Plans to run the Post Office as a state-owned private company have been thrown into disarray - after Tynwald voted down most of the recommendations in a report proposing corporatisation.

After a long debate, the court voted to receive the report on the structure for Isle of Man Post Office written by independent consultant Elmar Toime.

But the only one of his recommendations that won Tynwald backing was that the Post Office be transformed from a statutory board into a company owned by the government.

Five other recommendations were rejected – including the proposal that the Treasury Minister be the sole shareholder and that Tynwald approve a memorandum of understanding on the Post’s purpose, aims and objectives.

Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly said that with no real mandate for corporatisation the Post Office would continue as a statutory board and it would be up to the next administration after the September general election to come with any new proposals.

He admitted he was ‘disappointed’ at how the vote went.

In Tynwald he accepted there were risks associated with the proposals but there were greater risks in not following the recommendations of the Toime report.

But critics claimed that the corporatisation proposal was put forward without any clear business plan and without the memorandum of understanding having been drafted.

‘This is completely back to front,’ argued Douglas East MHK Chris Robertshaw.

Juan Turner MLC said he struggled to understand the rationale for the move given the Post Office is one of the most successful areas of government. He said there was not a ‘shred of evidence’ that the current model was preventing it pursue new business opportunities.

Lib Van leader Kate Beecroft (Douglas South) said members had not been given the detailed information needed for them to be able to vote.

Michael MHK Alfred Cannan agreed there was no detailed business case.

Malew and Santon MHK Graham Cregeen, who was sacked as Post Office chairman over his opposition to the corporatisation policy, said the move would benefit only the executive and the board in terms of significantly increased pay.

He said he was not opposed to changes at the Post Office but added: ‘We are being asked, or told, to jump out of an aircraft and then we are going to told as we are falling to the ground if and what type of parachute we are going to get and if it will work. This is ill-conceived, it’s premature and it sounds like a desperate government looking to try to prove they are still working.’

Mr Cregeen said he had expressed concern during his time as chairman that the Post Office has started negotiations to buy two local businesses, something he claimed would ‘unbalance the local market’.

He also alleged that during his conversations with the chief executive the latter had mentioned that ‘prior to my arrival at the Post Office he had been contacted by a Minister requesting that the Post Office did not compete for a piece of work as the Minister wanted another local company to get this work. I think that is totally inappropriate.’

Policy and Reform Minister John Shimmin described those allegations as ‘scurrilous’. ‘I find that disgraceful,’ he said.

Treasury Minister Eddie Teare ruled out the alternative idea of setting up a subsidiary company, pointing out what happened when that was done at the MEA with the scandal over unauthorised loans.

Fiduciary and fund services provider, Abacus, has announced promotions across its teams.

Abacus Financial Services Limited has promoted Les Callow to manager - valuations and accounts as well as Andrew Howatson to manager, treasury. Between them, Les and Andrew have over 35 years’ experience in the funds and financial services industry and are key individuals in the management and day to day operation of the Abacus Treasury and Valuations and Accounts functions.

Abacus Trust Company Limited have also made a number of promotions. Lorraine Boyd has been promoted to assistant manager - finance. Lorraine joined the Abacus finance team in 2007 and has become an integral member of the function. She also leads the business’ corporate responsibility and social committee.

In the trust and company department, Connor Cracknell has been promoted to supervisor, trust & company and David Watling has been promoted to senior trust & company administrator. Connor and Dave have both been with the company for around five years and are responsible for the day to day management and administration of a diverse portfolio of multi-jurisdictional trust and company structures, and have recently completed their International Diplomas with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, thus becoming STEP qualified. Hannah Kelly has also been promoted to trust and company administrator within this team.

Commenting on the promotions, Group Managing Director, Stewart Fleming said: “A number of promotions have been made at a range of levels which demonstrates our ongoing commitment as a business to both encouraging and supporting our staff and their development, both in a personal and professional capacity. On behalf of Abacus I would like to congratulate each one of them on their recent promotions, which are reflective of their hard work, development and ongoing commitment to the business.”

Kicking things off this week and one side we have Ironclad.

The band has been doing the rounds of the Manx live scene for a good while now and are made up by Owain Brimfield on vocals and guitar, Jason Cain on guitar, Ivan Jackson on bass and Keith Harris on drums.

Their set list features covers from the heavier end of the spectrum from the likes of Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer.

On the other side we have rock, metal and punk covers band Fugue State.

Their line-up features Phillip Cleary on bass, Brian Duffy on drums, Kriss Lane on guitar and Paul Nicholson on vocals and guitar and they specialise in songs from the likes of Iron Maiden, Thin Lizzy and The Buzzcocks.

As it happens, both bands will be appearing together at Amber in Douglas this coming Saturday night.

The doors open at 8pm and it’s free entry.

For further information visit www.facebook.com/events/1698557443733369/

Friday night (tomorrow) sees ‘Intimate Acoustic’ taking a place at St Ninian’s Church, in Douglas.

The evening of live music is the first in a series of intimate music events presented by Ultimate Productions and Big Small Fish.

Appearing on stage are Nick Barlow, The Tides, Chris Gray and Truman Falls, fresh from their album launch show at Noa Bakehouse last Saturday night.

Tickets are priced at £10 (concessions are available for under 16s and OAPs) and can be bought via the event page or by calling or texting 202063.

A proportion of the money raised will be donated to the church restoration fund.

Organisers say: ‘If you have never been to a gig in a church before then you will be blown away as it is an experience to be believed.

‘Please note that this will be a sit down event and there is no alcohol on sale. However refreshments will be available on site.

‘St Ninian’s Church welcomes people of all faiths to come and join in the evening of entertainment.’

If you head to Jaks bar in Douglas this Saturday night then you’ll catch Manx live scene veterans Symbollix in action.

The band is rooted in mostly 70s classic rock with a nod to the likes of ZZ Top, The Who, Wings, Bad Company, Whitesnake, Cream and The Rolling Stones and features John Ruscoe, George Hughes, John Ryan, Martin McEvely and Stewart Steptoe in their line-up.

The public can quiz candidates standing in the local authority election in Castletown on April 28 at two public meetings.

The first, oganised by candidates, is today (Friday) at 7pm in Morton Hall and is chaired by Noel Cringle. The second, a requisition meeting called by residents, is on Monday, April 25 at 7pm in the Civic Centre and is chaired by MHK Chris Thomas.

Kevin Weir, who organised the requisition meeting, said on Monday two opportunities to meet and question the candidates is ‘good news’ for the residents.

Current commissioners Dorothy Faragher, Colin Leather, Richard McAleer, David Parnell and James Quine will defend their seats alongside candidates James Barrow, James Cubbon, Jerry Ludford-Brooks and Carol Quine.

The Steam Packet Company has presented what it has described as an ‘offer’ to government for a new strategic sea services agreement to replace the user agreement.

Last summer the government issued an ultimatum to the Steam Packet – make us a ‘significantly enhanced’ offer or ferry services will be put out to competition.

Now the ferry operator’s chief executive, Mark Woodward, has confirmed an offer has been made which he hoped Tynwald will get the chance to support in the next few months.

The company has not yet disclosed details of the ‘offer’ but Mr Woodward told the Courier it will be made public and that it will involve investment in new ships.

Welcoming the appointment of Vision Nine as the new promoter for the TT and Classic TT, Mr Woodward said the offer to government would ‘help address the crucial issue of visitor capacity’.

As part of its 10-year contract approved by Tynwald this week, Vision Nine has plans to potentially more than double the combined visitor numbers for the TT and Classic TT from the current 57,000 to a maximum of 125,000 by 2026. Its minimum target is 76,500 for the two events. The TT alone would increase from last year’s 42,000 to a minimum of 57,800 or a maximum of 85,000 over 10 years.

But critics have expressed concern about how all these extra visitors will get here and where they will stay.

Reviewing the future of sea services, Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne said last summer there were three options - do nothing until going to the market in the year 2022, agree to end the current user agreement early and go to the market or invite the Steam Packet to make an ‘exceptional’ new offer.

Mr Woodward said he believed the Steam Packet’s early offer was ‘too good for government to turn down’.

He said: ‘We’ve put together a carefully costed, carefully scripted proposal. It’s a sensible and long-term offer. The issue of sea services is just to important to leave to chance.’

Mr Woodward described Vision Nine’s targets as ‘obviously aspirational’.

He said the Steam Packet had significantly increased capacity during the TT every year until last year but there had only been a modest increase in passenger numbers as a result. The limiting factor was not so much the amount but the type of accommodation available, he said.

He said: ‘We’ve said we can increase capacity further in the long-term. But we can’t put in this extra capacity just for a two-week period and have ships left empty for the rest of the year.’

Mr Woodward said the offer was a ‘whole package’ which would bring ‘long-term benefits to the island’. It includes a commitment to fares, routes, frequency and new investment, which he confirmed would involve new ships.

‘We are hopeful that Tynwald will have the chance to support that proposal within the next few months,’ he said.

He said until a new deal was agreed, sea services were in ‘limbo’. As things are, there are no new ships and no new investment as there is no economic basis on which to invest,’ he said.

The current user agreement – which gives the Steam Packet preferential use of the Edward Pier linkspan in return for guaranteed minimum levels of service - expires in 2020 but can be extended to 2026.

Under the deal with Vision Nine the plan is to spread capacity during the TT, increasing visitors during the non-peak period.

Relocation and downgrading of the island’s Crown post offices was branded a ‘bit of a shambles’ in Tynwald.

Juan Turner MLC made the comment as it emerged that plans to move the Regent Street sub post office into the nearby Spar store have been put on hold while alternative premises are investigated by new operator Mannin Retail.

Douglas East MHK Jon Joughin asked if Mannin Retail was still receiving ‘rent reduced status’ for the Regent Street post office.

Replying on behalf of Post Office vice chairman Tony Wild MLC, who was present in court but had been ill at the time the question was tabled, Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly said the agreement with Mannin Retail had been extended.

This was to ‘allow for further investigation to be carried out by the Post Office into modernised operating models and equipment for retail post offices which have been extensively tested in the UK by Post Office Ltd’.

He added: ‘The detailed layouts are in the process of being finalised and the Post Office is planning that the service will be relocated to the new loction at the end of June. This will avoid disruption to services during the busy TT period.’

Mr Turner said: ‘This whole thing is a bit of a shambles really, This seems to be making it up as they go along. Shouldn’t all these things have been sorted out before a contract was awarded? This is just highlighting another example of doing everything on the hoof.’

No details were given of the proposed new premises. But Mannin Retail’s parent company Heron and Brearley had submitted a planning application (16/00346/B) to convert 60 Strand Street, formerly occupied by Strand 58 and latterly Carnival, from a public house into retail use.

Mr Joughin asked: ‘How can we have fair competition when one private company is having rent free status- £60-70,000 worth of rent free accommodation?’

Mr Skelly said allowing Mannin Retail to operate out of the old Crown office at a peppercorn rent and sharing running costs had provided continuity for customers. This arrangement had been intended to run to spring but had now been extended to June. ‘We are literally talking about a couple of extra months,’ he said.

There could be serious consequences for the Isle of Man if the UK pulled out of the European Union, the Manx government said today.

Voters in the UK will decide whether to stay in the EU or leave it in a referendum on June 23.

The Isle of Man is not in the EU but it does have a trading relationship with it, governed by the Protocol 3 section of the treaty that the UK signed when it entered the then EEC in 1973.

Today the island’s Council of Ministers published its first interim report on potential consequences for the Isle of Man.

The 77-page document is the result of input from across the whole of Isle of Man Government, and includes a summary of some of the material published by UK Government, in particular on the mechanics of negotiations for withdrawal and options for the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/isle-of-man-was-not-invited-to-join-eu-referendum-1-7744098|Click here to read why we don’t get a vote in the referendum}

Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK said: ‘A Brexit vote on June 23 would take the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man on a journey into uncharted territory, so there are many questions that just cannot be answered at this stage.

‘Much would depend on what the UK could negotiate in place of EU membership, and how the island as a Crown Dependency would fit in to that new relationship. If the vote is to leave the EU, there will be a need for us to stay very close to the UK negotiators to ensure that the best interests of the Isle of Man are known and protected.’

The Chief Minister added: ‘We have already been active in promoting awareness of the Isle of Man’s position and in gathering information and intelligence both on and off island. In publishing this first interim report the Council of Ministers is sharing what it knows with the public, so that local views on this major issue can be as well informed as possible.

‘The report will hopefully give some food for thought for those people who live in the Isle of Man – or perhaps for Manx people currently living in the UK – who may be eligible to vote in the referendum, and for all who want to understand what Brexit could mean for the island.’

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/voxpop-should-the-uk-leave-european-union-1-7761824|Click here to read what people in the Isle of Man think about the referendum.}

The Isle of Man’s relationship with the EU does allow for free trade in the products of manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries. Because of this, says the report, these sectors could be likely to experience the most significant effects of Brexit, although a lot will depend on what new relationship with the EU the UK and the Isle of Man can negotiate.

The island’s current relationship with the EU does not extend to service industries, such as the finance sector, which generate the bulk of its national income and employment.

The Chief Minister said: ‘Going forward there will be continued political engagement with figures in the Leave and Remain campaigns, and with the other Crown Dependencies. There are also plans for consultation with members of the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce on potential impacts on their businesses, as well as further work on the options for the UK’s relationship with the EU post-Brexit.’

The Council of Ministers first interim report ‘UK Referendum on EU Membership – Implications for the Isle of Man’ can be found {https://www.gov.im/media/1351246/uk-referendum-on-eu-membership-implications-for-the-isle-of-man.pdf|here}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/report-on-implications-for-the-isle-of-man-of-a-uk-exit-from-the-eu-1-7761681|Click here to read a previous story on this issue}

A record turnout meant that the judges had their work cut out for them in this year’s World Bonnag Championships.

The high-pressure, prestigious culinary competition, held in St James Church, Dalby, was marked by a number of landmark events. There was a new category, a mammoth entry list of 52 entries to judge, and when the shouting was over and the flour settled, the youngest ever winner was crowned the overall champion.

Tom Keig, 11, from Regaby, won both the children’s class and impressed the judging partnership of Jill Cain and Mona Kerruish so much they also voted him the overall winner of 2016. It was a tough call, with entries from professional chefs in the individual classes and the commercial class to contend with, and with many experienced bonnag makers entering.

Chef Tony Quirk won the men’s class, and Margy KIlley, from Dalby walked away with the women’s award. The award for best commercial bonnag was given to Green’s Tea Rooms, in St John’s and in a first for the championships, the new gluten free class was won by Gill Qualtrough, from Castletown.

The winners all received vouchers, courtesy of Shoprite, and the winner of the children’s class received a cooking hamper. All entries received a bag of soda flour courtesy of Laxey Glen Mills.

‘It was a very good standard this year,’ said Mona Kerruish afterwards. ‘There were a lot of nice looking bonnags. It was hard to pick a winner. We did a lot of tasting to find it.’

Mona and Jill were very thorough in their judging and tasting, as well they had to be when faced with three tables groaning under the weight of 52 platefuls. They plumped for bonnags that were made in the older, more traditional way.

‘It has to be real bonnag,’ said Mona. ‘Made with buttermilk instead of milk, and without using fruit. I don’t think bonnag should have fruit really.’

She was very definite about what should go into a good, hearty and traditional bonnag.

‘It should only have flour, marg, buttermilk, salt and that’s it. It has to made with buttermilk, otherwise it’s not the same. It seems fresher if you use buttermilk rather than milk. Also, you don’t want too much soda in it. I only use soda if I use plain flour.’

Cheryl Cousins, the organiser of the event, believes the championship is an important part of the cultural calendar of the island,and that it represent a thriving and growing interest in Manx traditions and age-old, time-served crafts.

‘It is Manx-ness, an example of Manx culture,’ said Cheryl. ‘It’s a celebration of our traditions. The fact that so many people responded show how much it is 
valued and I think that it’s important we hold onto these cultural values.’

It’s been 43 years since 10cc took to the stage of the Palace Lido for their first-ever gig.

Three number ones, a further eight top 10 hits and multi-million album sales followed that August 1973 live debut.

And taking to the stage of the Villa Marina on Friday, founder member Graham Gouldman said it was a special night for him to be back in the island.

Given that this latest incarnation of 10cc comprises only Gouldman and drummer Paul Burgess from the band’s 1970s line-up (Burgess was an auxiliary member before joining full time in 1976 after the departure of Godley and Creme), there was a risk this could end up sounding like a 10cc tribute act.

But it soon became clear that the packed Royal Hall audience were in for a treat.

The set kicked off with The Wall Street Shuffle before the band really got into their stride with The Things We Do for Love and I’m Mandy Fly Me, contrasting the two sides of 10cc – radio-friendly pop and art rock experimentation.

A trawl through the band’s phenomenal back catalogue followed including Art for Art’s Sake, Rubber Bullets, Feel the Benefit from the classic 1977 album Deceptive Bends and Life is a Minestrone – the title inspired when Lol Creme and Eric Stewart apparently misheard a radio presenter when travelling back from Strawberry Studios.

Smart phones were held aloft to record 10cc’s best known hit I’m Not in Love, this pop classic translating remarkably well onto the live stage given that the original’s ethereal sound was created in the studio using multiple overdubbed vocals and tape loops.

But the highlight of a special night was an a capella version of 10cc’s doowop debut single Donna, showcasing the group’s harmonising virtuosity.

Indeed, although it was Gouldman who was the undoubted star, his bandmates proved more than worthy of the 10cc legacy - especially the versatile Mick Wilson on vocals, guitar and percussion and guitarist Rupert Fenn, nephew of Rick Fenn who joined 10cc in 1976.

The evening ended with a lively rendition of Dreadlock Holiday: ‘I don’t like Douglas – I love it!’

Following 10cc’s debut at the Palace Lido in 1973, they returned to the island the following year at the start of a UK tour.

They hadn’t been back here again until last Friday.

Let’s hope we won’t have to wait quite as long to see them here again to mark the island’s small contribution to pop history.

• Pictures by Steve Babb Photography.

Charging customers £1.50 for a paper version of their phone bill is a commercial decision for Manx Telecom, Tynwald was told.

Office of Fair Trading chairman David Quirk came under fire from MHKs as he defended Manx Telecom’s right to charge customers more if they don’t choose to have electronic bills or pay on-line or by direct debit.

Mr Quirk said many firms use discounts as a means of encouraging customers to use electronic billing and online or automatic payment.

He said: ‘Manx Telecom have chosen to do the same but has expressed it the other way round. Rather than saying “use on-line billing and get a discount” they are giving everyone the discount and saying “if you want a paper bill it is extra”. It is the same outcome.’

Mr Quirk insisted it was not misleading, which he said is the test the OFT would use to decide whether to step in or take enforcement action.

He added: ‘Ultimately, the decision to charge less for electronic bill, on-line payment or direct debit payment is a commercial decision. What the OFT does expect is that firms make it clear to consumers what the charges are. In this case it is clear.’

Douglas North MHK John Houghton pointed out many elderly people still use paper bills and asked the OFT chairman whether he morally supported this £1.50 charge.

Mr Quirk replied the customers had a choice to have a bill in paper form or pay using e-billing. He pointed out BT in the UK charge £1.70 and that both operators in the island operate the same principle.

Lib Van leader Kate Beecroft (Douglas South) said it was very strange that when you’re not charged for something it was classed as a discount. She said: ‘It just seems to me to be a nonsense. It’s wide open to abuse by all sorts of companies to claim they are giving everyone a discount because they are not going to charge them for something.’

Rival telecoms operator Sure charge £1.50 for customers who don’t pay by direct debit but settle bills over the phone, by post, in store or at the post office.

A Manx Telecom spokesman said: ‘Manx Telecom is certified to the international environmental standard ISO 14001:2004 as we are committed to minimising the impact of our operations on the environment.

‘Our policy on paper bill charges has helped increase the number of customers taking an electronic bill and we will continue to make every effort to encourage customers to take the environmentally friendly, and free, e-billing option.

‘E-billing is now the industry’s default billing practice, with a charge levied for delivery of a paper bill and a further premium typically applied for full itemisation.’

From April 1 2016 new customers, or those existing customers wishing to renew any aspect of our services, have been given these choices:

* A free e-bill: Notification by email that their bill is available to view online, with full itemisation available free of charge through our ‘My Account’ service

* Or a paper bill charged at £1.50 (inc VAT) per bill, with full itemisation available free of charge through our ‘My Account’ service

* Or a fully itemised paper bill at £3.60 (inc VAT) per bill.

The spokesman added: ‘The Manx Telecom charge for a paper bill is reasonable when benchmarked with other service providers; for example, BT in the UK charge £1.75 for a paper bill and Sure in the Isle of Man charge £1.50.

‘As with all other operators, Manx Telecom’s charges must reflect the underlying costs of providing any given service. Producing a paper bill involves printing, enveloping and postage costs, over and above those of providing an electronic bill. It would therefore be unfair to pass on the costs of producing paper bills to those customers who are happy to receive an electronic bill.’

Doreen Green, of Falcon Cliff Terrace Lane, Douglas, shares her 90th birthday with the Queen.

Family and friends from as far away as Switzerland travelled to the island to celebrate the special occasion with dinner at Portofino restaurant.

‘It’s very nice to share my birthday with the Queen,’ she said. ‘I’ve always admired her.’

Doreen grew up in Preston. She moved to the island in 1966 with husband Roy to run the Castle Mona – their guests included Tom Jones and Morecambe and Wise.

She was landlord at the Saddle, on Douglas Quay, from 1975 to 1978, then spent 18 years in Spain. She moved back in 1997.

Attending the party were her son Stuart, and her two grandaughters, who live in Switzerland.

The Manx Government has agreed to engage in an initiative on automatic exchange of beneficial ownership information spearheaded by the five largest economies in the European Union - the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Last week the G5 nations announced they had agreed to automatically exchange information on the beneficial owners of companies, trusts, foundations and shell companies with law enforcement as well as tax administrations.

They are looking to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to develop common international standards for this new system.

As a meeting of Finance Ministers of EU Member States (EcoFin) got underway in Amsterdam today, UK Chancellor George Osborne welcomed the Isle of Man’s early commitment to the initiative.

Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK said: ‘As we have seen, international expectations of greater transparency and cooperation to combat money laundering, tax evasion or serious financial crime are rapidly evolving.

‘The Isle of Man has long recognised the need to be at the forefront of global standards. We were, for example, among the first to agree to the Common Reporting Standard which provides for automatic exchange of tax information.

‘In this spirit, the Isle of Man Government has given its commitment to supporting a global standard for the automatic exchange of beneficial ownership information which the G5 looks to develop in collaboration with the OECD and FATF and other international finance centres.’

He added: ‘Engaging with this initiative demonstrates our continued commitment to enhanced standards of transparency and ensures we remain part of the global response to tackling money laundering, tax evasion and illicit finance. This commitment will further contribute to our reputation as a high quality international business centre.’

Concerns about the safety of divers has prompted a diving business to launch an awareness campaign aimed at boat owners and skippers.

The campaign – called Divers Down – informs boat users about the potential dangers of being in an area where there are scuba divers.

‘We had a few times last year where boats were coming too close to divers, and decided to do something positive to work with other boat owners,’ said Michelle Haywood from Port St Mary’s Discover Diving, which attracts hundreds of scuba divers to the island each year.

She said long ropes marking lobster and crab pots create a snagging hazard, meaning divers can’t safely tow a marker buoy with them during their dive. Most divers will, however, inflate a marker buoy at the end of their dive to signal where they will surface.

Michelle designed posters and flyers – which will be distributed by the Isle of Man Ship Registry and the Department of Infrastructure - to show what boat skippers should look out for. A photograph shows the possible spread of marker buoys in the water indicating how far divers can travel from their entry point. ‘The aim is to show skippers and crew how divers may come to the surface and notify them that they should steer clear of any area where dive boats are operating,’ said Michelle.

Dick Welsh, Director at the Isle of Man Ship Registry explained that any vessel flying the divers ‘A-flag’ should be considered as restricted in its ability to manoeuvre. Vessels which encounter a boat flying the A-flag should take action to avoid the dive boat and any divers in the water, bearing in mind that the divers may have spread out in the area around the boat. He said: ‘We are grateful that Discover Diving has taken such a proactive approach and worked with other users and groups in highlighting the issue to other commercial and recreational vessels about the increasing number of scuba divers and the possibility that they may be in close proximity.’

Director of Ports at the Department of Infrastructure Ann Reynolds worked with Discover Diving to develop the campaign. Mrs Reynolds said: ‘Our harbour keepers obviously see what is going on within their harbours, but outside of the harbour it’s harder for us to monitor what’s going on. The reports about near misses between divers and vessels last summer came into the Marine Operations Centre, where we quickly realised that we needed to raise awareness. The flyers will be going out to registered harbour users ... we hope it makes a difference.’

Bags of organic compost are being sold to the public by the Southern Recycling Centre (SRC) in Port St Mary, with substantial savings for ratepayers.

The centre receives 650 to 700 tonnes of green waste each year. If it was sent to the Energy from Waste plant for incineration, it would cost ratepayers around £40,000 each year (in disposal charges). Instead the SRC shreds the waste and, over 16 weeks, processes it into compost for sale to gardeners.

Until 2015 this compost was only available in large quantities to farmers and land owners.

Following a successful trial over six months last year of bagging the product selling it to the public – at £2.50 for a 25 litre bag - the SRC sold more than 2,500 bags. Now the SRC has invested in a shredding machine, giving quality control over the raw product, they plan to sell even more in the current year.

The SRC board is also investigating ways of automating the bagging process.
SRC board chairman and Port St Mary Commissioner, Alan Grace said: ‘Commercial landscapers have always told us that, in our compost, we had a wonderful product.

‘We are now making that available to home owners and leisure gardeners. On island production of organic, compost makes sense in many ways. Not only is it a low value, heavy product and therefore expensive to import but we have the ingredients to make our own here on the island.’

He added: ‘Creating value from waste is at the core of our business here at the Southern Recycling Centre. There is clearly demand for what we are producing. This product makes environmental sense, it makes financial sense and it is keeping the rates in the south of the island low.’

The SRC recycled 2,472 tonnes in one year up to the end of March – 51 per cent of what the centre received in total. This included more than 600 tonnes of green waste, 50 tonnes of cardboard, 200 tonnes of scrap metal and 17 tonnes of fridge/freezers. Charities also benefited from 27 tonnes of clothing.

The centre received 10 per cent more waste last financial year than the year before; the increase is probably down to increased opening hours.

A learner driver, who took a car without permission at midnight to run friends to Foxdale, crashed when they started fighting while he was driving, a court has heard.

The grey Ford Focus that Christopher John Crellin slammed into a banking near Archallagan had been loaned to his girlfriend by her brother.

Prosecutor Hazel Carroon said when Crellin heard two of his friends arguing in the street outside their home at Ballacannell in Laxey on February 19, he went outside to see what was wrong.

Taking the keys to the Ford Focus, he agreed to drive them to Foxdale but when a full scale fight broke out in the car, he lost control and crashed, hitting the banking and puncturing a tyre.

Forced to abandon the car, Crellin walked back towards Douglas and the first his girlfriend knew about the incident was when he appeared back home, visibly upset, at 9am.

Miss Carroon said Crellin’s girlfriend contacted her brother, the matter was reported to the police and the defendant was subsequently interviewed. He said he agreed to drive his friends home as it was too late for them to catch a bus.

In court, he admitted taking the car without consent, driving it without insurance and driving it without conforming to his provisional licence restrictions.

His advocate Peter Taylor said it had been an impulsive act intended to diffuse the situation between his friends. No malice had been involved in the act, he said.

He told the court his client was anxious to be sentenced straight away without waiting for a social enquiry report to be completed.

But Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said prison remained an option therefore a report would be required. Crellin, who is 28, was bailed to his home address on a £500 recognisance.

He is to reappear before the court for sentencing on May 24. In the meantime he must not drive and he is forbidden to leave the Isle of Man without permission.

Backbench MHK Alfred Cannan says he is disappointed that a vital debate on public sector pension reform was thwarted by the vote of the unelected upper house.

His call for an emergency debate was supported by 15 votes to eight in the House of Keys but failed to carry as LegCo voted seven to two against.

He had tabled his urgent motion after proposals for the reform of public sector pensions due to be debated in Tynwald this week were withdrawn at the last minute - and deferred until the June sitting to allow members more time to consider the issues.

The move came after Mr Cannan and four other backbench MHKs announced they would not be supporting ‘flawed’ proposals for reform.

These proposals would see staff across the public services paying up to 50 per cent more in pensions contributions for reduced future benefits.

But Mr Cannan, Ralph Peake and John Houghton (Douglas North), Leonard Singer (Ramsey) and Graham Cregeen (Malew and Santon) claimed the plans are flawed and would expose the taxpayer to unacceptable levels of financial risk.

They said the burden on the taxpayer to support the unified pension scheme will rise from the current £44m to more than £100m over the next six years.

Mr Cannan’s emergency motion has sought a series of amendments including that CoMin set up an independent review commission, chaired by a QC, to review options for a fair and sustainable public sector pension scheme.

He told the Manx Independent that he had been led to believe that these amendments would be acceptable to CoMin - only for him to find out on Tuesday morning that the motion for reform was being withdrawn. It was that which led him to table the emergency motion.

Mr Cannan said MLCs had once again ‘blocked the democratic wishes of the elected house, this time for a vital debate on public sector pensions’.

Seven Ministers and Glenfaba MHK Geoff Boot were the only one in the Keys to vote against.

John Shimmin MHK, vice chairman of the Public Sector Pensions Authority, explained why the motion had been withdrawn.

He said: ‘It has become apparent that some members are uncomfortable with government’s proposals. Deferring the matter until June will allow further opportunities for members to clarify their concerns and any additional or alternative approaches they may have.’

The main route between Douglas and the south of the island was blocked this morning after an accident.

Police were called to Richmond Hill after a car landed on its roof at about 5am.

A 38-year-old man was arrested near the scene and is assisting police with their inquiries.

Sergeant Gary Heaton said: ‘The road at this time is completely blocked with debris in both lanes. I anticipate the road being closed until after 9am.’

A big media festival is to take place in the Isle of Man next year.

The Celtic Media Festival will take place here on March 29 to 31 in 2017, it was announced at this year’s festival in Ireland last night.

The festival is an annual three-day event that promotes the languages and cultures of the Celtic nations and regions in media.

It combines a major conference of seminars and master classes with presentation of coveted prizes in an international competition across all the main content genres in television, radio, film and digital media.

Minister for Economic Development Laurence Skelly MHK said: ‘I am very excited to announce that the Isle of Man will be hosting the 2017 Celtic Media Festival.

‘The Isle of Man has a rich heritage in media, with a strong background in print and broadcast. This is a great opportunity for the island to showcase our culture, language and talents with a series of Celtic events and celebrations for locals and the expected 500 visitors who will be in attendance.’

Catriona Logan, festival director, said: ‘The Isle of Man has played a key part in recent festivals and we are all excited to see what the island has to offer. The festival takes inspiration from its host location so we are looking forward to the Manx spirit and culture providing the look and feel of Celtic Media Festival 2017.’

Dr Breesha Maddrell, director of Culture Vannin, said: ‘The Celtic Media Festival is a significant event for promoting and celebrating Celtic culture, languages and our growing Creative Industries. We will be working with the department to ensure the 2017 Celtic Media Festival captures the strength of Manx culture both on-screen and on-island.’

iomtoday.co.im has asked the government whether any taxpayers’ money has been spent on bringing the festival here and hosting it.

The Irish dominated the award winners in this year’s festival, which took place in Dungarvan.

In fact, there was no Manx winner.

The winners:

CATEGORY: ANIMATION

WINNER: Dimitri à Ubuyu

COUNTRY: Brittany

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Vivement Lundi !/ France Télévisions

CATEGORY: APP

WINNER: Léigh Linn

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Aisling Productions Ltd

CATEGORY: ARTS

WINNER: Ted Hughes: Stronger than Death

COUNTRY: Scotland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Matchlight Limited/ BBC

CATEGORY: CHILDREN’S

WINNER: The Legend of Longwood

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Grand Productions

CATEGORY: COMEDY

WINNER: The Savage Eye: An Irish Guide to Failure

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Blinder Films/ RTÉ

CATEGORY: CURRENT AFFAIRS

WINNER: RTÉ Investigations Unit - Inside Bungalow 3

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: RTÉ Investigations Unit/ RTÉ

CATEGORY: DRAMA SERIES

WINNER: Poldark

COUNTRY: Cornwall

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Mammoth Screen Limited/ BBC

CATEGORY: ENTERTAINMENT

WINNER: Pioc do Ride

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: El Zorrero Films/ TG4

CATEGORY: FACTUAL ENTERTAINMENT

WINNER: Keepin Er Country

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Alleycats TV/ BBC NI

CATEGORY: FACTUAL SERIES

WINNER: Crumlin

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Independent Pictures/ RTÉ

CATEGORY: FACTUAL SINGLE

WINNER: One Million Dubliners

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Underground Pictures/ RTÉ

CATEGORY: KIERAN HEGARTY AWARD FOR INNOVATION

WINNER: Man on Bridge

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: El Zorrero Films

CATEGORY: RADIO COMEDY

WINNER: GaelGÁIRÍ ar an Raidió

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Raidió na Life/ Raidió na Life

CATEGORY: RADIO DOCUMENTARY

WINNER: Lacrimosa

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/ BROADCASTER: BBC Radio Ulster/ BBC Radio Ulster

CATEGORY: RADIO MAGAZINE SHOW

WINNER: The John Toal Show

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTIO COMPANY/BROADCASTER: BBC Radio Ulster/ BBC Radio Ulster

CATEGORY: RADIO MUSIC PROGRAMME

WINNER: Mire ri Mòir aig a’ Mhòd

COUNTRY: Scotland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Radio nan Gàidheal/ BBC Radio nan Gàidheal

CATEGORY: RADIO PRESENTER/PERSONALITY

WINNER: Dónall Mac Ruairí

COUNRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: RTÉ Raidió Na Gaeltachta/ RTÉ Raidió Na Gaeltachta

CATEGORY: RADIO SPORTS PROGRAMME

WINNER: Spòrs na Seachdain

COUNTRY: Scotland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: BBC Radio nan Gàidheal/ BBC Radio nan Gàidheal

CATEGORY: RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR

WINNER: RTÉjr Radio

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: RTÉjr Radio

CATEGORY: SHORT DRAMA

WINNER: Boogaloo and Graham

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Out of Orbit

CATEGORY: SINGLE DRAMA

WINNER: Yr Ymadawiad

COUNTRY: Wales

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Severn Screen Ltd/ S4C

CATEGORY: SPIRIT OF THE FESTIVAL

WINNER: Cuimhní ón mBlascaod

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPPANY/BROADCASTER: Praxis Pictures/ TG4

CATEGORY: SPORT

WINNER: The Notorious

COUNTRY: Ireland

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Motive Television/ RTÉ

CATEGORY: YOUNG PEOPLE

WINNER: Fog of Sex: Stories from the frontline of student sex work

COUNTRY: Wales

PRODUCTION COMPANY/BROADCASTER: Visual Influence

I say what I think, that the Company stinks. Yes I’m a Union man’

If there is one thing that those in left wing politics of the Trade Union (TU) movement are most suspicious about it’s each other.

I don’t mean the Isle of Man TU movement. I mean the UK. In the IoM in the 1980s the thing that drove us was just intense distaste for the Manx government.

I first got my insight into the fevered world of the broader UK movement in the mid 1980s. At that time I had enjoyed a meteoric rise through the ranks and was district chairman.

However, I had peaked and was about to call it a day and return to my roots ‘nationalism’. I even enrolled for Manx classes on Thursdays at night school. As that clashed with most union meetings, I was on the way out.

Then the local official resigned, alleging militant trade unionists were taking over the island and one of the UK tabloids (The Sun, I think) turned it into ‘Militant tendencies were taking over the island’.

I hadn’t had any dealings with the hierarchy in the UK but within a few days I found myself in the Liverpool Islington Office of the TGWU. You know the one – it used to pop up on the opening sequence of Brookside.

For several hours various people would come and go as I sat in the divisional organiser’s office asking questions – some pleasant, some abrasive – about the union in the island. This went on for most of the day but I eventually ‘persuaded them’ we were home grown Manx ‘Militants’ although some still had their doubts.

Later that evening, sitting in a restaurant run by exiles from Pinochet’s Chile (this was Liverpool in the 80s!), I ruminated on this and concluded one faction of the left thought another faction had grabbed the island.

At that time, the old Merseyside division of the T&G was dominated by Militant but it was factional and then you had SWP, etc, etc.

Just to be absolutely sure, when the union sent a temporary replacement officer he was an arch-conservative in unions terms, a left-over from the right wing era of Frank Cousins. He swiftly established that far from being ‘The Fourth International’ our objectives were more domestically motivated. Eventually, despite the fact I was a nationalist, I got the IoM officer job.

My interaction with my UK colleagues then took a decidedly schizophrenic twist.

My colleague, the archetypal Cousins conservative, stayed on for several years ‘to mentor me’. So I was privy to the machinations within the movement in the UK as it moved to appoint key members from left and right to controlling positions in the union. The Left always had a strong prescience in Liverpool, to which at that time we were administratively aligned.

I say schizophrenic because sometimes in the early days I could be sitting listening to right wing plotters utilising our space through my mentor in the IoM office.

The next I would be at the Liverpool Islington Offices where the Militant and other myriad of left groups had established one of their HQs. I was in every sense a fly on the wall in both camps.

When the elections came, the left usually won as if there’s one thing the left wing of a union can do its turn out the vote. However sometimes the triumph was shortlived as when Bill (now Lord) Morris was elected with broad left support in the early 90s he soon initiated a cull of political factions.

So what of Mann, where did our ‘Militants’ stand? Well we tried to be pragmatic and as the left and right machinations of the UK unions ebbed and flowed, we usually placed an ‘each ways’ bet.

Whichever candidate won we decided we wanted to win as well. Certainly in the case of Bill Morris, branches here overwhelmingly supported him. He turned out to be a good friend of the trade union movement in the Isle of Man and ensured solid support which ensured we were able to grow the membership.

by Jackie Turley

jackie.turley@newsiom.co.im

Twitter: @iomJackie