr Cannan said there were more than 16 full-time equivalent business partners and HR adviser roles in the Office of Human Resources, based mainly on the 2nd floor of St Andrew’s House on Finch Road, Douglas. These provided human resources services across the majority of government. He said for the year ending March 31 this year, the actual cost for salaries (including employers’ National Insurance contributions) in respect of these staff totalled £759,598.

Introduction of a centralised government procurement service has helped generate savings of more than £2 million over the past two years.

Treasury Minister Eddie Teare said that before a specialist procurement team based within Treasury was created in April 2011, there had been occasions when different government departments had been paying different prices for the same goods from the same supplier.

He said the new co-ordinated approach to buying goods and services is continuing to make an important contribution to the rebalancing of public finances.

Mr Teare said it had been expected the new approach would achieve savings of just under £1 million. However, it has also produced savings of £1.3 million and with some contracts running over three to four years, the figure was in excess of £2 million.

He said: ‘Government spends a considerable amount of money on the things it needs to provide a comprehensive range of services to the Manx public, so it made sense for departments to work together to achieve the best deal for the taxpayer.

‘I am pleased to say that the success of the central team has exceeded our initial expectations, with savings in excess of £2 million.’

He added: ‘Driving forward efficiencies and cost savings in the public sector is absolutely vital in the current financial climate. Procurement also has a wider role to play in terms of stimulating the local economy and ensuring government spends money on behalf of the taxpayer in a fair, open and transparent manner.’

The seven-strong central team is led by Neil Davidson, government’s head of procurement. In addition to securing cost savings through a more consistent and joined-up approach to purchasing, the team was also set up to ensure contracts are awarded as the result of a clear and open competition, all suppliers are given the opportunity to bid for government contracts and all suppliers are treated fairly and equally.

Mr Teare said the new approach had taken away the perception that there was a ‘magic circle’ of companies that were always successful at winning contracts. Collaborative working between Treasury and other departments has resulted in a 150 per cent increase in government tender activity, and the development of a new standard tender process which is far quicker than its UK equivalent.

Alex Downie MLC, who will chair the recently established Procurement Committee, said: ‘Procurement has a key role to play. The centralised team is making a real impact on public sector purchasing.’

Biodiversity brings benefits worth at least £40 million a year to the Manx economy, according to a recent study.

And this could be just the tip of the iceberg, believes Environment Minister Phil Gawne who has launched an ambitious plan to conserve the island’s biodiversity.

‘Managing our natural wealth to 2020’ is the Isle of Man’s first published biodiversity strategy.

Only a draft for consultation at this stage, the strategy aims, by 2020, to manage biodiversity change to minimise loss, maintain and where necessary restore or enhance native biodiversity and actively involve society in understanding, appreciating and safeguarding our biodiversity.

It has been drawn up in consultation with land and sea users, government officers and people in conservation organisations.

Mr Gawne said: ‘It is crucial that we act now before more species are lost.

‘I meet many individuals who manage the land and harvest the sea. I am confident that there is a growing appreciation of the important part these people can play in the conservation of our biodiversity. We need to influence key stakeholders, be it fishermen, farmers or land owners, the business sector or the wider public, if we are to make a significant progress in halting the decline in biodiversity, before 2020.’

Scotland recently identified that biodiversity is worth £21.5 billion a year to its economy. According to the Scottish Government, Scotland’s insects generate as much as £43 million a year for the economy (including pollination and pest control) and its peatlands are believed to store 10 times more carbon than all of the UK’s trees. The carbon stored as peat in Manx soils has been valued at £95 million.

The Manx strategy is to be reviewed in the light of the consultation responses and then laid before Tynwald. It will be followed by a delivery plan which will involve partners and the public as well as government.

Liz Charter, DEFA’s principal biodiversity officer, said: ‘Having and implementing a Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan is a valuable step for us as well as a key requirement of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This will provide us with the route map to deliver and prioritise conservation of our most important habitats and species.’

The consultation runs until September 30. Copies are available to read on line on the government website www.gov.im/consultations/

Germaine Greer is to be the after-dinner guest speaker at this year’s Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Admiistrators (ICSA) annual dinner, sponsored by RBS International, at Mount Murray Hotel and Country Club, Santon, on Friday, September 20.

Australian writer, academic, journalist and scholar of early modern English literature, Germaine Greer is widely regarded as one of the most significant feminist voices of the later 20th century and is listed in Prospect Magazine's 100 Greatest Thinkers.

Her ideas have created controversy ever since her book The Female Eunuch became an international best-seller in 1970, turning her into a household name and bringing her both adulation and opposition.

She is also the author of many other books including, Sex and Destiny: The Politics of Human Fertility (1984); The Change: Women, Ageing and the Menopause (1991) and Shakespeare's Wife (2007).

Gillian Prestwich, ICSA Isle of Man chairman, ‘We are delighted to welcome Germaine Greer and grateful to RBS International for their support, and to Appleby for sponsoring the pre-dinner Drinks Reception and to our MC Ron Berry for what promises to be a great event.’

To book individual tickets (£50 each) and corporate tables please visit http://icsa2013.eventbrite.com/ For enquiries please contact Gillian Prestwich, ICSA Isle of Man Chairman at gillianprestwich@manx.net

Germaine Greer has written for many periodicals and was a regular pundit on BBC2's The Late Review. She's also made frequent appearances on the BBC's satirical television show Have I Got News For You. Germaine Greer was one of the contestants on Celebrity Big Brother (2005). She'd previously said that the show was "as civilised as looking through the keyhole in your teenager's bedroom door" - she walked out of the show after five days inside the Big Brother house. In 2006 she appeared twice in an episode of Ricky Gervais' Extras playing herself.

ICSA President David Venus and Chief Executive Simon Osborne are to attend the dinner and David will present prizes and awards to students as part of the evening. Ron Berry has again kindly taken on the role of Master of Ceremonies.

The evening will also include a charity raffle in support of the new dedicated breast care unit at Noble’s Hospital.

Bill Shimmins, Isle of Man Director, RBS International: “After the successes of 2011 and 2012, we are delighted to again be involved with the ICSA Isle of Man Annual Dinner, a perfect occasion to highlight and celebrate the invaluable work of Chartered Secretaries in the Isle of Man’s ongoing success as an international business centre.”

net<mailto:gillianprestwich@manx.net> Booking deadline is Friday 30 August.

The company which guides businesses through complex but increasingly important ISO certification standards has been invited to join the influential Isle of Man Aerospace Cluster (IOMAC).

The invitation to ISO QA Isle of Man Ltd came from IOMAC chairman Adrian Moore and the company’s directors, Kevin Burnell and Lee McLellan, were officially welcomed during the Cluster’s latest forum at St John’s Mill, Tynwald Mills.

Mr Moore said: ‘We are delighted that a company of the calibre of ISO QA Isle of Man has accepted the invitation that sees the Cluster become a collaboration of 22 companies.’

The forum was also attended by David Bailey, executive director of North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA), and Kelvin Davies, of BAE Systems, along with Cluster representatives.

Mr Burnell said: ‘We regard membership of IOMAC as important recognition of the work we do in guiding companies through the complex requirements of very diverse standards they are now expected to achieve and maintain.’

These include ISO9001 Quality, ISO14001 Environment, ISO18001 Health and Safety, ISO27001 Information Security and ISO50001 Energy.

ISO QA Isle of Man Ltd also conduct commercial energy audits, looking at how companies can best use the energy and also how to save energy costs.

The Cluster offers cost-effective, joined-up solutions for its global blue chip client base.

As part of the North West Aerospace Alliance, one of the most active aerospace clusters in Europe, the IOMAC is part of one of the most influential ‘aerospace hotspots’ in the British Isles.

Mr Moore said: ‘We are able to provide design and manufactured solutions with a reputation for one-stop shop capability and the utilisation of an international supply chain.

‘We are proud to say we are partners to virtually every major civil and military project in the world today.’

A barbecue lunch will take place at the home of Peter and Julia Vanderpump on Sunday (July 28) to celebrate the achievements of the Lung Cancer Fund as it closes.

After 22 years of fundraising the Lung Cancer Fund is closing down as the committee members wish to retire.

However, during this time an amazing sum of more than £500,000 has been raised.

The lunch at 1 Bradda Glen Close, Port Erin, celebrates this great achievement and will acknowledge the work of committee members and supporters, both the past and present.

The Lung Cancer Fund was founded in 1990 by Professor Ray Donnelly, FRCS, a thoracic surgeon working in Liverpool, to raise awareness of the problem of lung cancer, to promote an intensive research programme into the causes, prevention and management of the disease, to provide support for patients and their families during the course of their illness and to encourage people not to smoke, especially children.

1991 saw the first support group formed in the island with Peter Vanderpump as the chairman and Lieutenant Governor Sir Laurence Jones and Lady Jones becoming patrons. Tragically Sir Laurence lost his life to lung cancer at the very end of his term of office here.

During 1993, much loved UK entertainer Roy Castle was diagnosed with lung cancer. Roy agreed to give his name to a special appeal for the Lung Cancer Fund to raise £12 million to build, equip and run the centre. Roy Castle spent much of the last year of his life helping to raise millions of pounds for the appeal.

Sadly Roy died in September 1994 and his heroic contribution was recognised by changing the name of the charity to The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

Funds raised in the island have helped to fund research, aided the discouragement of smoking, and have raised awareness of the importance of an early diagnosis.

Lots of support has also been given to those living with lung cancer.

In the UK, lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men, with more than 23,000 new cases diagnosed in 2010. More than 18,500 women were diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010, making it the third most common cancer in women.

Research is making progress on early lung cancer detection and means of identifying at an early stage those who are at risk of developing the disease.

If anyone in the island wishes to fund raise for lung cancer call Mr Vanderpump on 832567.

Two school choirs have released a CD to raise money for nurture provision.

Cronk-y-Berry School and St Ninian’s High School’s choirs launched the CD with a concert at St Ninian’s lower school’s site at Bemahague.

The project was organised by Jenni Garrett, performing arts leader at Cronk-y-Berry School to smooth the transition for primary school pupils moving up to the secondary school.

The CD, named Dreams of Music, includes songs performed by each choir, as well as one by all pupils and staff of Cronk-y-Berry, St Ninian’s choir and accompanied by their band.

Some 270 copies were produced thanks to St Ninian’s IT technician Danny Kneale, with support from Cronk-y-Berry’s Carl Clague.

People are being warned that it is illegal to swim in the island’s reservoirs.

The Water and Sewerage Authority has sent out a message reminding the public of the dangers of swimming in inland waters, such as quarries and reservoirs.

Its press statement says that every year emergency services across the UK are called to incidents where people, particularly young people, get into difficulty after taking a dip in open water. This has, on a number of occasions, led to a tragedy and the loss of life.

A Water Authority spokesman said: ‘Although the still water may seem harmless, it can be an insidious killer which can claim a life in minutes.

‘There are dangers due to strong underwater currents, particularly if water is being drawn off through the large diameter pipes which lie beneath the surface, but it is more often the temperature of these deep bodies of water which has been the most significant factor when fatalities occur.’

Chief executive Peter Winstanley added: ‘Swimming is prohibited in all the authority’ s reservoirs but we also want to take the opportunity to advise the public of the dangers of swimming in all inland waters and to stay safe this summer.’

Elite Fitness will be operating from 6am to 9pm every weekday and is based on Spring Valley Industrial Estate.

Saturday hours are 8am to 5pm and on Sunday it will be 9am to 4pm.

Business News visited the premises, sandwiched between Lights of Mann and Pets at Home and found it was a hive of activity as final preparations were being made.

The business’s three directors, businesswoman Christina Horrox, Kevin Furlong and Stefan White are looking forward to the challenge with plenty of competition from other gyms in the island.

Christina said the 6am start would be ideal for many business people.

She said: ‘The beauty of being up here is that there are so many businesses that start at 7am and people have shown an interest in being able to come in before they go to work.’

She said there had been ‘a lot’ of investment in the business.

‘She said Kevin had ‘always had the dream’ of helping to run a gym business.

Kevin confirmed he had always had an interest in one day running his own gym.

Manxman Stefan said he had been going to gyms for many years. Last year he was made redundant from Scottish Widows and used his redundancy package to invest in to the gym with Kevin and Christina.

He said: ‘The opportunity and timing came right and Kevin and I had been discussing things together about doing something.

Manxwoman Christina said Kevin had been her personal trainer and ‘he told me about his dreams and I decided to come on board after being invited.’

Christina is married to retired businessman Ian Horrox.

Kevin described the bringing together of the trio as a ‘trinity’ and they worked together well.

Kevin, originally from Ireland, said he first came to the Island in 1989 and, having always had a love of athletics, joined a local athletics team, resulting in his representing the Isle of Man in the Commonwealth Games, UK Nationals and Island Games over 10 years.

He said his best memory was competing in the 16th Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

‘It is through engineering and fitness training that has brought me to where I am today; a part owner, director and personal trainer with Elite Fitness.’

Stefan said: ‘My vision for Elite Fitness is all about realising potential. At Elite Fitness we aim to help members reach their objectives, whatever they may be.’

The three directors pride themselves on the motto: Every Life Improves Through Exercise, an acronym for Elite.

Christina acknowledged there is competition from other gyms in the island and said they were not afraid of this and added it was a healthy thing that people could make a choice.

She is using her business acumen while fellow directors Kevin and Stefan will be ‘on the front line’ heading up the work with customers.

The gym will feature some of the most up-to-date gear including cutting edge cardiovascular and strength equipment.

Facilities include:

l A private studio for personal training and classes

l All new cardiovascular and aerobic stations, with the ultimate in treadmills, cross-trainers, rowers, bikes, steppers and stairmills.

l A complete range of newly designed single station weight machines covering every muscle group

l A free weights section including dumbbells, Olympic plates and bars and the 3D Max Rack.

Also promised is a dedicated warm up and stretch area, with social area, discounted supplements and drinks and heated changing rooms with individual lockers, high powered showers and free use of hairdryers and straighteners.

There will be an open weekend for Elite Fitness this weekend before the business officially opens next Monday.

www.elitefitness.im

625 963 or 366 218

Email: info@elitefitness.im

Finance officials from small countries have praised the island for its warm welcome.

The fifth Small Countries Financial Management Programme took place at the Nunnery last week before moving on to Oxford this week.

Executive director Tim Cullen said it was a ‘wonderful’ group of people and praised the island’s government for helping to secure the programme’s longer term future. Intensive classes were taking place all week but on Wednesday night a reception was held at Government House.

And on Thursday night there was a glittering celebratory dinner at the Villa Marina organised by Peter Long, chairman of the Capital International Group.

Delegates were over the moon with the way they had been welcomed and the quality and quantity of the programme with a world-class line-up of lecturers.

Ismael Naukosho, a high ranking official from the Bank of Namibia. said the programme was helping him ‘think outside the box’ and he would certainly return to Africa buoyed up with plenty to help him cope with the challenges ahead.

Nelmah Joseph from the Solomon Islands and Serah Obed from Vanuatua also praised the genuine island greeting.

Momodou Njie, deputy director and head of risk mana gement in the Central Bank of the Gambia, said: ‘So far the course has been very informative and knowledgeable.

‘Definitely with the way it ig going by the end of the programme every participant will be able to deal with their respective challenges appropriately when they go back to their countries.

‘On my behalf, based on the lecturers we have heard so far, I am certain that my challenges will be addressed by the end of the programme.’

Tim Cullen, executive director of the programme told Business News: ‘This is a really wonderful group of people. They bonded almost instantly which is really great.

‘You have people from the Caribbean, the Pacific, the Indian Ocean, mainland Africa and one person from Europe, Montenegro, all sitting, having their meals together, but they are dead serious in the classes and they are really good.’

Twenty four people from 22 countries have been taking part in classes at The Nunnery.

Among the lecturers was Gregory Ambrosio from Miami who was teaching on cash forecasting for governments which includes topics such as cash mangement and interacts closely with debt management.

Deemster David Doyle hosted the reception in the absence of the governor Adam Wood, who was off the island and sent his apologies.

Mr Doyle told everyone: ‘On behalf of His Excellency I would like to extend to each and every one of you a very warm Manx welcome to Government House here in the sunny Isle of Man.

‘It is good to see people from so many different countries gathered here on this wonderful little island.

‘Nowadays I am pleased to report that we tend to see the issues of the day through the eyes of the world.

‘We are all a part of a very small global community and we are all dependent upon each other for our very survival.

‘We also have a great deal to learn from each other.The Isle of Man is extremely proud to host this event. This event speaks volumes for our genuine desire to occupy a responsible place in the world.

‘So you are all very welcome here . I hope you enjoy and you learn from your time in the island and that we too learn from your knowledge and experiences from your home countries and jurisdictions. And during your deliberations on economic, regulatory and financial matters please do not forget to remember that the rule of law adds economic value. That is important.’

Democracy is in action at Michael School, where the 10-strong council has its own, dedicated notice-board on which it displays minutes of its meetings and details of its decision-making.

The school council – recently expanded to include the youngest pupils – was instrumental in gaining the school the prestigious Investing in Children award.

In one of his last formal tasks in a school before his retirement, Department of Education and Children chief executive Stuart Dobson presented Michael pupils with their award.

Michael, which has 114 pupils on its roll, is the sixth school to secure the benchmark since local evaluators Nigel Bennett (St John’s Primary) and Annette Baker (Ballakermeen High) were appointed last spring.

Schools seeking the award must prove they not only listen to, but act on, pupils’ initiatives.

Pupils came up with the idea for a ‘primary pounds’ scheme, where credits for good behaviour go into their very own bank and are used to pay for treats.

Children have also led the way in the transformation of their library, where the books were ‘falling to bits’.

They are turning a spare classroom into a games room, named The Wonder Room, where they can spend breaks and lunchtimes.

And they have chosen new equipment for the playground.

Changes are afoot in the dining room, where new seating arrangements will mean less noise.

Children have even been on a fact-finding visit to another primary school to see what worked there at lunchtimes.

Michael school’s pupils have input into their learning and choose the content of, and in several cases even run, their own clubs.

They moved forward the cycling proficiency test from the end to the beginning of Year 6 (ages 10 and 11).

This means they will now be able to use their new-found skills on two wheels to bike to school.

The school council has a suggestion box and members gather ideas from classmates at break times and even ‘by appointment’.

When Mr Bennett visited the school to see if it qualified for Investing in Children status, one pupil told him: ‘Our school has changed so much and it’s much better now.’ Another said: ‘I actually like school.’

Head teacher Tony Robinson said: ‘We are very proud of the children at Michael School, who now play a major role in moving the school forward.

‘The school council has done an excellent job in getting things done.

‘Our challenge is to continue to encourage innovation and see projects through with the help of all of the children.’

He added: ‘The children are particularly pleased with the primary pounds initiative, which they feel rewards children who make good choices in their behaviour.

‘I agree with the quote from one of the children, in the report, who said: “We love the changes we have made to the school and itʼs all fun”.’

Swimmer Carina Crawford was part of a team that successfully swam the English Channel – at their second attempt.

The team were determined to touch land in France after their first attempt, which because of the strong receding tidal current saw them unable to reach the shore despite swimming more than the Channel’s 21 nautical mile width.

Carina, aged 31, who grew up in Ramsey but now lives in London, said: ‘We were determined to give it another go as soon as possible after training very hard for this challenge.

‘Although exhausted we are ecstatic to have reached France this time.’

The team landed at Cap Gris Nez in France after swimming a total of 14 hours and 6 minutes.

The sleep-deprived team had set off from Dover in the dark at 3.20am.

She said: ‘We encountered expansive shoals of jellyfish, although I was luckier than others to not get stung, and I even got tangled in masses of seaweed at one point.’

Carina added: ‘We were very fortunate with the calm weather and a glassy sea most of the way.

‘We were also very excited when we spotted dolphins’.

As the team neared France it was Carina’s turn to swim hard against the tide, fighting the currents that would keep them at sea.

‘We steadily made progress towards the headland,’ she said.

‘There was a nail-biting moment as we were swept along the rocky French coast, just past the cape.

‘Because of the strength of the current there it seemed that we were never going to hit land.

‘It was a huge team effort.’

The team raised more than £7,000 for the charity Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART), which will be used to educate children affected by conflict in Sudan and South Sudan, and fight child malnutrition on the isolated Atauro Island, just off the coast of Timor Leste.

Carina said: ‘I am proud that the Isle of Man International Development Committee is supporting HART’s other projects in both these regions.’