The Manx government has been praised for ‘coming clean’ with the public on the need for pensions reform.

In an opinion piece in the FT publication Financial Adviser, Kevin O’Donnell says the Isle of Man caused some ripples by revealing it is considering increasing the state pension age to a ‘Zimmer-frame shaking 74’.

He notes: ‘Government ministers have talked frankly about the island’s National Insurance scheme going bust without radical reform.

‘They deserve credit for levelling with the island’s population – a strategy too few mainland politicians are willing to countenance. It is the right thing to do and it may just avoid a disaster.’

Time limits on parliamentary speeches will not be introduced after an experiment failed to prove the case for change.

Speaker Steve Rodan suggested ‘toying with the notion of time limits’ might be ‘trying to solve a problem that does not exist’.

An experiment on time limiting speeches was carried out at the July Tynwald following a call from the Bishop Robert Paterson.

During that sitting, members were restricted to 20 minutes to make a statement or move a report while moving any other motion was limited to 15 minutes. They had a maximum of 10 minutes when speaking to a motion or amendment and contributions at Question Time could be no longer than five minutes.

But the Speaker said the standing orders committee had concluded the experiment ‘did not seem to affect the length of speeches much, or indeed at all’.

None of the time limits was breached and it was arguable whether they would have been breached had there been no time limit imposed.

‘Is this a matter about the quantity of speech or the quality of speech?’ he asked.

Mr Rodan said if quantity was the issue and the argument was business not getting through as a result of over-lengthy speeches, it was interesting to note how many times Tynwald had sat for extended periods over the last five years.

Tynwald had sat 51 times during that time but there were only 17 occasions, one in three, when it had gone into a second day.

There were only four occasions when it had sat for three full days in the last five years, and only one time when the court had sat past 8pm on the third day, although there was one sitting that finished at 7.58pm on the third day.

He said this did not amount to evidence that the length of speeches is an obstacle to the court completing its business.

Turning to the quality of speeches, Mr Rodan suggested it was for members to ‘self-regulate’ and it was his view they should have the time they need to make their case as they see fit.

He added members would be wise, if they wanted to get their argument across, to ‘make their speech shorter rather than long and tedious’.

The Chief Minister says the relocation of the island’s two main post offices could have been handled better.

An e-petition to save the Douglas Regent Street and Ramsey Courthouse branches from closure has attracted more than 1,000 signatures.

The petition by Save our Post Offices reads: ‘This is an absolute disgrace and travesty.

‘We need the post offices more than ever these days. We need to stand up and fight for what we believe in. This is time for the island to unite and stand together against unjust decisions being made without any thought to the man/woman on the street.

‘The post offices are part of our community and need to be saved.’

On Wednesday evening, more than 100 people attended a meeting of the town’s commissioners to protest at the closure.

Lib Van Ramsey commissioner Lawrie Hooper said the news had come as a bombshell and claimed it had been deliberately concealed from the public for months.

He said: ‘The Post Office is the heart of Ramsey, and this appalling decision to relocate away from the iconic Courthouse building could do irreparable damage to the town.’

Post Office bosses announced last week that the two branches were to be converted into sub post offices and ‘repositioned’ into nearby Spar shops in a deal agreed with Mannin Retail which has agreed to take on the 19 staff affected.

Mr Bell criticised the way the Post Office had announced the changes to the public and its staff, saying it had been done in a ‘most unfortunate manner’. ‘It could have been handled better,’ he said.

‘It should have been made clear there are no job losses and the range of services is going to be exactly the same as we have now.

‘I’m as unhappy as anyone that the Post Office has made this decision. It certainly raises concerns with me in Ramsey where the building is so prominent and is a central part of the regeneration scheme. It is absolutely vital if the changes go ahead, we have to make sure the building is put to good commercial use and not simply left empty.’

He said the Post Office, which is facing increased competition and lost its £1m contract with Reader’s Digest a few years ago, was going through an ‘extremely difficult time’.

The core business had to be protected within the resources available, he said, adding the Post Office is a commercial operation run at arm’s length to the government.

Replying to an urgent question tabled by Lib Van leader Kate Beecroft in Tynwald last week, Post Office chairman Graham Cregeen MHK said the two post office branches were losing £500,000 a year, and transferring the operation to the nearby Spar stores in a contract with Mannin Retail will save £300,000 in the first year.

A spokesman for the Post Office confirmed there had been no prior consultation.

She said: ‘Due to sensitivity and political advice we did not consult with anyone about the details of the plan. However, meetings have taken place with both Ramsey and Douglas Commissioners over the last few days.’

National officer for the Communication Workers’ Union, Terry Pullinger has called for the relocation to be delayed.

Unite union regional officer Eric Holmes described the move as ‘unchallenged privatisation’ and claimed that staff were being unfairly dismissed.

He said: ‘I am losing faith that the current government is in balanced control or listening to trade unions and the general public’s outcry.

‘The decision to privatise should have been indicated to the unions. I believe the staff are not being made redundant, they are being unfairly dismissed.

‘While Spar are giving reassurances they will re-recruit from the staff dismissed all that is happening is a dismissal and re-engagement under what term and conditions?’

Brian Eaton says he started work at the age of 14 earning £1 a week as a shop assistant for the original Currys family business.

He worked 44 hours a week, or five a half days a week and always tried to save 15 shillings of that princely quid.

All a bit different now for the 82-year-old businessman who has just bought the Strand Shopping Centre in a cash sale worth millions of pounds.

Mr Eaton said he came to live in the Isle of Man around 17 years ago after selling his successful television rentals and sales business.

He told Business News he settled in Port Erin because ‘I think I was hypnotised by the bay.’

He said he initially thought he would be retiring here in the island but ‘I could not resist going back into business.

‘I had Man Auto Tyres and Exhaust Garage and a couple of guest houses and built Eaton Court, which is 12 upmarket apartments in Palace Road, Douglas.’

He said he now splits his time between Eaton Court and the south of the island.

‘I now live here [in Douglas] for five or six days a week to cut the travelling.’

Mr Eaton told Business News he was able to buy the Strand Shopping Centre having bought and sold a few other properties including the Man Garage.

He said he had bought it from the receivers as ‘an investment really and to be involved with shops again.’

He said: ‘I heard it was for sale. Being a retailer at heart, having started off in England working for the original Currys family business. Basically I’ve been a shopkeeper all my life.’

He said: ‘I got interested in it [the sale of the Strand Shopping Centre] and I had the money and after chasing it for some little time made a bid.

‘Then I had the phone call to say that it was mine.

He said he does not have any plans for major changes saying: ‘You could not have a more pleasant shopping centre really. It is nicely designed.’

Mr Eaton said he aims to take a hands-on approach with the centre and promised: ‘I will continue to help local charities and sport organisations.’ This would be reflected in the centre’s support of charity activities, he said.

Mr Eaton said: ‘We will reduce overhead costs which will reflect on the shop prices and rents. The customer is always right.’

He added that he has always worked six or seven days a week and still puts in 8am to 8pm working days.

He said he has a passion for sports including tennis, badminton and swimming. He also enjoys dancing and has made many friends in the island. Mr Eaton aims to keep involved on a daily basis with the centre which will continue to be run by manager John Shakespeare and his number two Louise Wyman.

As reported in last week’s Courier Mr Eaton is hoping Tesco will take over the empty former MEA shop.

Brian J Eaton Ltd took over ownership on November 3.

Cushman and Wakefield LLP, appointed by the receivers as agent for the property management of the centre, have been reappointed by the new owner.

Mr Eaton originally travelled here on his motorbike in 1948 for the TT. He said: ‘I camped at Hillberry and I suppose my mind had been over here for years before I finally arrived 17 years ago.’

There might not be enough funding to carry out the £1m regeneration scheme in Castletown square, the town’s authority heard on November 17.

The proposal involves new paving and lighting and creating a plaza-style seating area on the castle side of the square, which can revert to parking during the winter. Parking will be retained on the other side of the square with traffic entering and leaving on the George side of the Smelt monument.

Commissioners’ chairman Richard McAleer told the board: ‘The square plan is now going through Treasury for funding approval, they are not sure if there’s enough – [the regeneration fund] might have to be topped up.

‘There are two plans, ours and another [for a scheme in Laxey].

‘If both get approval, there will not be enough money. They are hoping it’s topped up. The start date is in March if everything goes to plan.’

Clerk Eddie Convery said work is expected to last until Christmas and during this time, deliveries to the George Hotel will be made using George Lane.

Kevin Weir, who is on the town’s regeneration committee, assured the authority that the finer details will be looked at if funding is approved.

He added 40 to 45 temporary car parking spaces have been identified in various areas near the town square, which could be used while work is being carried out.

Once the scheme is completed, he added: ‘It’s up to the board if they keep them as permanent or revert back.’

What do you think?

opinions@newsiom.co.im

November Talking Point with Angelena Boden

If you are looking to start a small business either as a result of redundancy or retirement or because you want to do something more meaningful with your life, consider setting up a social enterprise.

Increasingly popular especially among young people, there are more than 70,000 social enterprises now registered in the Brtish Isles.

Although run along the lines of regular businesses, they have a wider and maybe more altruistic mission:- to contribute to the community and help solve some of society’s problems. Big Issue is a good example.

Social enterprises often capture the public’s imagination and therefore are more likely to attract support.

‘Who Made Your Pants?’ operates out of Southampton. It provides training and work for refugee women who make underwear in supportive conditions. (pun unintended).

Are your pants ethical? Have a look now!

Like any business, a social enterprise must generate its income from sales and not rely on grants. This means having a dedicated and skilled team in marketing, finance, customer service, sales, product design and development etc. In addition, passion for a social cause – the homeless, the unemployed, and community based problems makes a social enterprise different from other businesses. Profits within reason are ploughed back into the business to help these causes.

top 10 tips

If this appeals to you here are ten top tips to bear in mind:-

1.Don’t pester for sponsorship. Raise the profile of your enterprise by asking for advice or contacts. If you truly are passionate about what you are doing then money will flow.

2.Be clear about your mission and who is going to benefit from your business ideas. Living Furniture Project employs homeless people in London to make furniture from reclaimed materials. This provides them with skills, references, and a way out of their situation.

3.Whilst social enterprises rely on passionate leadership, they should not provide fuel to the ego. It’s about real team work, shared values and a determination to help the target group.

4.Just as there is a demand for pants there needs to be a demand for your product or service. Many customers look for eco friendly labels and are concerned about buying products produced in sweat shop conditions. This can be your marketing USP.

5.Social enterprises can be limited or unlimited companies but also have the option of becoming a Community Interest Group (CIC) or Trust.

6.Volunteers or interns are critical to helping your social enterprise get off the ground. Go for a mix of professionals and volunteers who share the same ideals.

7.There is some funding available from independent trusts and foundations and indeed from ethical financial institutions. You will still need a solid business plan.

8.A number of organisations have sprung up to share the stories of social entrepreneurs – UnLtd, Office of the Third Sector and the School for Social Entrepreneurs are just a few examples.

9.Whilst businesses today can benefit from inexpensive digital marketing and e-commerce website, face to face networking is still important. Look for PR stories which measure how you are helping society.

10.Finally do your research. Make sure you understand the community you are trying to help. You can end up patronising or being gimmicky just for the sake of jumping onto the social entrepreneurial wagon.

Not all social enterprises succeed. It’s great to have passion but, like love, it can be blinding. Being inspirational and dedicated must be tied into sound business sense. Over inflated idealism and sentimentality have no place here.

Converting interest into sales is a skill that most people don’t have. Marketing is easy enough but getting that customer to part with money needs a good pitch. This is combined with solid financial management if the business is to be profitable.

Just like any other business.

The founder of One In Four, a small independent magazine on mental health, which ran for six years before it folded said just because you think your idea is brilliant doesn’t mean you’ve thought through your customer base. There simply weren’t enough customers for something so specialised.

www.socialenterprise.org.uk

A veritable hoard of weapons has been handed in so far in response to the island’s first weapons amnesty for nine years.

Anything from hand guns and shotguns to crossbows and knives have been handed over to Isle of Man police at their collection points in Peel, Ramsey, Castletown and Douglas police stations.

The amnesty has been going since the start of the month and runs to the end of November and in that time around 50 weapons have been handed in.

The last time a similar amnesty was held it yielded around 150 weapons of various kinds.

Constable Mark Dimsdale who is involved in the amnesty said it was an important chance to get items out of circulation so they could not fall into the wrong hands. The items can be handed over with no questions asked.

‘We are lucky over here that we have no outstanding cases involving weapons so no questions should arise,’ he said.

‘The items are then destroyed so they can’t be used again or, if an item may have value we give people the chance to have it assessed and the monetary value will stay with them.’

Constable Dimsdale said sometimes people acquired items by accident, perhaps finding them in a house they had bought or when clearing property after a bereavement when things can come to light that have been hidden away and forgotten for 50 or 60 years. He said one of the biggest worries was that items held illegally were not always securely stored in accordance with weapons regulations and therefore could more easily fall into the wrong hands.

‘There is a bin at each of the participating police stations where people can deposit bladed items and they can leave an address if they wish, but no-one is going to force them to do that,’ he said.

The amnesty, the first since 2005 finishes at the end of this month.

Peel’s Town Warden has delivered his quarterly report on the town and called for the promenade to be made a disc parking only zone.

Among the issues Brian Wozniak talked about in his address to the commissioners at their latest board meeting were abandoned and unlicensed vehicles, vehicles parked on a road with expired tax, dogs at large, car parking, roadside parking, and Ballaquane Road.

Mr Wozniak called for the entire promenade to be made disc parking saying: ‘I am constantly asked by motorists “where can I park”?

‘I send them to Fenella car park or to the parking past Marine Parade. But this is a long way for an elderly person who just wants an ice cream.

‘At this time there is a motor home parked opposite the Iris Station which has been there for three months, it is taxed and no offences are being committed.

‘There are no regulations preventing any person with a motor home from parking on a highway and sleeping in the vehicle overnight.

‘But there appears to be a law stating that the owner of the van cannot park outside his own house on an estate and sleep in the vehicle.

‘It would appear that some effort was made this Manx Grand Prix to clear Fenella of the motor homes. This resulted in some going, some staying and a few parking on West Quay where they remained.

‘I believe that the updating of Peel’s by-laws, traffic and parking regulations is imperative.’

Mr Wozniak also said that during the year 323 abandoned or unlicensed vehicles had been removed from the car parks and streets of Peel.

Most had been removed by their owners and four were removed by a contractor.

‘I deal with these by trying to contact the owners and advising them to move, which most have and the ones with expired tax I report to the police,’ he said.

‘Kerroo Coar and Ballawattleworth have now been adopted by the Department of Infrastructure and several vehicles in Kerroo Coar have been reported to the police resulting in one person receiving four fixed penalties.’

Moving on to the subject of dogs at large, Mr Wozniak said that a new system where stray dogs are collected during the day by DoI officers appeared to be working well.

‘I contacted them regarding a stray two weeks ago and the officer was on the scene within 30 minutes although it took us an hour to capture the dog,’ he said.

Stray dogs are kept at Knockaloe before being transported to the MSPCA. Six fixed penalties have been issued so far this year for dog offences.

Regarding Ballaquane Road Mr Wozniak said that new lighting was required for the road as it was no longer on the outskirts of Peel. He argued that, with the building of Ballawattleworth and other estates, it had become a major artery through Peel.

Manx Utilities Authority has been fined £17,000 for one offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The authority pleaded guilty to failing to discharge its duty after a worker was killed when a wall collapsed in December 2012.

The charge related to the death of 52-year-old John Lawrence Gell, known as ‘Lude’, who died whilst carrying out excavation work to replace a water pipe in Peel.

Mr Gell was working with three others in a public footpath, near Marine Parade, Peel, when without warning the wall fell on top of him.

An inquest into Mr Gell’s death in 2013 recorded a verdict of accidental death.

A £3.2 million extension at Ballakermeen High School has been officially opened.

Education chiefs say the three-storey addition provides badly needed learning, examination and dining space in a school that offers the widest range of post-16 exam subjects and, with nearly 300 students, has the island’s largest sixth form.

Previously, sixth form accommodation was cramped while exams took over the school’s hall, sports hall, gym and drama spaces, curtailing normal activities.

The dining room, which seated 300, was inadequate for a school of almost 1,500 pupils, leading to rushed sittings and encouraging students to go off-site, where they consumed less nutritious meals.

Head teacher Adrienne Burnett explained: ‘The extension provides a modern, bright and airy environment in which sixth form students can learn in large or small groups, study as individuals and socialise.

‘It has been designed with flexibility in mind, so rooms can be made bigger or sectioned off according to need.

‘Coupled with having twice the previous space for dining, this is a much-needed and very welcome addition to our school.’

Education Minister Tim Crookall formally opened the extension on Friday.

He said: ‘Investment in young people is investment in the Isle of Man’s economy as a whole.

‘I am delighted we have been able to work within a restricted site in the heart of Douglas to create facilities that will enhance learning for generations of students.’

An experienced island detective has warned professionals from the finance sector that a ‘financial tsunami is on the way.’

Jail sentences of up to 14 years could await people who fall foul of money laundering.

Detective Sergeant Mike Venables who has been with the Isle of Man Constabulary’s Financial Crime Unit for 12 years, said people working in the island’s financial companies could not afford to take their eye off the ball.

Tighter and more stringent regulations were on the way aimed at stopping criminals laundering money and using professionals to do it.

Speaking to nearly 100 delegates at an event at the Claremont Hotel, Douglas, Mr Venables said: ‘You will have heard there are significant changes on the way.

‘I can’t promise that for the next hour or so I will cheer you up.

‘The last three or four months I’ve been relinquished of my policing duties to concentrate on the national risk assessment, such is the importance the government and the constabulary attaches to that model.’

Mr Venables said that at the heart of the changes is a grouping called Moneyval, which is the Council of Europe’s anti-money laundering committee.

‘For the last two years I have been involved in Moneyval and I’ve been part of the Isle of Man evaluation team with the FSC (Financial Supervision Commission) and Attorney General.

‘There is a financial tsunami on the way.

‘And one of the reasons this financial tsunami is on the way, in my opinion, is that previously when we were evaluated by the IMF [the] evaluation process was cyclical over a five year term.

‘Under the Moneyval regime, unlike the old regime, the evaluation will be continual and perpetual. So there will be no kicking off the shoes.’

Speaking to the Insurance Institute of the Isle of Man’s 2014 Regulatory and Industry Update he warned the audience : ‘The national risk assessment will mean a lot of work for a lot of people for the next year to 18 months.

‘Hopefully what we will have in place after a year to 18 months will be a model that will make all our lives significantly easier.

‘[But]It’s not as simple as that.

‘Certainly law enforcement and regulatory regimes are now going to have to demonstrate and prove well before Moneyval arrives here in 2016 that we are effective in what we do, and of why and how we do it.’

He predicted: ‘For the Financial Crime Unit (FCU) that will mean a huge departure from how things have been done previously.

‘Annually we get more disclosures effectively than Jersey and Guernsey put together.’

prosecute

Mr Venables told the audience, which included insurance industry workers, advocates and financial advisers: ‘We will continue to prosecute people for money laundering, people who we believe need to be prosecuted.’

Minutes after speaking, Mr Venables told Business News outside the meeting room that the financial tsunami he referred to was ‘an anecdotal expression because what is coming is such a departure from what we had and is so radical that I dare say the people in there will feel engulfed by it when it arrives’.

But he added: ‘Hopefully the processes we are going through now and the educational talks we are giving willprepare people. But I daresay that when it arrives [Moneyval] it’s a different ball game to how the IMF was.

‘From a government perspective and from our unit’s perspective it will be perpetual and ongoing.

‘There will be much closer scrutiny and once this national risk assessment is formulated we won’t be able to put it in a cupboard and forget about it.’

Det Sgt Venables said people often thought money laundering could not happen here.

‘Well it will happen here ,’ he told Business News.

He confirmed the tighter regulations were aimed at ‘stopping criminal money getting into financial institutions. And the criminals have to use professional people to do it. That’s where professional people run the risk.’

In his opinion he felt the Isle of Man was unfairly scrutinised by other jurisdictions such as the United States.

‘There’s a perception that we are a backwater money laundering jurisdiction and in my experience we are anything but that.’

Det Sgt Venables is due to retire from the force next month (December) after a 30-year police career.

In a report published last week Moneyval called on countries to develop financial inclusion policies and initiatives in order to strengthen financial integrity.

The report entitled Strengthening Financial Integrity through Financial Inclusion aims to establish the extent to which financial inclusion is currently taken into account by Moneyval states and and territories.

An inquest into the death of a 27-year-old plasterer found dead on January 18 has recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Jay Michael Radcliffe died at his mother’s flat in Mona Street, Douglas.

Coroner of Inquests John Needham said: ‘Clearly Jay had difficulties and did want to turn his life around, but it sadly didn’t happen. I’m sure he will be greatly missed.’

The full cause of death was given as, ‘aspiration of stomach content as a result of becoming unconscious, due to either the central nervous system depressant effects or the direct toxic effects of the medication that he had been prescribed, mixed with alcohol and also the potential predisposition to arrhythmia caused by the deceased’s existing heart condition being myocardial fibrosis’.

In a statement read out to the court, Mr Radcliffe’s cousin, Ben Garrity, said that they had met on January 17, the day of his prison release, and that he looked ‘really well, healthy and was in good spirits’.

Mr Radcliffe, who had a history of drug misuse, went back to his mother’s flat in Mona Street with his cousin at 4.50pm with some cans of lager.

Mr Garrity said his cousin had gone to sleep on the floor at around 10pm, something he often did after drinking, so he put a blanket over him before going to sleep on the sofa himself.

When he tried to wake Mr Radcliffe in the morning he could not rouse him and said that he felt cold and had vomit coming from his mouth.

Mr Garrity tried to revive his cousin until paramedics arrived but Mr Radcliffe was pronounced dead.

Mr Needham said that there were ‘unknowns’ in the case and that the medical evidence was ‘not particularly conclusive’.

On his release from prison Mr Radcliffe had been provided with three days worth of medication, 50mg of chlorpromazine, 25mg olanzapine and 10mg of diazepam.

Although none of the olanzapine had been taken, it was the only drug found to have a higher level than would be expected in Mr Radcliffe’s toxicology report.

Also 10 of the 12 diazepam tablets were missing but reports indicated that Mr Radcliffe had not taken them. The level of alcohol in Mr Radcliffe system was also low, 76 milligrams, which was lower even than the drink drive limit of 80 milligrams.

Mr Radcliffe had used cocaine in the past and medical reports had showed some damage to his heart consistent in past cocaine users.

Dr Peter Clague who conducted the post-mortem examination said that ‘no definitive anatomical cause could be found’.

An island children’s home which is closing its doors after 22 years is inviting its many former residents and staff to call in for a farewell event.

Tromode House children’s home, which was originally built to accommodate 10 young people and latterly was home to five, is to close its doors for good on December 1.

Stephen Taylor who is head of children’s residential services said the home, operated for the past 10 years by the St Christopher’s charity on behalf of the government, had reached a natural hiatus.

‘It’s not about funding or cuts or anything like that, it’s simply that the way we care for young people has changed. We find they do better in much smaller accommodation or foster homes within ordinary residential areas,’ he said.

‘The Tromode House home itself has come to a natural end with just one resident remaining who is about to move out and all the staff who wanted to be have been redployed elsewhere.’

When the home opened in 1992 it was called Cummel Shea and was the only children’s home in the island. Since then 100s of young people have passed through its doors.

‘It has been our job to make them feel safe stable and secure and build positive relationships with them and give them a sense of achievement,’ Mr Taylor said.

Jillian Jones, who has worked at Tromode House since it opened said it had been a privilege to work with so many of the young people who had lived there. Her colleague Anne Duff who also worked there for 22 years said how rewarding it had been to see their residents move on and flourish as adults.

The event to bid farewell to Tromode House is at Tromode House on December 2 from 4pm to 7pm and organisers hope to reunite as many former residents and staff as they can. For more information, call Mr Taylor at Fenella House on 660292.

Around 500 angry people crowded into Ramsey Grammar School last night, to protest against the proposed closure of the town’s post office.

Post Office counter staff were greeted with applause as they filed into the meeting, which was convened by the commissioners following the shock announcement last week that Post Office was to close its crown office at the Courthouse, Ramsey.

People were even more shocked when word went round that following a closed tender process, Mannin Retail Ltd, a subsidiary of Heron & Brearley, had been awarded the contract to operate a sub post office in its Spar shop and that existing post office staff would have to apply for jobs.

Chairman of the commissioners Nigel Malpass chaired last night’s meeting which was the largest the town has seen for many years.

Post Office Graham Cregeen MHK, chief executive Mike Kelly, Chief Minister Allan Bell and Leonard Singer MHK were given a rough ride by a sometimes hostile audience, relentless in its quest for answers.

The Post Office’s video presentation of how the Spar shop would look when converted was met with derision – and a slow hand clap.

The meeting lasted two and a quarter hours and held a number of surprises: the first being a confirmation from Mr Cregeen that, contrary to public perception, no contract with Mannin Retail had actually been signed.

It emerged that nine businesses had been approached but Mannin Retail was the only one to show an interest.

The second surprise was an apology to the staff by Allan Bell who accepted it had been he and Treasury Minister Eddie Teare who had suggested to the Post Office board that they try the ‘closed tender’ route when seeking a commercial entity to take over the running of the Ramsey office.

It had been done with the best of intentions, he said, to spare staff months of uncertainty over the future of the facility.

‘It was our suggestion that they start by just testing the water with a closed tender and if there were expressions of interest then put it out publicly’, he said.

‘I apologise to the staff for putting them through this ordeal. We really do appreciate them’.

Asked why he had not stopped it getting this far, Mr Bell said he shared everyone’s attachment to the Ramsey office and its staff and agreed that the announcement had been handled very badly; but people had to realise that the Isle of Man had lost an enormous £200million a year with the VAT shake-up and it was a ‘nightmare’ trying to re-balance the budget.

‘We have an absolutely enormous problem, and we have got to be realistic and honest about it’, he said.

Mr Singer was put in the firing line by people wanting to know why, only last week, he had accepted the post of deputy chairman of the Post Office – knowing the current situation. He replied that he felt he would be ‘better fighting from the inside’. This was met with muted calls for his resignation from his new role, on grounds of conflict of interest.

Asked if there was any truth in the rumour that the Courthouse would be turned into a gastro-pub like Bar George if Mannin Retail took over, he replied ‘no’, but added that the Post Office lease of the building from the Department of Home Affairs would end in 2016 and whatever happened after that was out of his hands.

Both Post Office representatives were at pains to emphasise the fact that the retail network (i.e. counter transactions) was in decline, due to increased competition from delivery firms and use of the internet. Yet, pressurised for figures, they agreed that the undertaking as a whole was in profit and had considerable reserves, but like other government divisions it had to pay an annual dividend to Treasury and in this case the figure was £2million.

A petition against the closure bearing more than 3,000 signatures was presented by Kirsten Watling, who received a standing ovation, as did Irene Brew, who put out the papers and collected them all in again.

‘We will not have the heart ripped out of Ramsey!’ declared a defiant Mrs Brew.

The meeting ended with a clear message to the politicians - to go back and think again.

Mr Bell assured the hall that he had been listening very clearly: ‘I have heard what you have said tonight. I will take the views of Ramsey to the Post Office Board and Treasury to see if there is any flexibility, and while I cannot make any promises we will discuss it tomorrow’.

This week, IoM Friends of the Earth’s Cat Turner reflects on ways the world’s financial services industry will be affected by (and can respond positively to) climate change.

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As a result of some 30-odd years in the finance sector, both as an employee and as a lecturer/author on the subject, I’m privileged to sit on the Sustainability Committee of the UK’s Institute of Financial Services.

We’re charged with the task of ensuring that those employed in the UK financial services industry understand the issues that arise for them from issues such as climate change, resource depletion, pollution and deforestation.

The aim is to ensure that financial services companies:

– have employees who understand what sustainability is all about, and why it matters

– can comply with the mandatory requirements which governments are introducing, to try and protect the environment for us and for future generations. These include energy efficiency requirements, carbon footprint and environmental responsibility reporting requirements for listed companies, and the like.

– can run their own day to day operations in a sustainable way, for example through better recycling and procurement, which usually helps not only the environment, but their own bottom lines

– importantly, can respond to the sweeping changes we’re going through, to introduce new products and services which work well in a sustainable world and don’t contribute to worsening the situation.

There’s tremendous potential for the finance industry to create new solutions, and new skills and jobs, from these changes – and many finance centres are seizing the opportunity. So I thought I’d focus for the next series of columns on some of these, in the hope of inspiring any leaders in our own finance sector who might not yet be up to speed.

First, I’ll focus on climate change. Although there are a host of other environmental and social justice issues coming home to roost in financial markets, this one is probably the most urgent.

Climate change impacts on investors (including banks, institutional investors like your pension provider, insurers and individual shareholders) in two main ways

– directly, through the impact of climate change on operating their business. For example, some big organisations in the UK are subject to the UK’s CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, a piece of climate legislation which came into force inl 2010.

– indirectly, through the effect of climate change on the companies that they lend to, or invest in.

Investors are probably most concerned with the indirect effects of climate change on the value of their investments, including:

– climate change legislation: this may limit the ability of the companies they invest in to operate, or it might affect their growth strategies. Companies may also incur compliance costs – eg, to install new equipment to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

– resources: It may be harder for companies to secure resources, such as energy and water.

– physical impacts: companies’ operations may be affected by extreme weather events, such as droughts, flooding or storms.

– market risk: there’s already reduced demand for some companies’ products - for example, car-makers are under pressure from consumers for more fuel-efficient cars.

– reputational risk: companies are increasingly expected to recognise and, where possible, mitigate their climate change impacts. Failure to do so can affect a company’s reputation and brand, and this can drag share prices down.

– litigation risk: in the US, companies in carbon-intensive industries (for example, electricity generation and oil and gas) are already starting to face litigation in respect of their contribution to global climate change - as they rightly should. I’d doubt if a civil claim for damages owing to climate change would be successful in England and Wales right now, given the difficulties in proving causation, but environmental groups are nonetheless pressurising banks in respect of the climate change impact of their activities.

This last element isn’t new. In June 2009 and February 2010, a coalition of environmental groups applied for judicial review of HM Treasury’s financial holdings in Royal Bank of Scotland and other banks, claiming that RBS investments in projects such as the Canadian tar sands was inconsistent with the government’s own climate change commitments.

But it’s not all bad news.

Investors are also realising, fast, that climate change can offer new business opportunities, for example, in the ‘clean tech’ and renewables sectors – an area the Isle of Man is fast developing expertise in, and one which needs the type of corporate and financial structuring skills the island has in spades.

In future weeks, we’ll take a look at some of the ways in which our own financial services organisations can identify and respond to some of these, and many other ‘new economy’ opportunities.

The island is blessed with a responsive and nimble regulatory and legislative infrastructure.

It would be good if we can use these to respond to these emerging opportunities, as we have done so often in the past.

I was in my seat on an easyJet flight about to depart from Ronaldsway to Gatwick when the Lieutenant Governor, Mr Adam Wood, got on.

He gave me a friendly nod and sat down a couple of rows away. There was no official reception for him. He, or HE shall we say, was obviously travelling on some kind of private business which was none of mine.

The point I am making is that he was getting on the aircraft after me, as were the other passengers.

I had got on first in deference to my ‘Special Asssistance’ status.

It wasn’t like that the last time I flew to London with a governor.

It was about 50 years ago when Sir Ronald Garvey was in office and we were the only two passengers. Sir Ronald was escorted aboard and after an interval I was allowed on.

I found that Sir Ronald was sitting at the front of the aircraft and I was sitting as far away as possible at the back.

Clearly they didn’t want me going along to him to have a friendly chat, or even to assassinate him. But why? Sir Ronald was a famously approachable man, and so am I.

He could have come back for a chat with me.

No doubt my worldwide readership is now clamouring to know what Mr Wood was up to. I can reveal exclusively that he was going to play golf, to lead a team of Isle of Man businessmen to play a team consisting of the Chinese Ambassador in London and some Chinese businessmen.

All I know about this is that the Isle of Man won 6-3.

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Last week Athol Street in Douglas was closed for re-surfacing.

This reminded me of when Athol Street was made one way with traffic exiting at the junction with Peel Road.

Not long afterwards I was driving up Prospect Hill and at that end of Athol Street there was a car waiting to join the flow of traffic.

In the driver’s seat was the late great advocate and First Deemster Arthur Luft.

For him, clearly, Athol street had always been two-way and always would be.

I wonder what he would have made of last week’s road works.

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Andrew Kerr-Phillips, of Hildesley Road, Douglas, emailed me about a story in the Examiner which said firefighters were called to a road accident ‘after a Mini One left the road after hitting a hedge . . .’ He asks: ‘Was the hedge stationary in the middle of the road or coming fast in the opposite direction?’

Perhaps the driver of the hedge was a little green.

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Something called ‘Business Advisor Sole Trader’ emailed to tell me: ‘Five things you must do when you become self-employed.’

If they knew their business they would know I’m already self-employed.

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In the Daily Mail, known to some as the Daily Fail, there was a list of little known facts including: ‘Bruce Forsyth is four months older than sliced bread.’

And his jokes?

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This week’s Manx crossword clue, sent in by Richard Hetherington and Valerie Vaughan, was in the Daily Telegraph cryptic, as follows: ‘Quietly fish in Isle of Man port (4) –PEEL.’

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Les Kneale says: ‘The kids have their own little SMS codes like BFF, WTF and LOL.’ Now he has made a list of those to be used by seniors and the first one is: ‘ATD – At the doctor’s.’

There are more to come.

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The latest news on the Walk and Talk front is that I have overtaken somebody on the athletics track at the NSC for the first time.

And not just one person. Three: a man and two ladies.

I have to say that they were all elderly and obliged to walk with the aid of two sticks.

Also, I passed one of the ladies when she stopped for a little rest.

But they all count.

Next?

Martin John Rissbrook, of Riversdale, Jurby Road, Ramsey, bought 1 and 2 Riversdale Cottages, Ramsey to St Judes High Road, Lezayre for £360,000.

It was bought from George Daniels by trustees, John Kenneth Corlett, of Ellan Vannin, Main Road, Baldrine, as trustee, David Kym Newman, of Kent, as trustee, Michael Roger Blayney, of 3 Forest Close, Eyrton Lea, Crosby, as trustee, and Michael John Dewhurst Pearce, of Hyde Mannin Place, Bay View, Ramsey, as trustee.

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

Elizabeth Jean Hardy sold Cushag, Station Road, Ballasalla, for £320,000, to Andrew Michael Kennington and Noreen Helen Kennington, of 13 Cronk y Berry Mooar, Douglas.

John Tosh and Kathleen Robina Tosh, sold 33 Highfield Close, Onchan, for £288,500, to Diane Jean Midghall, of 17 Close Kennish, Ballavagher, Douglas.

Elizabeth Elaine Dalrymple, as personal representative, and Neil Dalrymple, both of Slieu Keirn, Ballavagher Road, St John’s, and John Henry Silvester Cubbon, by personal representative, sold Hango Cottage, 1 King William’s Road, Castletown, for £265,000, to Raymond Leslie James and Pauline Marguerite James, of 9 Hilary Wharf, South Quay, Douglas.

Stephen Barry Quayle and Amanda Julia Quayle sold 148 Woodbourne Road, Douglas, for £245,000, to Julianne Michelle Keelan, of 25 Selborne Drive, Douglas.

Thelma Law, of Southlands, Church Road, Port Erin, sold 17 Close Cam, Port Erin, for £237,500, to Edward McClure and Carole Anne Fayle, of Upper Ballahane Cottage, Hatters Lane, Port St Mary.

Jacqueline Mason and Howard Sidney Jones, of Vaaish Mooar Farm, Staarvey Road, St John’s, sold a plot of land, part of The Vaaish, or Vaaish Moor, for £40,000, to Juan Neilson Cannell, of Ballahimmin, German.

Rose Estates Limited, whose registered office is situated on the 6th Floor, Victory House, Prospect Hill, Douglas, sold a plot of land situated at Creg ny Baa, for £10,000, to Ian David Quayle, of Thie Ain, Creg ny Baa, Onchan.

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

Some welcome winter warmth was on offer for guests in the Hailwood centre at the TT grandstand in Douglas on Friday night.

The occasion was a whisky tasting session run by online whisky commentator Ralfy Mitchell who is also the man behind the ralfy.com whisky reviews and Youtube presentations.

‘It was a cold, damp winter’s night last Friday,’ Mr Mitchell said.

‘But the Hailwood centre was a haven of warmth and good company as whisky fans and supporters of the Joey Dunlop Foundation enjoyed a buffet and a series of quality malt whiskies.’

Among the guests at the tasting were double land speed record holder Richard Barks from Laxey and he was joined at the event by TT star and Ramsey resident Conor Cummins- both able to add their seal of approval to the special Joey Dunlop limited edition malt whisky currently on sale in Shoprite for £35 a bottle.

The event raised £845 from ticket sales and an auction. All proceeds from whisky sales and from the whisky tasting evening go to support the foundatiom, which provides holiday accommodation for the disabled.

Island multi-millionaire Jim Mellon has told of his friendship with Nigel Farage.

Mr Mellon invited the Ukip chief to his birthday lunch at a top restaurant in Brussels.

The businessman, who is worth £850 million, also vehemently denies the charge of being Britain’s answer to Warren Buffett.

He said of the comparison to American tycoon Buffett: ‘I’m younger than him and I only have a fraction of his wealth.’

In a wide-ranging interview with the Mail on Sunday Mr Mellon, 57, describes Mr Farage as a ‘friend’ rather than pinning his political colours to the Ukip mast.

It emerged recently that Mr Mellon had introduced Mr Farage to a millionaire leading donor.

Mellon, who is understood to employ hundreds of Isle of Man residents through a number of businesses including the Claremont Hotel and Conister Bank, is at one with Farage in his dislike of Brussels bureaucrats.

He told the Mail on Sunday: ‘I have a house in Brussels and I can see the Brussels bureaucracy up close and on exit from the European Union, I am totally with him. I don’t believe it would be a disaster if we left the EU, because they sell a lot more to us than we sell to them.’

But the article says Mellon is reluctant to be drawn into British politics. He says: I am based in the Isle of Man and my businesses are based there, so I can’t vote in the UK and I wouldn’t want to.’

Mr Mellon has recently written a book called Fast Forward with co-author Al Chalabi, examining the state of industry, technology and demographics around the world.

He made his wealth from investments and in recent times has taken a keen interest in biotechnology companies.

Mr Farage was in the island earlier this month to speak to a sell-out audience at the Gaiety Theatre.

The Rotary Club of Ramsey will hold a coffee morning on Saturday at Ramsey Town Hall.

Highlight of the day will be the judging and awarding of prizes in the ‘Great Grammar Bake Off’ which Rotary have organised with the help of the Food Technology department at the Grammar School.

Pupils from across the year groups will be competing in five categories to produce the best baked produce using local ingredients supplied by Ramsey Bakery, Isle of Man Creameries, Faragher’s Manx Free Range Eggs and others.

This is the first year of the competition, which is set to become an annual event, with up to 200 entries expected.

The coffee morning starts at 10am with the cakes baked going on sale at the same time.

Entry is just £1 and includes tea/coffee/juice.

There will also be a raffle, bottle game, guess the name of the cuddly toy (donated by Ramsey Warehouse) and guess the weight of the cake (donated by Taylor Made Cakes).

The winners will be announced at midday with prizes sponsored by Tower Insurance presented along with the crowning of the ‘Bake Off’ winner.