This week’s Manx Independent reports on alleged plot against the Chief Minister.

The story is in this week’s edition.

The front-page story is about the shocking number of non-TT deaths on our roads after statistics were released.

Inside we report on a furious reaction by nurses to a proposal on their pensions.

There’s also a story about the Chief Constable’s concerns about the island’s drink problem.

On a similar theme, our court reporter heard a case in which a child minder was well over the limit and reports the penalty she was given.

With the latest reports on this week’s Keys sitting, more on the courts, the island’s What’s On guide, 12 pages of action-packed sport and news of the return of a well-known comedian to the Villa, the Independent is indispensible this week.

It’s in the shops now.

A sign for a mobile chip shop has been stolen.

Constable James Evans is appealing for information after a Kirk Michael Chippy sign was stolen from outside the Cat with No Tail public house in Governor’s Hill, Douglas, on Wednesday, February 18.

The sign was advertising that the mobile fast food outlet would be in the area the following day.

In spite of its name, the Kirk Michael Chippy operates from different sites around the island at different times.

Anyone who has information about this theft should contact Constable Evans via police headquarters on 631212.

Information can called into Crimestoppers on 0800555111 for the attention Constable Evans. A reward may be payable as a result of information provided.

The first police appeal for information about this crime was made a week after it happened.

A dangerous item was left on one of the island’s green lanes in a move described as ‘incredibly irresponsible’ by police.

A piece of wood with over a dozen nails sticking out of it was placed across the Cooil Roi lane in Baldrine.

Police have warned that like other roads, the island’s green lanes are public highways and are subject to the same laws.

Sergeant Gary Heaton said: ‘It’s frightening to think that someone would do such a thing and it goes without saying that it is incredibly irresponsible.

‘The green lanes are roads just like any other road on the island and attract the same weight of the law for offences.

He added: ‘If people have concerns or are angry about who and how green lanes are being used then there are better ways to express themselves rather than potentially harming someone or causing serious damage’.

Anyone with information is asked to call Police Headquarters on 631212, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

The story above has been updated following clarification from the police that only one item was involved.

Two more candidates - including another former Minister - have emerged in the fight for seats on Legislative Council.

Four vacancies will be filled next month in a secret ballot undertaken by MHKs. Nominations have to be submitted by 4.30pm tomorrow (Friday).

At the end of this month four MLCs retire by rotation. They are Phil Braidwood, Dudley Butt, Alan Crowe and Alex Downie.

All but Mr Braidwood have decided to stand down.

Now another MHK and a 36-year-old lawyer from Port St Mary have entered the fray.

Douglas North MHK Bill Henderson, member for Treasury and a former Agriculture Minister, has confirmed he is standing. He has been nominated by Treasury Minister Eddie Teare.

Asked why he had decided to stand, Mr Henderson replied: ‘There are several reasons. The fact that there are four vacancies made me think about the whole situation.

‘It would give me a chance to work on legislation more which I’m interested in and have got to grips with while working in Treasury. And it would give me a chance to do my job from a different perspective. I’m looking forward to the challenge, if I’m successful.’

Lawyer Christopher Kinley has been nominated by Infrastructure Minister and Rushen MHK Phil Gawne MHK.

Mr Kinley has for a number of years served as a member and former chairman of Port St Mary Commissioners.

In a press statement, he says that during that time he has promoted initiatives involving the efficient sharing of services with other local authorities, as well as civic development projects, including the sharing of refuse services between Port St Mary and Port Erin, and the Mona’s Queen Anchor Memorial, a national project delivered on time and on budget by a local authority.

Mr Kinley is principal of a law firm specialising in corporate and commercial work, wills and probate.

While he studied at school and university off the island, both sides of his family are Manx and he returned to the island upon graduation to qualify as an advocate in his home jurisdiction.

In his statement, he says his education and interests have been as much international as local – among other things, he is a fluent Russian speaker.

He said: ‘To provide the best possible value to the taxpayer, the membership of the Legislative Council should consist not only of former MHKs with many years of experience in the Tynwald chamber, but also those with a current hands-on knowledge of the island’s professional sector and local government.’

Glenfaba MHK and former Health Minister David Anderson has also confirmed he is standing. He has been nominated by Ramsey MHK Leonard Singer.

Other candidates are Douglas South MHK David Cretney, a former Minister of Infrastructure who has been nominated by Policy and Reform Minister John Shimmin, and advocate Paul Beckett, who has been nominated by Lib Van leader Kate Beecroft.

Yesterday we reported that David Anderson MHK had been nominated. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/anderson-stands-for-legco-1-7125804|Click here to read the story.}

The other candidates announced so far are veteran MHK David Cretney and advocate Paul Beckett.

Related stories:

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/three-mlcs-stand-down-1-7114755|Three MLCs stand down}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/liberal-vannin-party-nominate-advocate-to-take-seat-on-legislative-council-1-7085899|Liberal Vannin nominate advocate}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/david-cretney-to-stand-for-legislative-council-1-7079074|David Cretney to stand for LegCo}

Zipaddress Limited, whose registered office is situated at Lough House, Approach Road, Ramsey, bought a parcel of land at Baldromma, Jurby Road, Lezayre, for £1,328,000.

It was bought from Island Studios Limited, whose registered office is situated at Jurby Road, Lezayre.

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

Graham Charles Harris and Jill Christine Harris sold Woodlands, Ballacollister Road, Laxey, for £847,000, to Mark Pidgeon and Elizabeth Pidgeon, care of Apartment 12, Cherry Orchard, Bridson Street, Port Erin.

Dyras Holdings Limited, whose registered office is situated at Bay House, 15 Queen’s Valley, Ramsey, sold Kermode House, Parliament Street, Ramsey, to Christopher Joseph Kelly and Sonia Mirianthe Kelly, of Cronk Breck, Bernahara Road, Andreas, for £375,000.

Robert Webb and Edith Webb, sold 5 Cronk-y-Berry, Douglas, for £265,000, to Alison Mary Quaye, of 26 Hillberry Heights, Governor’s Hill, Douglas.

Donna Francine Bilson, of Leicestershire, Nicole Louise Bilson, of Leicestershire, and Jordan Philip Bilson, sold Gollane Cottage, Sandygate, Jurby, for £265,000, to Nigel Robin Dyer and Valerie Ann Dyer, of 2 Croit ny Kenzie, Andreas.

Catherine Mona Pollard sold 4 Hollydene Avenue, Onchan, for £247,000, to Andrew Anthony Beasley and Stacey Jane Menton, of 4 Edmund Chadwick Grove, Douglas.

Ethel Mary Wales, by receiver, Paul Stephen Kinnin, of Auckland Chambers, Auckland Terrace, Ramsey, as receiver, sold Greeba, Park Avenue, Douglas, for £210,000, to Lubomir Bohumil Novak, of 16 River Walk, Braddan.

David Royston Norman sold 40 Cronk Grianagh, The Strang, Braddan, for £209,500, to Daniel Robert Mills and Louise Amy Peat, of 19 Hollin Lane, Tromode Woods, Braddan.

David Frank Corris and Theresa Bernadette Corris, of 4 Fairfield Terrace, Douglas, sold Glevum, Stanley Place, Douglas, for £175,000, to John Halliwell and Patricia Mary Halliwell, of 8 Turnberry Avenue, Onchan.

Ian Smith, of Roselea, Lower Foxdale, sold The Nook, Main Road, Lower Foxdale, for £80,000, to Neil Durcan, of 28 Ballamaddrell, Port Erin.

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

A study by researchers at the University of California challenges the view that organic, pesticide-free agriculture is incapable of competing with ‘conventional’ agriculture in terms of yields. Tony Brown, a long-standing IoM Friends of the Earth campaigner, looks at the implications

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The results of a study by researchers at the University of California indicate that organic practices provide an average yield only 8 per cent lower than modern conventional farming.

These involve the addition of manure, composted vegetation and the like, the use of nitrogen-fixing cover crops like clover and alfalfa, multicropping and crop rotation techniques.

Moreover, the study also found the yield differential for legumes such as peas, beans and lentils was negligible. Other studies, including those from the World Health Organisation, have argued that yields from organic and non-intensive farming are actually greater than those available through intensive techniques, so this report is actually fairly conservative.

The study is timely amid growing concern that intensive farming incorporating the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers is damaging the environment and depleting precious top-soil.

The report also claims that our current agricultural system produces far more food than is actually needed, much of it unnecessarily wasted. World hunger is predominantly due to lack of access to food, rather than lack of production.

The so-called ‘green revolution’, where synthetic fertilizers have been routinely added to the soil to boost yields, is said by some to be a resounding success, seemingly allowing the human race to thrive and multiply.

However, this is likely to appear the case only in the short term, while at the same time the world’s topsoils and ecosystems have become dangerously degraded and depleted.

In the 19th century, the pioneer of modern chemical fertilizers, Justus von Liebig, found that some poor agricultural soils would benefit from the application of four principal minerals: calcium (Ca) in the form of lime, nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K). The last three of these are known collectively as NPK. As a caveat, however, he added that indiscriminate use of, and dependence on, these basic chemicals alone could irreparably damage the integrity and complexity of the soil. His warnings, alas, have been ignored.

Over millenia, the natural decomposition processes of vegetation, forests and the myriad of microbial life, earthworms and other creatures have laboriously built up the fertile topsoils at a rate if 2.5 cm every 500 years.

However, within only a little over 150 years, our disastrous agricultural practices have shrunk much of the deeper soils of several metres, by as much as 80 per cent. China’s topsoil is presently, we’re told, being lost at a rate 50 times faster than the natural replacement processes.

Meanwhile, the run-off of fertilizers into waterways has resulted in enormous ‘dead zones’ in the oceans’ coastal regions, as oxygen-depleting algal blooms have been stimulated.

The sheer stupidity of continuing this hugely destructive industrialised monocultural agriculture model, fed by synthetic fertilisers, is clearly shown by the fact that it takes 10 calories of fossil fuelled energy to produce one calorie of food. In addition, every ton of nitrogen fertilizer is manufactured using natural gas – releasing some 4.5 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Further, the damage done to ecosystems by pesticide and herbicide use is self-evident from the decline in farmland bird populations and the loss of beneficial insects such as bees, and of many wild plants – it’s an unmitigated tragedy.

Here in the Isle of Man farming is carried out in a relatively benign manner – far better, for sure, for our environment than the destructive industrialised processes taking place elsewhere. Many individuals are growing their own food organically, and we have a small commercial food producing base.

However, if we’re to achieve the necessary state of self-sufficiency later this century, as imports of fertiliser and food-stuffs become at increasing risk of drying up, it would be sensible for us to adopt a gradual and more widespread implementation of organic cultivation.

This could, I’d suggest, be encouraged by a change in our subsidy system and the setting aside of land, at places such as Knockaloe, to promote the viability of widespread, long-term organic agriculture, assuring the maintenance and rebuilding of fertile soils in the process.

Finally, one thing I’ve always found baffling is this: why do we have such a dearth of fruit orchards in the island? Their establishment would be a wonderful step towards a future state of island self-sufficiency.

The Manx Independent reported last week that it has been confirmed that it really was fishing tackle round the bow thrusters which brought the Ben-my-Chree to a standstill when trying to tie up in Douglas harbour.

It is a victory for old technology over new technology.

But only people like me take unseemly relish in this kind of thing.

The hundreds of passengers stuck on board the boat because they were unable to get off for hours might see it differently.

But back to what else happened at the time.

Richard Rimmer tells me that when he heard about it on Manx Radio news he immediately used Twitter to suggest that it could be fishing tackle causing the problem and this was picked up by news editor Marian Kenny who was monitoring the story.

She tweeted back to Mr Rimmer: ‘Yes that is what happened – the captain has just updated passengers tackle tangled in props.’

Yes Richard, it does sound painful, even thought there might now be some comic relief for it.

There is, of course, a word in relation to all this which I am not allowed to use in a family newspaper. But you all know what it is.

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Meanwhile, Mary Cringle, wife of former President of Tynwald Noel Cringle, and Andrew Kerr-Phillips turn our attention to last week’s Manx Independent and a reader’s letter which starts off: ‘I should have written this letter some time ago when you asked for opinions on dog fouling in the Courier . . .’

At least they would have had some paper handy.

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This week’s Manx crossword clue, sent in by Sara Goodwins, was in the London Evening News as follows: ‘Tough participant in the Manx Grand Prix (2-3).

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I was following a driving instructor’s car along Douglas seafront which bore the legend ‘Round the Bend.’

Him or his pupils?

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During the Budget debate in Tynwald the MHK for Michael, Alf Cannan, a former infantry officer in the Army, warned that the Isle of Man could face more external assaults on its economy in the future and we should be ready to repel them. In what I thought might be a call to arms he added: ‘Why waste a good crisis?’

Politicians don’t always say something worth remembering.

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Crossword: He-man.

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National news on Manx Radio last week was that scientists at the University of Portsmouth had found that the strongest natural material in the world is no longer spider silk but the tiny teeth used by limpets, known as flitters in the Isle of Man, to cling to their rocks. Newsreader Howard Caine reported that the scientists are thinking that the things should be harvested for future industrial use and he wondered how this can be done if the teeth are so strong.

In the Isle of Man we used to eat our flitters and all we had to do was give them a good kicking.

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My Funnies File says the Manx Independent once reported: ‘Mr Jack Clennell of Devonshire Road, Douglas was ‘born in the British Consul in the Shantung Province of China.’

A lady consul?

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Kids are Quick:

Teacher: ‘Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn’t have 10 years ago.’

Winnie: ‘Me.’

Plan your journey and be patient.

That’s the message from the Manx Utilities Authority which yesterday announced it will be starting a major scheme on the main A1 Peel to Douglas road in Glen Vine from Monday.

The work is expected to last three weeks.

Traffic lights will be in operation at Glen Darragh and the Glen Vine Road junction, and the MUA assures motorists that the lights will be manually controlled during busy periods to reduce congestion.

Once the MUA has completed its scheme, the Department of Infrastructure will undertake the resurfacing of the road.

Government will not provide pitches for catering on the Loch Promenade on Douglas walkway this TT, MHKs were told.

In the House of Keys, Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly was asked by John Houghton (Douglas North) whether his department will rent out pitches on Loch Promenade walkway for TT 2015.

Mr Skelly replied that although the walkway is owned by the Department of Infrastructure, the DED leases part of it during TT.

He said his department had considered providing pitches for catering and a beer tent ahead of both TT 2014 and this year’s TT but in each case had decided not to.

Mr Skelly explained it potentially hit rate-paying catering outlets in Douglas - and in previous years the cost of cleaning the walkway afterwards was greater than the revenue received.

Asked how much it cost to clean-up, he replied it was ‘substantial’, adding that when the department decided to remove the stunt show and catering it had saved the taxpayer in the region of £200,000.

He said not setting aside the area for catering meant it could be offered to the funfair, allowing larger traditional rides such as dodgems and waltzers.

Another attempt at reforming the Legislative Council has passed its first hurdle - but already the divisions among MHKs have resurfaced.

Liberal Vannin MHK Peter Karran won leave for a second time to introduce a private members’ bill calling for MLCs to be subject to popular election on an all-island basis after the election to the LegCo in 2018.

His bill will also make MLCs no longer eligible to serve as members of government departments and it will provide for changes to their pay and conditions as members of the upper house.

The Onchan MHK secured leave to introduce an identical bill in the Keys in June 2013 but the time elapsed for him to introduce it into the branches of parliament.

Under standing orders, leave to introduce a bill lapses at the end of the following parliamentary session.

Mr Karran told the House of Keys that he had been unaware of the time bar. A draft white paper has already been prepared and he hoped to have the Bill introduced for its first reading very shortly.

He said: ‘In my opinion, this Bill will sort out a number of democratic deficiencies. It will help to get separation of powers and also stop the abuse of power which has blown the biggest economic boom this nation has ever had.

‘I believe in evolution not revolution. This legislation is part of evolution that will bring about better governance.’

Former Minister David Cretney, who has had his name put forward for next month’s LegCo elections, said he supported the principles of Mr Karran’s Bill but there were aspects that would need further discussion.

He said if MLCs were elected on an all-island basis, it could be argued they had a wider mandate and should not be excluded from becoming Ministers or department members.

Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne agreed. He said there had been a tradition of change away from a ‘pretty much feudal system of government’.

But Brenda Cannell (Douglas East) supported the idea of excluding MLCs from having governments posts.

She said there needed to be independent scrutiny and for this you had to have members who didn’t ‘take the Queen’s shilling’.

Praising Mr Karran for coming forward with the Bill, she said this was ‘probably the last opportunity for this administration to consider this type of legislation’.

‘It might not be the top of the public agenda today but it has been for some time,’ she added.

Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly said reform is necessary but he suggested that the proposals would created more MHKs. ‘I certainly don’t think that’s what the public want,’ he said.

Chris Thomas (Douglas West) listed all the previous attempts at reforming LegCo – none of which had been successful.

Mr Karran said he had opted for all-island elections to get away from constituency matters. ‘I don’t want more MHKs,’ he told the Keys.

MHKs voted 18 votes to two to grant leave to introduce the Bill, with only Juan Watterson and Bill Henderson voting against.

Meanwhile, elections to fill four LegCo seats will take place on Monday, March 16.

The four seats up for grabs are those of Alex Downie, Phil Braidwood, Dudley Butt and Alan Crowe whose five-year terms of office end on February 28. All but Mr Braidwood have announced they are not standing again. The closing date for nominations is Friday, February 27, at 4.30pm.

As well as Mr Braidwood and Mr Cretney, the other LegCo candidates to be confirmed as standing so far are Glenfaba MHK and former Health Minister David Anderson MHK, Douglas North MHK Bill Henderson, member for Treasury and a former Agriculture Minister, and two lawyers – Christopher Kinley and Paul Beckett.

There will be two more direct flights between the Isle of Man and Scotland this summer.

Citywing will fly 11 return trips a week between Ronaldsway and Glasgow from May 1. Currently, it flies nine return journeys every week.

David Buck, managing director at Citywing, said: ‘Our business passengers can now take advantage of a day return whilst the leisure traveller can enjoy short breaks off the island with weekend travel now being more available. With support from the Isle of Man Government, we will also be promoting the island as a destination in Glasgow, which will be a further benefit to the island.’

There was no air link at all between the island and Scotland from June 2013 until Citywing moved back into the market in March last year.

Paul White, business development manager at Glasgow Airport, said: ‘It is very encouraging to see Citywing increasing the number of flights it operates, which just goes to show how successful the route has been with our customer base.’

Flights cost from £49.95 each way.

Citywing hopes to fly again to Blackpool

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/citywing-hopeful-over-blackpool-link-1-7125100|Click here to read more.}

A committee has been set up to try to improve Castletown.

The Department of Economic Development and Castletown Commissioners have created what they’ve called a ‘Town Team’ to investigate and promote retail and leisure opportunities for Castletown.

Last summer the department commissioned independent retail consultant Martin Sewell to undertake a study aimed at developing retail and leisure initiatives within Castletown.

His report provided what the department calls ‘an insight’ into the current state of trading and commerce in the town as well as a range of suggestions for improvement.

In response to the findings of the report a ‘Town Team’ for Castletown has been created. This contains members of Castletown Commissioners, Castletown Chamber of Trade and local businesses, plus representatives from the Department of Economic Development and the Cabinet Office.

The Town Team will look at creating the first steps towards a long term strategy for the provision of retail and leisure opportunities in Castletown.

This will incorporate a detailed plan to improve the perception and standing of the town and outline practical ways to achieve increased visitors and business to the area.

This work will support the regeneration scheme and in collaboration with the Castletown Regeneration Committee will assist in enhancing Castletown’s ‘offer’.

The department says the island’s retail sector is an important source of employment with nearly 5,000 employed within it.

Independent retail consultant Martin Sewell said: ‘The creation of the Town Team represents an important step forward in engaging all relevant parties to work together for the good of the retail sector in Castletown and to help stimulate further investment into the area.

‘The Retail Sector Strategy promotes the creation of “town teams” and this was agreed as being the best way to deliver a positive outcome.

‘The Team would be delighted to hear from anyone with comments or suggestions on the development of retail and leisure opportunities.’

Chair of Castletown Commissioners Richard McAleer said: ‘The first few meetings have been very productive and I am delighted by the new businesses committed to coming to the town and we are actively progressing a number of other leads.

‘The newly-created Town Team welcomes initiatives that will work at reversing current retail trends, along with seeking to invigorate the town centre.’

The most recent controversy in retailing in the town was the repeated failure of Tesco to get an alcohol licence, which meant the giant retailer did not set up shop inside Callow’s Yard.

What do you think?

What could improve the town?

Email opinions@newsiom.co.im to have your say in the letters page of the Examiner or Manx Independent. We need your name, home address and a daytime phone number before we publish. We don’t print full addresses or phone numbers but we need them for verification purposes.

The public will have a chance to learn about options to improve sea defences around the island at a presentation in the Ramsey Grammar School’s West Hall tomorrow (Friday) at 6pm.

The Department of Infrastructure is working with specialists to explore ways of reducing the risks posed to towns, villages and ports.

The company concerned is JBA Consulting, one of only a handful of such companies endorsed by the UK Environment Agency. It has focused on seven sites most at risk from harbour flooding and wave overtopping – Castletown, Douglas, Laxey Ramsey, Peel, Port St Mary and Gansey.

A range of different options have been explored, including:

Raised harbour walls

Set back walls – to prevent overtopping or flooding reaching roads or properties

Tidal gates

Rock armour

Beach recharge schemes – replenishing sand at specific sites to provide additional protection

Each design is reviewed against criteria – including technical capabilities, impact on the landscape, environment and heritage, and capital and maintenance costs – in order to determine the most effective long-term solution.

A summary of the report’s findings is provided on a site-by-site basis, detailing the existing standard of protection, the options proposed, the highest scoring option and the lowest cost option.

The total cost of implementing all the preferred options identified in the report is estimated at £31.8 million.

It looks as though the burglars are back.

Earlier this week we reported two burglaries in Peel. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/police-reiterate-need-to-be-vigilant-after-peel-burglaries-overnight-1-7123296|Click here to read that story.}

This afternoon Inspector Derek Flint said: ‘Unfortunately, our concerns of some similarities with the spate of burglaries earlier in the year have proven well founded. We have had some further reports in the past few days that would appear once again to suggest a possible link.’

Last month 40 premises were burgled in three weeks.

But at the beginning of this month, the burglaries seemed to stop.

However, now more burglaries have been reported in Onchan and Braddan, as well as the ones in Peel earlier this week.

Entry was gained to a house on Lag Birragh Drive, off King Edward Road in Onchan, between February 21 and 25, and last night (Wednesday) another burglary occurred on Vicarage Park in Braddan.

Inspector Flint added: ‘There is certainly a continued need for heightened vigilance for us all, as we are certainly now content another spike in activity is underway. We are particularly interested in unidentified vehicles or people that you may not recognise.

‘In the meantime, we are working on the new information and intelligence these latest offences have brought to light.’

Between February 20 and 24, a house was entered in Tynwald Road, Peel, and another in Rheast Lane, Peel, between February 21 and 25.

During the burglaries last month, jewellery was targeted.

Related stories

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/police-chief-has-collar-felt-during-burglary-probe-1-7086174|Chief Constable has his collar felt}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/mhk-criticises-police-media-approach-during-burglaries-1-7090615|Burglaries raised in the House of Keys}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/police-had-248-officers-now-there-s-only-195-1-7060321|Cut in police numbers}

A new foreign exchange company has made its mark by offering to guide Isle of Man businesses towards what may be hitherto untapped profit potential, it claims.

Manx FX & Financial Solutions Limited (MFX) has been set up by the Manx Financial Group Plc (home to Edgewater Associates and Conister Bank).

It has the aim of providing local businesses – from small enterprises to large corporate interests - with a ‘highly competitive, efficient and user-friendly service’.

Perceiving the need for an expert currency service in the Isle of Man, the Group designed and built MFX around the central goal of improving clients’ profitability.

To this end, they have already made a number of key features available, including: l a ‘transparent pricing module’ with the primary goal of improving customer’s profitability;

l inviolable fund security;

la market-leading online trading and payment system;

l facilitating urgent international payments at a fraction of banks standard costs.

MFX director Trevor Kirk said: ‘When carrying out ground-level research, we found that a surprising number of companies weren’t aware of the potentially huge rewards of effective foreign exchange management.

‘Many businesses haven’t used alternatives to the banks, despite the considerable savings on offer, due to doubts about the security of their funds.

‘Understandably, these doubts grow when the currency counterparty has no local presence.

‘With MFX, you can have the confidence that when you are making a payment abroad, our specialists will get it right first time, every time.

‘We’re providing a dedicated local service which in most cases, exceeds what our competitors have to offer.

‘These features include providing: the best possible currency pricing, agreed upfront and guaranteed; all inclusive urgent international payment fees at just £9 and we provide tailored advice and training for company teams.’

In creating MFX, the group has partnered with leading currency specialists MoneyCorp.

‘MoneyCorp have a 30-year reputation for exceptional service levels,’ says Trevor, ‘so after a careful selection process, we were delighted to select them as our partner.

‘We feel that the combination of their technological excellence and our understanding of local business is a winning one.’

MFX’s highly qualified team is readily available to discuss and attend to a wide spectrum of currency needs, including those managed by corporate service providers on behalf of their clients.

Trevor added: ‘We appreciate that foreign exchange strategy is not a priority for many companies, even though the impact on its profitability can be huge.

‘We offer guidance on the optimum ways to manage currency exposures safely, and make you fully aware of trending market influences before you commit to important foreign exchange deals.

‘Furthermore, we recognise that your time is valuable.

‘That’s why we help you to register quickly and offer training to financial directors and trust administrators, with regular seminars for new clients; these also form part of their continuing professional development. Ultimately, we are committed to serving the island’s business community, whatever the scale and scope of your business, ensuring peace of mind in all aspects of foreign exchange.’

The hunt is on for thieves who stole a pair of eight-foot trees from a public garden.

Douglas Borough Council is seeking the public’s help after two seven-year-old laburnum trees were removed from the Glen Falcon rose garden off Broadway either on or before Friday, February 13.

Apart from a small pile of sawdust on a nearby wall, no trace of the trees has been found, suggesting an organised theft rather than a simple act of vandalism.

Regeneration and community committee chairman councillor John Skinner said: ‘The Council’s parks section does all it can to make the borough’s green spaces – four of which are Green Flag award winners - as attractive as possible.

‘Clearly in this instance the garden attracted quite the wrong type of visitors and we would welcome any information that could lead to our recovering the trees.’

He added: ‘Traces of yellow sawdust, typical of laburnum wood, were found at the site, although we believe the trees were removed with their roots attached, so could be transplanted with some success.’

He asked that anyone with information about the missing trees should call the parks section on 696330.

David Parsons, tax director at KPMG, considers some of the tax measures announced in this year’s Budget speech

In comparison with that of many other jurisdictions, the Isle of Man’s tax system is, thankfully, fairly simple.

However, one aspect that belies this apparent simplicity is the requirement for the majority of taxpayers to submit annual personal tax returns, regardless of the complexity of their financial affairs.

As such, the announcement by the Treasury Minister in his Budget speech that he intends to remove the filing requirement for taxpayers for whom the Income Tax Division has sufficient information at its disposal is to be welcomed.

interesting questions

However, in order to maximise the impact of such an initiative, it is likely that some interesting questions will need answering.

The Income Tax Division has access to details of a taxpayer’s employment income, taxable benefits and tax deducted at source by their employer, as well as the amounts of interest received from the largest local banks.

However, many taxpayers whose income comprises almost exclusively of earnings from employment will have smaller amounts of taxable income from other, perhaps non-Manx, sources, details of which will not be automatically available to the local tax authorities.

Equally, a significant number of such taxpayers will have tax deductible outgoings, for example charitable donations or professional subscriptions which, even if stable in the sense that they may be payable annually, will often increase year-on-year.

Will the Income Tax Division tackle such situations by requiring employees to separately disclose, for example, non-Isle of Man source investment income?

Will they maintain a directory of the fees payable to each of the main professional bodies to which local employees subscribe?

Will a de minimis investment income threshold be introduced?

In the UK many such ‘wrinkles’ are ironed out by the PAYE coding system and the system of deduction of tax source on many forms of investment income.

The Isle of Man coding system is, however, less sophisticated and I’m sure that we are not about to move to a system of tax deduction at source on investment income!

While such practical matters will certainly require careful consideration, the overall aim is undoubtedly a laudable one.

Another area in which an attempt at simplification is likely to be made is personal tax rates.

While the current rates and thresholds are to be maintained for 2015-16, Mr Teare announced his intention to consult on eliminating the 10 per cent rate with effect from April 6, 2016, while at the same time extending the personal allowance.

This would leave one rate of personal income tax – 20 per cent.

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Assuming that the revised personal allowance were to be set at the appropriate level, this should serve to remove some additional individuals on low incomes from the charge to tax whilst not increasing the tax burden for those on higher incomes.

When combined with the ongoing drive to encourage individuals to file their tax returns online and the forthcoming compulsory online filing requirement for companies (first affecting accounting periods ending on or after April 5, 2015), there appears to be a very real appetite to streamline the Isle of Man’s tax system.

uncertainty

Nevertheless, in some areas of taxation the price of simplicity is uncertainty.

It is important that the Isle of Man preserves a simple regime, however no legislation or published guidance governs the Isle of Man tax treatment of non-standard investment products, for example, and it is in areas such as this that one might encourage the Treasury to ‘grasp the nettle’.

One other key area in which the opportunity for simplification exists, but is by no means guaranteed, at least in the short-term, is the future of the Isle of Man’s social security system.

Last year’s report by consultants Ci65 concluded that the current system is not affordable in the long-term and this, together with the UK Government’s intention to combine the hitherto separate tax and national insurance systems (the latter of which the equivalent Isle of Man system is based on), means that a new solution must be found.

This must balance dealing with the very real challenges posed by the island’s changing demographics with the need to preserve the Isle of Man as a desirable place in which to live, work and do business.

These issues are truly fundamental and promise to form the main topic of socio-economic debate over the months to come.

The Mothers’ Union will hold an event called Bunting for Burundi tomorrow (Saturday).

People who visit will have the chance to make jewellery out of paper, play a giant game of snakes and ladders, walk along a catwalk dressed up in African clothes, taset African food and play African drums.

There is no charge but the Mothers’ Union is hoping to raise money for Literacy and Financial Education in Burundi.

Members of St Thomas’ CE School Council (pictured) helped to publicise the event.

It all happens at the Sea Terminal in Douglas from 10am to 4pm.

The decision to extend the Civic Centre in Castletown should be deferred, according to resident and former commissioner John Cringle.

Mr Cringle first raised several concerns at a public meeting held to discuss the proposal on February 3.

The plan is for the centre to be extended and incorporate the police station. Work will cost £400,000, and be offset by the donation of a Department of Home Affairs asset worth around £200,000.

In a letter to the commissioners, Mr Cringle wrote: ‘The presentation neither justified the proposal nor demonstrated any due diligence had been applied in the context of overall benefits to Castletown, it being littered with minor issues and major spin.’

Financing the scheme with an unrealised DHA asset, ‘demonstrates the plan is not without significant risk.’ The transfer would need full government approval, and if there are problems the capital cannot be immediately realised.

He queried why the work had to be done now. To justify it (as was said at the meeting) because there are the reserves to finance the scheme and interest rates are low, does not, he argues, ‘form a business case or part of a business plan’.He added it could lead to an increase in the town rate of between seven and nine pence.

He wrote that Chief Constable Gary Robert’s email (read out at the meeting) was ‘a blatant threat that should [the police] not come into the Civic Centre they will leave both Castletown and the south.’

Mr Cringle urged the authority to ‘take a more holistic view of potential rate increases. The commissioners should not be embarking on this project without full professional justification. What amounts to an admission of a lack of building maintenance, veiled threats from the Chief Constable or the vanity of members sitting on consultative boards with pet projects does not outweigh the liability the town would be committed to.’

He urged the authority to defer the scheme until further investigations – including discussion about future policing with the DHA – are made.

The nurses’ union has added its concerns about plans to reform public sector pensions.

And the chairman of the Isle of Man branch of the Royal College of Nursing said proposed changes could be the ‘final straw’ for many and result in nurses and healthcare assistants leaving the profession.

Earlier this month, the British Medical Association, the union for doctors, wrote to all members of Tynwald outlining its concerns about future provision for pensions for medics in the island.

Now the Royal College of Nursing has entered the fray.

The union said it is ‘surprised and concerned’ by the announcement that the Public Sector Pensions Authority is to start ‘wide and in depth consultations’ on public sector pensions.

Last month, the PSPA notified the RCN and other health unions of the need to ‘open up consultations and negotiate over pensions’ following a recent decision by the Tynwald.

Members of the RCN Isle of Man branch were due to meet this week to discuss the announcement.

Regional director for RCN North West Estephanie Dunn said: ‘The decision to review pensions yet again has come as a complete and utter surprise to nurses, healthcare assistants and other health staff on the island. It’s just 24 months since the last set of pension changes were forced through.

‘Moves by the government to open pension negotiations tears up a promise they made in 2012. At that time, they gave a clear commitment not to make any further changes until 2020 to ensure a period of stability.

‘It’s simply unacceptable to try to change pensions again and is no way to treat dedicated and hard-working staff. The RCN has formally written to the Pensions Authority setting out our concerns.’

Chairman of the RCN Isle of Man branch, Verna Phillips said: ‘RCN members are upset and concerned that they are facing further changes to their pensions. This could not come at a worse time for nurses and healthcare assistants.

‘They have faced four long years of cuts to real term pay, whilst the cost of living has continued to increase. This may be the final straw for many and could see nurses and HCA’s leaving the profession and possibly the Isle of Man.

‘The RCN and other health unions will be meeting with the government in early March. In the meantime we will be listening to our members’ views and concerns and working together with the other health unions on this vitally important issue.”

Isle of Man Newspapers revealed in January that an exodus of medical staff from Noble’s Hospital is being blamed on the proposed major changes to their pension arrangements.

The Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed that seven medics have resigned in recent weeks. However, a senior member of the Isle of Man Medical Society claimed ‘the island could easily lose half its entire consultant medical staff’.

A report on public sector pensions presented in Tynwald recommended a phased three per cent increase in contributions for government staff and raising the minimum retirement age from 55 to 58.

Tynwald unanimously supported a move to ‘note’ the report, meaning it did not give its tacit consent to its recommendations. It agreed there must be full consultation with staff and unions. Health Minister Howard Quayle has insisted any changes to pension arrangements will not be brought in retrospectively.