The Manx public are being warned to watch out for dodgy fireworks.

The Office of Fair Trading has contacted iomtoday.co.im to say it has received an unsubstantiated report of fireworks being sold out of a van in a pub car park.

Due to the secretive nature of the alleged sales, there is a distinct possibility that the fireworks may be banned types and/or non-compliant with the relevant safety standards.

John Peet, chief inspector of trading standards at the OFT said: ‘Do not buy fireworks from anyone selling them out of the back of a van.

‘Buy them locally from licensed shops which have been inspected by our trading standards staff or from other reputable sources. Fireworks can cause horrific personal injuries and it is simply ridiculous to even consider buying them from dodgy sources.’

Anyone with any information about the alleged sales, or anyone who has bought fireworks from someone selling them out of the back of a van should contact trading standards on 686500 or the police.

The OFT says that anyone who has bought any fireworks in this manner should not light them.

A remembrance service which would normally have been held at All Saints’ Church in Lonan is to be held at Laxey’s Methodist Church in Minorca Hill.

Secretary of the Lonan and Laxey Royal British Legion Graham Hooton made the announcement after we previously reported that the All Saints’ Church had been closed due to health and safety reasons.

The service at the methodist church will take place on Sunday, November 9 at 3pm.

If anyone requires further information please call Mr Hooton on 434063.

Fears have grown over safety at Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant after photos emerged of cracked storage ponds.

The plant, just 34 miles from the island, has caused controversy since it was completed in 1997.

The photos, published by The Guardian newspaper, show two storage ponds containing hundreds of radioactive fuel rods at the plant with cracked concrete, seagulls bathing in the water and weeds growing around derelict machinery.

A spokesman for Sellafield Ltd said that the ponds, which are 60 years old, will not be cleaned up for decades.

Nuclear safety expert John Large told The Ecologist magazine: ‘The concrete is in dreadful condition, degraded and fractured, and if the ponds drain, the Magnox fuel will ignite and that would lead to a massive release of radioactive material. I am very disturbed at the run-down condition of the structures and support services. In my opinion there is a significant risk that the system could fail.

‘I would say there’s many hundreds of tonnes in there. It could give rise to a very big radioactive release.

‘It’s not for me to make comparisons with Chernobyl or Fukushima, but it could certainly cause serious contamination over a wide area and for a very long time.’

A spokesman for the Manx Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) said: ‘The Isle of Man Government receives regular reports on the safety of Sellafield’s nuclear waste stores, some of which date back to the earliest days of the nuclear age.’

Dr Paul McKenna, senior scientist at the Isle of Man’s Government Laboratory, which is part of DEFA, is one of the representatives on the nuclear site liaison committee which meets regularly.

Dr McKenna said: ‘Sellafield stores large volumes of hazardous nuclear waste and we receive regular reports regarding the storage ponds and silos. We have also been informed of how the structural integrity of the storage ponds and silos is being maintained, to give a sufficient number of years’ lifespan to allow the clean-up projects to be completed.

‘They would not comply with modern standards if they were built today, but they are being kept tolerably safe, as they must be, for as many years as it takes to remove and repackage all of the nuclear wastes they contain.’

Think of detective agencies and it conjures up a 1950s style vision of men in raincoats lurking in dark shadows smoking filter cigs.

This somewhat hackeneyed view could not be further away from the truth with Expol Ltd.

The business will be 10 years old in February next year and it has gone from strength to strength.

During that time it has gained a cracking reputation for doing a good job and also saving ‘millions of pounds’ for insurance companies dealing with dodgy insurance claims both off and on the island, Expol’s bosses told Business News.

David Bell formed Expol Ltd when he retired as a detective chief inspector with the Manx constabulary in 2005. His colleague, former detective inspector Robert Kinrade, joined the firm as a director in 2007.

‘It started life in my back room at home’ recalled Mr Bell.

Today there are four permanent staff and the team can call on several experienced part timers when necessary.

Expol has expanded to take up two floors of an office building in Drinkwater Street, Douglas.

Mr Bell said he started the business after noticing there was a ‘niche market’ in this type of business. ‘I wasn’t entirely sure where it would take me and we have just continued to grow year on year.

‘Now we have shaped the business and branched out to different areas.

He said the the main business is as corporate risk consultants and forensic investigators

But there’s also ExpolCheck which is a pre-employment screening division, training courses and due diligence which involves vetting and screening. Debt recovery is another aspect of their work.

The men have a wide array of clients ranging from local authorities to private companies, a real cross section, they say. Mr Bell says surveillance work does sometimes figure in their operations.

He said: ‘Surveillance work will always be a part of what an investigation company does.’

Mr Bell and Mr Kinrade told Business News they had helped save ‘literally’ millions of pounds for insurance companies over work involving fraudulent insurance claims.

Mr Kinrade said: ‘We can honestly say we have saved insurance companies millions of pounds by exposing false claims both on and off the island.’

Mr Kinrade said many cases involving insurance fraud were dealt with before going to court. Many fraud cases involved claiming for alleged injuries at work. He told Business News there were cases where people had ‘completely overegged their pudding.’

The two former cops love their work which, on occasion has led them away from their desks in foreign travel on business.

‘People are picking up on the service we provide not just in the Isle of Man but further afield,’ said Mr Kinrade.

Both Mr Kinrade and Mr Bell were senior investigating officers, Home Office trained and qualified in the investigation of serious crime.

Between both directors they clocked up 47 years’ service with the Manx police force.

Last week Mr Kinrade was contacted by London radio station LBC to comment on the apparent security breach when UK PM David Cameron was pushed by a jogger.

Mr Kinrade said he welcomed the review of security. He and Mr Bell used to volunteer for protection duties, when they were serving officers, for royals and top political figures who visited the island.

Mr Bell said it was no surpise there was a global aspect to their work involving due diligence and vetting procedures when Isle of Man companies and trusts had an international flavour to them.

Mr Bell added it was important to note that since the economic crisis of 2008 companies and businesses had become much more careful about who they did business with.

‘There is more of a tendency now to check out who you are doing business with rather than just relying on the old business practices that used to exist.’

Training courses on internet safety run by Expol have also attracted people from the UK.

Expol is a leading provider of risk consultancy and forensic investigation services. We can assist you in resolving, mitigating and avoiding complex, commercial and personal challenges.

Our team has extensive experience of advising corporates, eGaming sector, financial institutions and private clients on matters of fraud, asset tracing, litigation, criminal defence, commercial disputes, planning and crisis management.

The Expol group consisting of Expol Limited, ExpolCheck and ExpolCollect enables clients to benefit from a combination of services using highly experienced specialists.

Confidentiality and discretion are guaranteed.

A full member of the Association of British Investigators, former Detective Chief Inspector David Bell is an experienced and accredited former Senior Investigating Officer, Crime Manager, Incident Commander, Hostage Negotiator and Close Protection Officer. Having held a number of senior police posts, he has the distinction of having been previously vetted by the U K Home Office. David has developed the reputation as being a specialist in global, enhanced due diligence enquiries. He has forged strong links with the finance and corporate sector on the Island.

Rob Kinrade, recently retired as a Detective Inspector and in his Police career headed the Drug Squad, Surveillance Unit and Serious Crime Unit. He is a qualified and accredited Senior Investigating Officer in covert and overt operations, Firearms Instructor, Special Branch Officer and Close Protection Officer. Rob leads in the Training Division of the company and is currently working closely with the eGaming industry on the Island to provide a holistic service to their management of risk.

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A disgruntled would be bus traveller was annoyed to be refused a bus pass because new rules are already in place just days after being announced.

Derek Wiggall thought he could beat a rise in the bus pass eligibility age by applying for one immediately before new measures came into force to raise the age to 65 but was told the measures were already in place and he was too late.

Measures to restrict bus passes to those over the state retirement age were announced recently by the Department of Infrastructure which also said so-called grandfather rights would apply meaning those aged under 65 who already had a bus pass would not need to relinquish it.

Mr Wiggall, who lives in Ramsey, said various reports on the change in the rules, including the one on the DOI’s own website, said an implementation date was yet to be confirmed.

‘I spent £5 on passport photographs to get one to submit with my concessionary travel card application. Imagine my surprise and annoyance when I was told the DoI had introduced the measure to raise the age for the travel card from 60 to 65 immediately, on the very day the story appeared.’

He added: ‘A lady in front of me was caught out by this too. There are going to be some very annoyed people.’

In addition, the Isle of Man transport web site now says the minimum travel card age is state retirement age and qualifying applicants must also have been an Isle of Man resident for at least six months The passes allow free travel with Bus Vannin and on Isle of Man Railways.

Now Mr Wiggall says he wants to know how the change could have come into force without actually being formally announced and whether it will be announced retrospectively.

‘I would also like to know if they are going to apologise for misleading people and I think it should be brought to people’s attention what has happened and the way in which it has been handled.’

A spokesman for the government’s Department of Infrastructure said: ‘There is no requirement in the relevant legislation, the Transport Act, for notice to be given to implement the change to bus pass provision. The diecision on bus passes reflects government policy to bring the provision of certain services in line with the state retirement age.

‘Following the announcement on October 22, the department has stopped issuing new bas passes for people over 60 but under the state pension age. However all those who already have passes but have not reached retirement age will be allowed to continue to use them.’

A DOI statement reminded people they could apply for a pass through the Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal as the passes are not issued by the post office.

The bus pass announcement was one of a string of measures announced by the DOI last month. Other measures included a £25 charge for residents applying for a residents’ parking permit, a reduction in the length of stay for cars left in the reverse parking spaces on Loch Promenade, and pay and display charges for vehicles left on the promenade walkway.

The reduction from two hours’ stay to one on the Loch Promenade reverse parking comes into effect in January. Implementation dates for the other measures will be announced soon, the DoI has said.

Douglas will be staging its Bonfire Night celebrations tomorrow (Friday) night.

Proceedings get under way at 7pm with a best guy competition at the War Memorial on the promenade. Anyone wishing to take part should take their entries to the staged area from 6.30pm.

The bonfire will be lit at 7.15pm followed by a fireworks display at 7.30pm.

A fireworks display will also be taking place Michael School tomorrow, starting at 7pm.

Admission is free but donations are welcome on the gate. Kirk Michael Chippy will be in attendance to provide refreshments.

Organisers say the event will go ahead ‘unless the weather is appalling’.

l Email your Bonfire Night and fireworks pictures to newsdesk@newsiom.co.im

The island has a new director of tourism – a post that was scrapped three and a half years ago.

Robin Bischert has been appointed director of tourism and the visitor economy for a three year fixed term.

He says he is looking forward to developing the island’s potential as a ‘unique and distinctive’ destination.

The last director, Rod Nipper, had been just two years in the job when he was ousted in April 2011 in a reorganisation that halved the dedicated tourism division.

Before taking up his new role this month, Mr Bischert was interim chief executive at the Royal Greenwich Destination Management Company where he oversaw marketing during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Before that, he spent seven years as chief executive of Bath Tourism Plus Limited, a public and private sector partnership.

Mr Bischert also has broad strategic leadership experience having been a management consultant with Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers in the UK and Middle East, and having had senior management roles with Wembley Stadium Group and Parkwood Leisure Limited.

Mr Bischert said ‘I have spent the last few weeks meeting with key industry stakeholders to understand the main issues they face.

‘I’m looking forward to working closely with these public and private sector partners in developing the Isle of Man’s true potential as a unique and distinctive visitor destination’.

David Cretney MHK, the Department of Economic Development’s political member with responsibility for tourism, said: ‘I am delighted that in Robin Bischert we have secured the services of such a highly respected and experienced individual.

‘The visitor economy is a vital sector as it supports thousands of local jobs and provides the infrastructure for our tourism, hospitality, retail and leisure services.

‘As highlighted in the Vision2020 strategy, it also supports creation of our lifestyle advantages and good transport links important for all our business sectors.’

Details of the Welfare State shake-up dominate this week’s Manx Independent.

There could be big changes on the way for pensions and benefits.

This week’s special edition has more.

Also this week, an MHK tells us why he believes the island’s tax cap simply isn’t working.

We talk to a doctor from the Isle of Man who’s treating people with ebola in Sierra Leone.

We report on a court case in which 25-year-old man assaulted a 15-year-old boy at the TT funfair.

Our reporter was in the House of Keys when Phil Gawne, the Infrastructure Minister, described his own proposal for payments for parking permits ‘ridiculous’.

In this week’s 72-page edition, we look forward to a number of Christmas events and have a Christmas countdown.

With 12 action-packed pages of sport, your opinions, the Isle of Man’s What’s On guide and your seven-day television guide, the Manx Independent is a great read this week.

Muriel Garland, Chair of Zero Waste Mann, explains how the charity is working in partnership with Braddan Commissioners to improve recycling in the parish-and more!

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When Braddan Commissioners approached Zero Waste Mann to develop a campaign for recycling, I must admit I had to get out the map and see exactly where Braddan was. I know one side of Vicarage Road is in the parish and the other is in Douglas.

I was surprised to see that the parish of Braddan stretches from Port Soderick right up to Injebreck Reservoir, and that half the Mount Murray estate is in Braddan, the rest in Santon.

There were 1,350 households with 3,586 people living in Braddan at the last census.

Braddan Commissioners provide a fortnightly kerb-side collection service to most of their residents. There are a few places where access is difficult, e.g. blocks of flats.

So we decided the best way to get our message out would be to deliver a leaflet to every household in the parish served by kerbside collection.

The leaflet explained what should go in the boxes: paper and card in the blue one, plastic bottles, cans and aerosols in the green one.

It also pointed out that as charges at the incinerator are going to increase, the financial case for recycling makes more and more sense.

Not only have we delivered more than 1,000 leaflets, we also held a successful beach clean event at Port Soderick with Bill Dale and his Beach Buddies in October. Then we heard that the Keep Britain Tidy Group was celebrating its Diamond Jubilee by re-launching the Wombles. And we just couldn’t resist.

Cat Turner of the Isle of Man Friends of the Earth volunteered to be Uncle Bulgaria for the occasion, and we set off on a Wombling Walk, picking up litter round the parish one Sunday afternoon.

It’s surprising what you find by the side of the roads and in the hedges – hub caps, number plates, a box of 24 tiles, as well as the usual sweet wrappers, drinks cans and plastic bottles.

Several small Wombles visited the parish of Braddan during the week and were spotted (and photographed) in Union Mills, Port Soderick, West Baldwin and even on the see-saw at Cronk Grianagh Park.

The Big Tidy Up attracted adults and children who enjoyed their Wombling Walk along the Heritage Trail down to Braddan Bridge.

Following the leaflet drop, eight people rang the Commissioners’ Office to ask for recycling boxes. They were householders who have moved into the area, didn’t have kerbside boxes and had no calendar to explain when the collection days were. They were all provided with new kerbside boxes and calendars.

I think some people must take their boxes when they move house. OK, they may make good toys boxes, but this creates a problem for new occupants.

The clerk to Braddan Commissioners, Colin Whiteway, and deputy clerk and financial officer Moira Radcliffe have been very helpful in providing information and helping to design the leaflet, together with their partners at Mannin Media.

They have put up a recycling display in the Commissioners’ Office and have started collecting batteries and printer cartridges for recycling. They have also given us access to their notice boards so we can put up notices about the No Waste in Braddan campaign and advertise our events around the parish.

The fortnightly kerbside collection in Braddan is carried out by staff from Douglas Corporation. Their figures will show whether the amount of paper, cans and bottles collected for recycling is being maintained, or indeed increasing, as a result of our campaign.

We can’t understand why a few people don’t take part. If they haven’t got boxes they can always ring Colin or Moira on 852808 and get some. If they need help with lifting, that is available. If they need convincing about the value of recycling they can look at the commissioners’ excellent website www.braddan.im and see pictures of plastic bottles baled and ready for shipment to the UK – to be sold for money!

At Zero Waste Mann we are delighted to be sharing our enthusiasm with Braddan Commissioners. We hope people in the parish will get behind the campaign, continue to use the fortnightly kerbside collection and also think about other ways in which they can reduce waste and re-use items.

My daughter has just sent me some information about the Big Garage Trail they have in Australia, where she lives. They have hundreds of garage sales on the same weekend. Even the Australian Parliament takes part and clears out some of its books and furniture. Maybe in the Spring 2015 we can have a Garage Sale Trail in Braddan, from Port Soderick to Injebreck – and half way around the Mount Murray estate.

Alexander Robert Holt and Alison Jane Holt, of Millbrook, Tromode Road, Douglas, bought The Meadows, Port-e-chee Estate, Tromode Road, Douglas, for £2,500,000.

It was bought from Michael David Blake and Wendy Elise Blake, of Cheshire.

Other recent transactions lodged at the General Registry in Douglas are as follows:

Tracey Louise Leahy sold Cricklewood, Main Road, Union Mills, for £450,000, to Laurel Bank Farms Limited, whose registered office is situated at Sunnymeade Grange, Quine’s Hill, Port Soderick.

Anthony Philip Walters, by trustees, Susan Angela Hughes, as trustee, and Richard Simpson, as trustee, sold 8 Church View, Ballaugh, for £370,000, to Trevor Michael Wood and Shirlet Anne Wood, of 6 Fuchsia Close, Glen Vine.

Stephen Hill sold 18 Ballaughton, Manor Hill, Douglas, for £327,000, to Andrew James Campbell and Sarah Louise Campbell, of 6 Ballaglonney, Crosby.

Andrew Michael Kennington and Noreen Helen Kennington, sold 13 Cronk-y-Berry Mooar, Douglas, for £282,500, to Craig Pickering and Claire Louise Pickering, of 6 Strathallan Park, Onchan.

Rosamond Richmond, of 13 Terence Avenue, Douglas, sold 56 Harbour Road, Douglas, for £249,000, to Mark Edward England and Jennifer Laura England, of Apartment 5, Hampton House,

Toby Nicholas Smith, sold 13 Alexander Drive, Douglas, for £247,500, to Simon Philip Booth and Donna Julie Booth, of 33 Sunningdale Drive, Onchan.

Robert Arthur Cannell and Jacqueline Mary Teare, of 46 Ballalough, Andreas, sold 10 Birchley Terrace, Onchan, for £194,000, to Anthony Thomas Mingins and Alyson Susan Moore, of 2 Cooper’s Close.

Orla Mary Griffin, of 116 Cronk Liauyr, Tromode Park, Douglas, sold 12 Hillcroft Green, Governor’s Hill, Douglas, for £190,500, to Elmfield Limited, whose registered office is situated at 99 Cronk Liauyr, Tromode Park, Douglas.

The Department of Economic Development, whose registered office is situated at St George’s Court, Upper Church Street, Douglas, sold land at Balthane, Ballasalla, for £129,500, to the Department of Infrastructure, whose registered office is situated at the Sea Terminal Building, Douglas.

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We publish details of all sales unless we receive a written request from the police or probation service.

HURRAH I say, hurrah for good old Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK and his new programme of car parking changes and charges in Douglas.

Yes, I know other people won’t be cheering Phil on. They have to pay up.

But I don’t. No, not little old (and that’s the secret) me. I have never got away with anything of this kind before.

To explain, the first thing is that I don’t have to use the car parks in downtown Douglas anyway.

I have my Blue Badge which gives me a handy little disabled parking space in Market Street, just outside the back door of the Clear Pharmacy where I go for my (free) prescription drugs.

I also welcome the introduction of a pay and display parking system on the Douglas seafront walkway in the winter months.

I won’t have any need to use it.

But I will be able to relish driving along the walkway on my way to work every day, unimpeded by pedestrian crossings and watching other motorists paying and displaying and looking grumpy.

My free bus pass is also unaffected. I have what Phil describes as ‘Grandfather Rights’ to mine.

I know these rights also oblige me to spend a lot of money on my grandchildren. But there’s nothing I could do about that even if I could

All I can say to Phil is: ‘Best of luck in September 2015 old friend. I would still vote for you if I was in the position to do so.’

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AFTER Clifford Irving’s definition of Manxness revealed last week I have another one to recall. One of my old friends is the Captain of the Parish of Rushen, Mr Stan Clucas, who once announced to the Examiner: ‘You are not a true Manxman unless you’ve got a Shoprite bag.’

On his birthday shortly afterwards he was sent dozens of them.

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I HAVE been asked who was the first foreign footballer to be imported to play for an English club. I think I know the answer. It was the Argentinian player Osvaldo Ardiles in 1978. Or was it?

I wonder because when it happened my late boyhood friend Peter Dodsworth alleged that the player was not named Ardiles but R.D. Lace who joined Tottenham Hotspur from Laxey FC.

That’s foreign enough.

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A LETTER in, unsigned, but I will use it.

The writer referred to the story in the Manx Independent referring to an exhibition of iron lungs for Polio Week. ‘This reminded me of a funny/practical application.

Working at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in the 1950s an iron lung was urgently needed for a patient.

There was one on show in a Chamber of Horrors show. It was borrowed, repaired, and it worked.’

Breathed new life into it?

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The Oldie magazine tells of Sir Terry Wogan’s five favourite oldie song titles: ‘Stairlift to Heaven’, ‘The Incontinental’, ‘Hit Me With Your Walking Stick’, ‘Doo Dah Dribble Dribble’ and ‘Dewdrops Keep Falling From My Nose.’

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THIS week’s Manx crossword clue, sent in by Frank Bond, was in the Yorkshire Post as follows: ‘Man possibly in Paisley (4) – ISLE.’

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PUN for the Educated: King Osymandias of Assyria was running low on cash after years of war with the Hittites.

His last great possession was the Star of the Euphrates, the most valuable diamond in the ancient world.

Desperate, he went to Croesus the pawnbroker to ask for a loan.

Croesus said: ‘I’ll give you 100,000 dinars for it.’

The King protested: ‘But I paid a million dinars for it. Don’t you know who I am? I am the king.’

Croesus replied: ‘when you wish to pawn a star, makes no difference who you are.’

Satirical comedy Yes, Prime Minister made the move from TV to stage in 2010 when its writers adapted their series.

And following its success in the West End, The Legion Players have chosen Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn’s wry take on Whitehall as their latest production.

Director Stephanie Gray explained: ‘It’s contemporary, superbly written and I was a great fan of Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister when it was on TV.

‘The script has translated very well from camera to stage. It’s a power game between the civil servants and the politicians, played against a backdrop of dysfunctional international relationships – no comment on the parallel with real life!’

Yes Minister first aired on BBC2 in 1980. The story focused on the political shenanigans surrounding three main characters: James (or Jim) Hacker MP, Sir Humphrey Appleby and Bernard Woolley.

The political party of Jim Hacker has won the election and forms a new government. Jim is appointed Minister for the Department of Administrative Affairs, working with his Permanent Secretary Sir Humphrey Appleby.

Jim has to make sure he remains popular and that he carries out cabinet’s policies, while Sir Humphrey is interested in securing, and he hopes expanding, both his staffing allocation and budget.

These interests aren’t always mutually supportive but on occasion their interests coincide. Bernard Woolley, Jim’s Principal Private Secretary, sits thanklessly between the two.

By 1986 and the start of the new BBC series Yes, Prime Minister ambitions and surrounding have changed. As Prime Minister, Jim is still obsessed with popularity among voters, but he now also wants to be remembered as a great statesman.

Sir Humphrey, now Cabinet Secretary, has a broader responsibility – to maintain the power base and position of the whole civil service - as well as his own. He has a powerful adversary in the form of Sir Frank Gordon, Permanent Secretary of the Treasury.

The stage play ran at the Gielgud Theatre, in London’s West End until January 2011.

The production, set at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country residence, follows the spirit and tone of the original series, but has updated to take account of the coalition government. It is more provocative and risqué, and introduces a new character, Claire Sutton, head of the policy unit at Number 10.

The cast comprises Howard Caine as James ‘Jim’ Hacker, Chris Caine as Sir Humphrey Appleby, John Walker as Bernard Woolley, Rachael McWhinnie as Claire Sutton, John Snelling as Kumranistan ambassador, Mike Trout as BBC Director General and Paul Moulton as a BBC reporter.

Producer is Benjamin Heath. Stephanie’s parents, Olga and Michael, have spent hours on set dressing. And Graham Thomas is responsible for the set.

Stephanie said the main challenge in putting the show together lay in the script: ‘It is very much play of words. Its success lies in sharp delivery, timing and the interaction and reaction between the characters on stage.’

Established in 1932 by soldiers returning from the Great War, The Legion Players‘ inaugural production, Journey’s End, has been followed by over 80 years of productions in the Gaiety Theatre.

Stephanie said: ‘In 2012 we performed once again Journey’s End – more poignant maybe than our initial production as the Royal British Legion, with whom we are affiliated, marked its 100th anniversary and, this year, commemorated the events of WW1.’

Yes, Prime Minister will be staged at the Gaiety Theatre from tonight (Thursday) to Saturday. It starts at 7.30pm tonight and Saturday, and at 8pm on Friday.

To book, contact the ticket online on 600555 or go to www.villagaiety.com

Laxey’s fireworks display attracted hundreds of people last night.

It was one of several displays that took place in the island on November 5.

The Laxey event was organised by the village’s firefighters outside the fire station.

Spectators were able to enjoy hotdogs, scones and hot drinks as they watched the fireworks, which were launched from the other side of the Laxey river.

The fire itself was next to the river, behind a fence.

Douglas’s fireworks display is due to take place on Friday.

The Manx Financial Group Plc, parent company of Conister Bank and Edgewater Associates, is launching a new company which it claims will put Manx people and businesses first.

Manx Financial Solutions (Manx FS), led by former head of corporate banking, Isle of Man at Lloyds Bank International, Trevor Kirk, will enable Manx residents and businesses to benefit from mortgage and commercial lending solutions.

In the current economic climate, many island residents are finding it difficult to move up or even get a foothold on the housing ladder.

Manx Financial Solutions (Manx FS) says it aims to help young professionals with good career prospects, such as graduates, to reconfigure their financial arrangements in a way that will allow them to secure a mortgage.

The company says it is also in a position to provide new solutions for businesses which until now, have been unable to secure the support they need due to changing credit conditions.

Mr Kirk, who also runs consultancy firm Villicus Limited said: ‘Many people in business have expressed their concerns to me that they are not getting the best deal from their longstanding bankers, while others fear that their proposals will be declined, negatively affecting their credit standing.

‘We are in frequent discussions with lenders on and off island through whom we are able to put together tailor-made applications for borrowing.

‘Manx Financial Solutions (Manx FS) has the expertise and resources to prepare all the necessary information to the standard expected by banks, thereby saving clients much precious time and money.

‘The company’s up to the minute knowledge of the various rates offered by different lenders allows them to select the optimum arrangement for individual businesses.

‘Where a company’s borrowing requirements are varied, they can also advise on the best structures and arrangements for different component areas.

‘No business wants to pay more than the next for the same arrangement. Our knowledge of rates and margins, and our collective buying power, mean that we can offer assurance in that regard.

‘Manx Financial Solutions (Manx FS) will complement Conister Bank and Edgewater Associates and provide their existing customers with the best choices for personal and business lending’.

Mr Kirk added: ‘What really excites me about this venture is that we already know The Manx Financial Group Plc. are passionate about serving island residents and businesses.

‘We’re delighted to be able to offer a new service which shares that vision and increases opportunities for local people’.

Under-fire Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK agreed the idea of charging for parking permits was ‘ridiculous’ – but insisted he had no other choice given budget pressures.

Mr Gawne faced a barrage of questions in the House of Keys, mainly from Douglas members, over plans to charge people £25 for a permit to park outside their own home.

He also came in for flak from his predecessor as Minister, Douglas South MHK David Cretney, who took exception to his comments that ‘we should have done things better’.

Mr Cretney said: ‘While he’s not picking on one former Minister, the position taken by one Minister to reject some of these stupid proposals put forward might have been the right one.’

Mr Gawne, who began with an apology to MHKs and their constituents, said: ‘I don’t want to introduce these charges either. I thought it was ridiculous too. I’ve got to come up with something to deal with this. We’ve have extremely difficult times.’

He said the raft of new charges had been announced with ‘deep regret’. ‘Such decisions are not taken lightly and if there had been a way of avoiding making these charges I would have taken it.’

The Minister said the introduction of a £25 fee for a residential parking permit was by no means the charge with the biggest impact – and was an eighth of the sum to be levied on children to use the school bus.

He said the cost of administering the 3,808 residential parking permits was about £42,000 but if you include maintaining the signs and lines to operate the zones, the figure was nearer £100,000 – which was the amount that would be generated by charging £25 for a permit.

Mr Gawne said member for his department Chris Thomas was reviewing how the charge may be implemented in combination with other measures he said will benefit permit holders.

Three public meetings will be held on November 19 at All Saints, Alexander Road, November 26 at South Douglas Old Friends’ Club, Finch Road, and December 3 at the Manx Legion Club, Market Hill.

Douglas East MHK Brenda Cannell insisted no impact assessment had been carried out. ‘People in Douglas are being penalised not once, not twice but three times,’ she said.

‘Many people in Douglas can’t afford to pay any more’.

Peter Karran (Lib Van, Onchan) dismissed it as a ‘Mickey Mouse’ policy.

Alfred Cannan (Michael) suggest the Council of Minister lacked a cohesive strategy to deal with all the funding problems.

Graham Cregeen (Malew and Santon) said results of a public consultation showed the majority was against imposing a charge.

Some 62 per cent of respondents in that survey said residents’ disc parking permits should remain free.

Leonard Singer (Ramsey) suggested the Minister only took notice of surveys when it suited.

Mr Gawne said residents might be happy to pay the equivalent of 50p a week for significant improvements to on-street parking and it was a small fee to guarantee a parking space.

‘There’s no guarantee,’ chorused Douglas East members Mrs Cannell and Chris Robertshaw, Minister for Policy and Reform, who has described the way the charges were announced as ‘bonkers’.

Mr Gawne said he had no problem with any member defending their constituents’ position.

Gaming expert Paul Davis appears to have stirred up a hornet’s nest after calling for action to preserve the Isle of Man’s eGaming industry.

The eGaming sector employs hundreds of people in the island and is regularly promoted as a success story as part of the diversified economy.

But Mr Davis, chief executive officer of consultancy company Counting House Ltd, appears to be winning support over his fears for the future of the eGaming sector here.

He expressed his concerns in the Business News section of the Isle of Man Examiner this week, in a story published on this website yesterday.

Since then, Mr Davis has told Isle of Man Newspapers his email inbox was full with messages from people concerned about the island’s ability to hold its own in the face of changing circumstances.

He said: ‘Firm, positive action needs to be taken on several fronts to preserve our existing operators on the island and give us any kind of foothold in the future.

‘Government has been slow to respond and the battle may already be lost, albeit that the evidence is not yet all gathered.’

One area of concern is the cost of a licence. He said: ‘We can no longer offer a ticket to entry into the lucrative and mature UK market, and with the entry of Jersey at around £15,000 per year for a licence we are priced out of the start-up market by refusing to lower our £35,000.’

Warwick Bartlett, who runs Castletown-based Global Betting and Caming Consultants, said he shared Mr Davis’s frustration. He said: ‘Our licence fees are too high for start ups.’

Peter Greenhill, director for eGaming at the Department of Economic Development, said: ‘Paul Davis’s article makes some interesting observations. I regard him as a strong supporter of the island who is prepared to offer his views on how we can grow the eGaming sector. He is absolutely correct that we must not become complacent in what is an exceptionally fast moving industry. Equally, we must be careful not to give the public any misimpression as to the fortunes of this sector which continues to be one of the fastest growing on the island.’

He added: I welcome all debate on how we can improve the island’s highly successful eGaming sector and look forward to further dialogue.’ 

More on this in Tuesday’s Business News, inside the Isle of Man Examiner.

Bonfire Night passed by without any major incidents.

However, the fire and rescue service were called out to a garden shed fire in Bircham Avenue, Ramsey, during the evening.

It was fully engulfed in fire.

Fire fighting operations were hampered due to the fact that an amount of petrol had been stored in the shed which added to the ferocity of the fire.

Once extinguished the crew remained in attendance for aboutone hour to dampen down any hot spots then the incident was left in the hands of the police to investigate the cause further.

At 2.40am this morning Thursday) crews were called to an out-of-control bonfire at Stoney Mountain Quarry, Foxdale.

One pumping appliance was dispatched from Douglas station.

Advice was given to the owner of the site and the fire was left to burn out with supervision from the land owner.

Some fireworks displays and parties are expected to take place this weekend.

Douglas’s official display, for example, is due to take place tonight (Friday), with good views from the promenade.

There was lively audience participation at the last of the invite-only Big Debates.

More than 100 people were present at the Manx Museum lecture theatre on Tuesday night to vote on the big issues facing the island.

In the absence of Treasury Minister Eddie Teare MHK, Yvette Mellor, director of finance and performance at the Cabinet Office, gave a presentation alongside Minister for Policy and Reform Chris Robertshaw MHK.

More than 120 people, chosen at random from the electoral register, had accepted the invitation to attend.

But on the night a total of 108 turned up.

There was lively debate with plenty of audience feedback.

Once again, the public could vote on a series of questions using remote control devices.

There has been a lot of criticism that the questions have been too open-ended.

No dates have yet been set for next round of the Big Debates.

But Mr Robertshaw told the audience at the Manx Museum that the next events will all be open meetings with everybody welcome to attend.

The Isle of Man is braced for bad weather tonight.

Castletown bay, Douglas bay, Laxey bay and Ramsey bay are likely to experience large waves crashing over roads and sea walls this evening.

Gale Force winds with high tide tonight at 10.39pm.

Minor inner harbour flooding is likely to occur, predominantly in Douglas.

Flooding is likely on road and higher ground with debris from trees and blocked drains.

Leading Isle of Man-based law and professional services group Cains has been given the top Band 1 ranking in the prestigious Chambers UK Guide for 2015.

The UK Guide is published annually and is highly respected because of its total independence.

Its sought after rankings are based on in-depth interviews with lawyers and clients which are carried out by Chambers’ 150 full-time editors and researchers.

The Guide refers to Cains as a ‘well regarded adviser on a wide range of corporate and finance activities’ and adds that ‘clients include renowned financial institutions and corporates, with interests in insurance, pensions, aviation, property and capital markets’.

Comments listed from interviews with clients include: ‘They are quick to respond and take a practical approach to legal issues. They understand the business and tailor their advice to provide solutions’; and ‘I still think they are the pre-eminent firm on the island. They have a number of lawyers with expertise in the area’.

The Guide refers to examples of the work undertaken by Cains.

This includes the provision of advice to the Bank of Ireland, one of a consortium of lenders, on the restructuring of debts owed by BWG, and to Santander and Oaktree Capital Management in relation to the acquisition of the property portfolios of Eastburn Estates and Active Commercial Estates.

Among the other significant clients listed are Lamprell, Eros International, Aviva and Tullow Oil.

Richard Vanderplank, who leads the corporate team, is referred to by one commentator as giving ‘sound advice and you can always pick up the phone to him’.

Andrew Baker is described as being ‘well regarded for capital markets and mutual fund work’ while Mike Pinson, who has a general corporate practice and handles M&A activity, is referred to as being ‘noted for his sound advice’.

The Guide also describes managing director Andrew Corlett as an established expert on asset finance matters as well as those concerning mutual funds.