THE GOVERNMENT OF NORFOLK ISLAND

MEDIA RELEASE

The Hon MLC, President of the Parliament of the , is to visit Norfolk Island for Day

We are very pleased to advise that the Hon Clare Christian BSc MLC, President of the Parliament of the Isle of Man – - is visiting Norfolk from Friday 7 June to Tuesday 11 June. Mrs Christian is coming to Norfolk specifically to join us on Norfolk’s National Day – Anniversary (Bounty) Day – which this year is being celebrated on Monday 10 June 2013. Mrs Christian is accompanied by her sister Pam.

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly the Hon David Buffett AM MLA will be hosting President Christian and her sister at the official table for lunch on Bounty Day.

President Christian, a Manx politician, is a former member of the Legislative Council; Minister of Health and Social Security 1996 to 2004; Vice Chairman of the Isle of Man Water and Sewerage Authority 2009 to 2011 and in 2011 she was elected as . President Christian was also the Island Guide Commissioner from 1991 to 1996.

A Cultural Agreement between the Isle of Man and Norfolk Island was signed on the Isle of Man on 5 July 2011. The signatories to the Agreement were the then Speaker of the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly the Hon. Robin Adams JP and the then President of the Isle of Man Parliament the Hon OBE. A copy of that Agreement is attached. The Cultural Agreement acknowledges the strand of early history that we share through our association with and Captain Bligh which was the nexus of creation for the settlement of Island following the mutiny on board Her Majesty’s Ship Bounty; a settlement that continued until the Pitcairn Island community were moved as a whole to Norfolk Island arriving on the 8 th of June 1856.

The Cultural Agreement acknowledges our two Island’s desire to develop and strengthen friendly relations and to promote interest in the fields of heritage, culture, research, education and media communications. One of the aims to build on the link between our two Islands via the Bounty is that we recognise each others National Day.

This year we are honoured that the Isle of Man will acknowledge our National Day by having their President join us in person here on Norfolk Island; and we very much look forward to welcoming her, and her sister Pam, to our shores.

“I thank President Christian for travelling such a distance to join us on Anniversary (Bounty) Day and I look forward to continuing to grow the relationship between our two Islands” Minister Adams shared.

Robin Adams JP MLA Minister for Cultural Heritage and Community Services

31 May 2013

CONTACT : CHIEF OF STAFF , NORFOLK ISLAND LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY , OLD MILITARY BARRACKS , KINGSTON , NORFOLK ISLAND 2899 SOUTH PACIFIC. TELEPHONE : (+6723) 22003 FACSIMILE : (+6723) 23378