The Free Manx Paper Earroo / Issue 36 Jerrey Geuree / January 2006 Published by Mec Vannin CRIMINAL INJUSTICE Home Affairs Department admits to trying to "steamroller" legislation Illiam Dhone's judicial through before next election "It is normal practice for the consultation period to be six weeks murder to be featured where in this case it has been reduced to four weeks which the Department on Border Television feel is not unreasonable in the Border Television has produced a circumstances. If we do not meet the m i
. series of six programmes under the title v required deadlines for submission, and o of "True Crimes" which start screening g . especially in light of the Election next w on Thursday 5th January 2006. w year, the provisions would be delayed w
m for a considerable period of time which
o The final episode, due to be broadcast r f
would be unacceptable, as I am sure
e on Thursday 9th February at 7.30pm, r
u you would agree." t
c deals with the shooting of Illiam Dhone i
P on the 2nd January, 1663. The Well, no we don't agree, not by a long way. programme runs for just half an hour so What are these circumstances? Has there don't expect anything too "in depth" and been a collapse of civil order that has gone it is unknown from what perspective the unnoticed outside the corridors of the producers have treated the issue. John Shimmin MHK, DHA Minister DHA? What is this deadline? Why will an The Department of Home Affairs election cause such disruption? under John Shimmin has committed Paradox of itself to driving an admittedly "The Bill provides a package of opposition to contentious piece of legislation important measures to help ensure the change in through Tynwald without any valid law enforcement agencies and the consultation. Attempts by several Courts can effectively tackle crime and Governor's title bodies to secure even a small amount address the issues which are of most Mec Vannin's antipathy towards of consideration time for a new concern to the public." playing around with the title of the Criminal Justice Bill, which impacts British Crown's permanent overseer in on several other complex pieces of Does this mean that the police and Courts our country is well established and has legislation, have been flatly rejected. a r e n ' t e ff e c t i v e l y tackling crime at the nothing to do with liking the idea of moment? Does "tackling crime" simply being the last colony of a burnt-out In a response to Mec Vannin's request mean locking up more people? Is that the empire. See our Jan. 2003 issue. for a few week's opportunity to study the reason for having a new prison, rather than draft Bill, reproduced with comment replacing an out-dated prison? Yet we have found ourselves on the below, the department has admitted that same side as a substantial body of its sole objective is to drive the Bill The department actually asked for opinion against change but for very through before the next election, but why responses and then refused any time to different reasons. Most others should this be important? m ake them. It is obvious from this that the opposing the change seem to think intention is to legitimise the process before that a title change would undermine "The Department recognises that the dumping it on MHKs who will be subject to the Governor's status! period for consultation is shorter than departmental brow beating to vote for usual however the overriding legislation of which they have little grasp of Meanwhile, Donald Gelling, Chief importance of the issues the full implications and no valid public Minister, has responded to claims that encompassed within the Bill make it consultaion to help direct them. the UK could reject the change by essential that the provisions saying it would provoke a constitutional proposed are progressed through the This country has no constitution or human crisis! legislative process as quickly as rights legislation. This Bill impacts heavily practicable" on the rights of the individual and it is You can't have a constitutional crisis essential that close scrutiny be paid to when you have no constitution. The UK Of course, nobody has actually been each and every clause. ro u ti ne l y rejects Manx legislation given the opportunity to see what these without a peep and, of course, if "overriding" issues are and the DHA has On this basis, we appeal to all MHKs who constitutional propriety were ever an not chosen to enlighten us, but in such have any genuine concern in good issue here, we wouldn't have Chief time as has been available, it could (and legislation to send this Bill straight back to Minister who could hire and fire has been) claimed that the Department the DHA and have it stay there until such ministers at will while being utterly seeks to lay the foundations of a police time as informed comment has been taken without any mandate from the state. Small wonder that they're not keen and they can study all concerns and electorate, would we, Mr. Gelling? for people to look too closely. i m plications. yN PABYR SEYR Issue 36, January 2006 Page 2 Laa cooinaghtyn Illiam dhone - oraid ghaelghagh Liorish Phill Gawne Oltey yn Kiare as Feed, Oltey Coonseil ny Shirveishee Mysh shey bleeaney jeig er dy magh yn chooish ain ayns aght nyn ellan, foast gennaghtyn henney ren mee oraid y livrey er y cooie dauesyn va shin shirrey corree tra ta assee jeant da nyn chronk shoh ayns cooinaghtyn cooney veih, as myr shen cha ellan as foast goaill nearey tra ta Illiam Dhone. Ec y tra v'ayn va aile row anaase oc ayns nyn gooish. brock jeant ec y reiltys. Myr oltey loshtey ayns my chree as va mee My ta shiu geearree red ennagh CoShirv, as shoh yn red smoo corree dy liooar dy row wheesh d' veih peiagh nagh vel enn echey scanshoil, t'ou ayns yeeyl er ve jeant da Mannin. Hug erriu cre vees speeideilagh - boayl foddey smoo lajer son mee yn foill dy bollaghtagh er brishey stiagh 'sy thie echey jannoo reddyn mie son Mannin. Reiltys Vannin as ny olteynyn gaccan dy lajer ny 'oi as shirrey Tinvaal er lheh. Cre'n fa nagh row dy cho-eignaghey cooney veih, Yn bun ta mee prowal dy heet er, ad jannoo red ennagh dy lhiettal ny reaghey tra cooie da dy loayrt ta shoh. Mannagh vel shiu ayn yn assee - hug mee roish dy row riu as cur da ayns aght so- gobbragh dy trang, kianlt bit beg "yn Reiltys doalit liorish airh yn hoiggalagh fys er yn chooish ta veih ginsh dy chooilley red t'ayns ommidan." shiu shirrey cooney er. dt y aigney gyn ourys agh soie ayns boayl raad t'ou abyl dy S'liklee dy bee yindys er paart jiu Ta fys mie aym dy vel feme ayn chaghlaa y theihll, cha jig dty dy vel yn aile shen foast bio nish as reesht y voayrd y woalley chooishyn lhiat. aynym pene - cha nel eh loshtey as roish my row mee pontit my cha fergagh as v'eh tra va mee my hirveishagh 'sy reiltys, nish as Smooinnee shiu er shoh - my va 'ghooinney aeg corree' agh t'eh reesht va mee jannoo ymmyd jeh Illiam Dhone ny ghooinney foast ayn kiart dy liooar. Mleeaney saaseyn jeeragh as neuchurtoil granganagh va gaccan dy cha nel mee son cur yn olk er y my chooishyn y chummal seose - kinjagh mychione dy chooilley reiltys as soilsheeym diu nish yn agh gyn ourys erbee ta ellynyn red va jeant ec y Staanlagh aght ta my aigney er ve caghlaait. jesh cosney yn caggey ny Mooar cha beagh eh er ve ayns s'menkey na focklyn corree. T'eh y voayl kiart dy hauail shenn 'Sy toshiaght er lhiam dy vel aashagh dy liooar dy 'eddyn vunraght as kiartyn ny toiggalys dowin aym nish er yn magh boiraghyn nyn ellan as Manninee. My va Illiam Dhone aght ta politickaght gobbragh ayns gaccan myr nyn gione - t'eh gyllagh mygeayrt Mannin dy row Mannin, nagh row aym shey foddey smoo doillee feaysley ny reiltys ny Staanlaghyn olk dy bleeaney jeig er dy henney. Cheau boiraghyn shoh. lio oar cha beagh eh er ve pointit mee mysh queig blein as mish ny Resour Vannin, cha beagh eh gallvergagh agglagh mychione Er lhiam pene dy vel eh scanshoil er ve faagit ny ard dooiney ayns bunnys dy chooilley red va jeant dy 'reayll shoh ayns cooinaght. Mannin choud's va'n Staanlagh ayns Mannin as va'n foill dy Adsyn ta shiu dy mennick ersooyl caggey noi ny Sostynee kinjagh er peiagh ennagh elley - clashtyn gaccan dy lajer noi dy as cha beagh eh er ve abyl dy oltey y chiare as feed, jantagh chooilley pheiagh as dy chooilley resooney magh coardailys lesh thallooin, banceyr ny ard- red s'liklee nagh vel ad feer ny ardwhaiyllee tra haink ad dy delleyder. fondagh ec feaysley reddyn. c h u r mow da Mannin.
Lurg tammylt - as va shoh lessoon Nish ta mee er chlashtyn nish as Wahll, cre mysh yn aile ta foast ynsit dy chreoi aym - hooar mee reesht Manninee gaccan freayll my annym politickaght magh dy ren reddyn cheet lhiam mychione coonceil ny shirveishee cheh? Cre ta cur orrym cummal foddey ny sassey as ny smoo (CoShirv) gra dy vel eh er seose my vea politickaght? tappee tra dobbree mee maroosyn shirveishee 'dy chreck magh' my va mee genmyssey ny noidyn vees ad son cosney soiag ayns Shegin dou goaill rish dy vel mee aym. Lurg tammylt sodjey huitt fys CoShirv. Ta mee toiggal yn oyr dy foast geddyn corree ny keayrtyn sullyr orrym nagh row dy chooilley vel sleih smooinaghtyn myr shoh kyndagh rish cooishyn pheiagh ayns Mannin my noid - ec as gyn ourys ta ny shirveishee politickaght. Tra ta mee fakin y chooid smessey cha row ad son ooilley kianlt liorish reillyn dyn dy jallooghyn er y chellveeish jeh y chooish aym agh son y chooid chur yn olk er paitchyn er chee geddyn baase smoo cha row sleih toiggal ny rheynnyn y reiltys. Shoh yn red er y fa nagh vel bee dy liooar oc cooishyn va mee geearree smoo doillee dou er lhiam as as eisht fakin berchys y theihll bishaghey. mish my oltey noa da CoShirv. sheear ta cur millioonyn dy phunt da delleyderyn ta roostey As quoi b'lesh yn foill son shoh - Agh ga nagh vel shin abyl dy berchys ny cheeraghyn boghtey s'lhiams eh, as lesh paart jeh my loayrt dy bollagh gyn lhiettrymys as cur eh ayns poggad jeusyn chaarjyn va gobbragh da cooishyn ta shirveishee foast slane jeean nagh vod rieau ceau ooilley nyn ashooneyragh as culturoil ayns er reaghey polasee y reiltys, argid, ta wheesh oc. S'aaglagh Mannin. Cha row shin soilshaghey foast shirrey feaysley boiraghyn dou dy vel wheesh Gow-jee er ... yN PABYR SEYR Issue 36, January 2006 Page 3
oraid ghaelgagh er ny gholl er. dy phooar ec ny margee argidoil Vannin cha noddym toiggal yn oyr dy aaniartaghey nyn obbyr son eddyr-ashoonagh as adsyn ta shin freayll wheesh dy shickyraghey tra ry-heet gobbragh dy lajer noi chooishyn follit as ta baarney Manninaghys as Mannin. Freill- cheeraghyn lhiasee. Fodmayd deynlaght ayn er lhiam ta freayll shiu ayns cooinaght dy row jannoo shennaghys jeh yn pobble veih reih raad polasee y Illiam y Christeen currit gy boghtynys as shegin dooin! reiltys. Boiraghyn dy liooar ayn as baase er y fa dy ren eh gyn ourys obbyr dy liooar ry- bargane dy reayll yn ashoon T'eh doillee dy liooar toiggal yn yannoo ain. As cre mysh yn enney ain bio. Foddee dy row anaase- aght ta'n margey seyr lowal as cultoor ain? hene echey tra smooinee eh er pishyryn v'er naase ayns yn y choorse kiart son sauail Affrick dy gholl er creck ayns Eer dy vel shenn aght bea ny Mannin agh scummey shen. Mannin er costys sloo na'n Manninee er caghlaa dy mooar ta Mannagh ren eh shen myr ren costys jannoo 'syn ellan ain. As foast Manninaghys faagit ayns eh s'liklee nagh beagh Mannin cre'n fa ta shin lowal ard-costys Mannin. Son ooilley my laghyn ta ayn jiu. thalloo as thieyn dy reayll mee er ve slane graihagh er Manninee veih thieyn noa, dy anninaghys, Mannin as ny Cha neeu veg gaccan myr churr eirinee ass nyn dalloo as Manninee as bee yn graih shen partan Manninagh - shass-shiu eer dy ghooney buill kiaull aym er son dy bragh. Ta fys mie seose son ny reddyn ta gollrish yn Venue. Vel eh towse aym dy vel Manninee dy liooar scanshoil diu - ny lhig da yn faill ain ta ro injil ny ny gaccan dy vel rour cailt as cha boghtnid as breagyn ve faagit costysyn, thalloo as thieyn er neeu veg eh streeu dy vishaghey gyn obbal - as ny jarrood ta lheh, ta ro ard? en ney as cultoor Vannin agh cha speeideilys cheet veih obbyr noddym coardail rish shen. cr eoi. My ta shiu geearree As cre mysh yn brock ta shin caghlaa yn theihll ny eer jus yn jannoo da nyn jymmyltaght - ta Choud's nagh beemayd agh soie ellan ain foddee shiu! My vees shin dooney ny sooillyn ain da mygeayrt gaccan as dobberan er yn obbyr eu cha speeideilagh boiraghyn vees cheet veih ny stayd nyn ellan bee Mannin cailt - as shen ren Illiam Dhone bee aghtyn sondagh ain. Ayns Reiltys she currym dy chooilley nane jin eh feeu jannoo ee . Illiam Dhone Commemoration - Manx Oration (English Translation) PLEASE NOTE: It is not the angrily attacking everything that was undoubtedly the most successful method is policy of the organisers of this happening in Mann and blaming all my woes the polite, well researched and well event to ask for or supply on everyone but me - MHKs, estate agents, considered approach. It is after all very translations of the National bankers and businessmen all attracted my easy to identify all Mannin's problems and Language orations. This wrath. complain about them - its much more translation has been supplied difficult, however, to offer real and and included at the request of Mr. After a while I learned a hard lesson that in credible solutions. Gawne himself. f act the world was not my enemy and that it was actually much easier to succeed if you I think it is important to bear this in mind. About 16 years ago I delivered a speech on work with people rather than always fighting Those people with the loudest and most this hill in memory of Illiam Dhone. At that aggressive voices are not always the most time a fire was burning in my heart and I against them. It became clear to me that at was angry at the damage I perceived was worst people were indifferent to my ideas but effective at resolving problems. being done to Mann. I placed the blame generally people did not really understand the firmly at the feet of the Government and in issues I wished to progress. Now before and indeed after becoming a particular members of Tynwald. Why had minister in the Isle of Man Government they done nothing to stop the decay - I So who was really to blame for this? Me and I've heard plenty of voices declaring that it suggested at the time that “Government was some of my friends who were working for is almost a prerequisite that ministers blinded by fool's gold." n ationalist and cultural causes who had should 'sell out' their principles if they singularly failed to explain our concerns in a wish to join the ministerial club. I I expect that some of you will be surprised way which engaged the people who could help understand this perception as clearly to know that the fire and passion which us. After all if you wish to gain support from ministers are bound by various rules of drove me then is still alive inside me - someone for an initiative do you break into collective responsibility which require perhaps not burning so intensely as when I their house, call them names, threaten them them to be circumspect about the way in was 'an angry young man' but its still there. and use forceful coercion to extract their which they talk about Government policy. This year, however, I will not be seeking to support or do you arrange a suitable time to This is quite a difficult thing to adhere to, blame the Government for everything and meet and present an easy to follow, easy to especially as a new member of Council of here's why. s up port case to them. Ministers.
First of all I'd like to think that over the past I know that in politics it is occasionally Even though we can't speak out 16 years I've gained a greater insight into necessary to bang the table and before I was completely freely on all issues ministers the way in which Manx politics works. I appointed Minister I did use from time to time spent the first five years of my political life the direct, confrontational approach - but Continued
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The Secretary, Mec Vannin, (see homepage) yN PABYR SEYR Issue 36, January 2006 Page 4 Manx oration - English translation continued remain keen to develop good, effective Though I try to control my political anger development of the political direction of policies which address Mann's problems, without doubt I still get angry about politics. government. No shortage of issues to address they still feel angry when people do Who can not be moved by the constant then and plenty of work to do. But what of damage to our island and indeed feel pictures and stories of real poverty in the our culture and identity . embarrassment and frustration when world, of children dying for want of food. Yet Government gets it wrong. However, as a the wealth of the western world allows us to Even though the old Manx way of life has member of the Council of Ministers you are pay millions of pounds in bonuses to changed considerably Manxness still remains in a very strong position to influence the financiers who extract the wealth of in Mann. Throughout my life I have always shape and direction of policies which will developing countries and place it in the cared passionately about Manxness, Mann benefit the Isle of Man. pockets of people so rich that they could and the Manx people and that passion will be never spend all their money. It alarms and with me all my days. I know that some Manx I suppose the message I'm trying to deliver shames me that the international money people believe that too much has been lost here is this. If you are not working hard markets which we all indirectly support have and that it is not worth trying to protect and with your colleagues, bound perhaps a little so much power to control the lives of develop what remains of Manxness. While I from speaking out on all occasions and millions of poverty stricken people in can understand these feelings I can't agree restricted by collective responsibility from developing countries - how often have we with them. pursuing some of your more radical ideas seen this power being used for good? We can you aren't then in such a strong position to and must double our efforts to make poverty If we are content with sitting back and make the positive changes to the world that history. lamenting the loss of our culture and identity surrounds you. then without doubt Mannin is lost. However, It is difficult to understand how the free I believe it is the duty of all people who care The actions of Illiam Dhone provide an market allows us to buy in the Isle of Man about our island and its people to important analogy here. If Illiam Dhone peas grown in Africa at a price cheaper than reinvigorate their efforts to ensure a secure had been a grumpy complaining old so and the cost of production in the island - how can future for Manxness and the Manx nation. so always criticising the Stanley rule and this possibly be right and just? How is it that Remember Illiam Dhone was put to death for always seeing the bad in everything and we allow the high price of land and property his actions which preserved our ancient everyone he would never have been in a to keep Manx people from buying homes in Manx rights and traditions. Perhaps self position to change the history of our nation. their own country, to drive farmers off the interest played a part in his actions but quite If Illiam Dhone had spent his life going land and even to close places of frankly who cares. If he hadn't acted as he round the island shouting about the terrible entertainment such as the Venue. Is it that our did our Manx nation would long since have way in which the Stanley's governed our average national wage is too low or is it that disappeared. island he would not have been appointed to our costs, land and housing in particular, are high office and left in charge of Mann too high? I t i s a self indulgence we can ill afford to while the Lord of Mann was away fighting complain like a Manx crab all the time. the English and so he would not have been What about the mess we're making of the Stand up for the things you believe in, don't in a position to strike a deal environment - closing our eyes to the damage allow injustice or misinformation to go with the parliamentarians which protected we're causing for future generations through unchallenged and don't forget with a lot of the ancient rights of the Manx people and selfish pursuit of our 'here and now' interests. hard work you can change the world. If your upheld our constitutional independence. Also I can't understand why the Isle of Man struggle is as successful as that of Illiam Government seems so keen to keep so much Dhone it will be well worth it! So what of the fire that still warms my information secret and there's no doubt in my political soul? What keeps me wanting to mind that we have a democratic deficit which Thank you. fight my political corner? seems to divorce the people from the Illiam Dhone Commemoration - English Oration By Bill Henderson MHK, former member of the Council of Ministers Tynwald is one of the oldest social and political makeup this Island bore witness to parliaments in the world. Our have gained us access to the terrible poverty and unrest, unique political system is the international financial stage and witness to a scene set for bedrock of our stability and other world markets we now English overlords to success. But, so too is our operate and compete in, which disenfranchise people of their unique independence from the is so important for our economy land. United Kingdom, giving us the and continued future survival in freedom we have enjoyed to the new and expanding global Taking his chances as the successfully develop in our village we now find ourselves English Civil war raged across own unfettered way in latter in. the other side of these waters, years, earning us a fair degree and in the knowledge the Island of justly deserved international We are commemorating today could lose those very same recognition. the death of our patriot and qualities if the wife of the then fellow country man Illiam Lord of Man carried out her These vital elements of our Dhone. He was of a time when Continued.... yN PABYR SEYR Issue 36, January 2006 Page 5 English Oration continued intentions of using the Island events this community has improvements such as digital and its inhabitants as a had to face in modern times. It hearing aids they refuse to bring bartering tool to save her own has tarnished this place, which in. interests, Illiam Dhone decided we should be so proud of. to do something. The Council of Ministers system The threats we are now facing has bred “The club mentality” - He lost his life for those beliefs. are not as in Illiam Dhone's sign up for collective Whatever the critics say we day, external, from English responsibility and forego all your have retained those ancient Parliamentary forces, but rights as a free thinking qualities and rights - our internal from our own individual. And the cardinal rule - Tynwald , our freedom, our constitution - our own you must always obey their independence and our stability. Government - the Council of policies and support them in It is ironic then, that the Island Ministers and the bureaucratic Tynwald. The block vote they again faces great challenges, chief executive officer system carry in Tynwald, plus, the back causing very real unease and which services that cabinet. bench hangers on who concern. Our community is constantly vote with them: and angry, fed up, upset and This cabal, or cartel if you like we have a recipe for disaster. completely disenchanted with has developed its own the current political institutional culture which is And now we're suffering it: a arrangements and calamities threatening and damaging the community that once again feels which have beset this Island. v e r y fabric of our democracy it is about to be disenfranchised. and society. It is a culture that A Government of globe trotting In a way we are again seeing promotes a detachment from ministers, out of control, scenes of social unrest, not in the community it should be spiraling energy and heating the same way as was played here to serve and help. c o s ts, pensioners and folk who out in 1651, but of social, are on low incomes - freezing, political isolation. A feeling of It has also developed a unique who can't afford their heating, being ignored by our coping mechanism when fuel poverty, the possible Government, the Council of faced with threats or collapse of our agricultural Ministers, the community set challenges beyond its industry, public service adrift, the Council of Ministers capabilities. Deny the problem managers that treat their staff being there in spite of us. At exists, sweep it under the like dirt and some politicians times a nauseating political carpet if you can. If not, who support that. Ministers and snobbery and arrogance distance yourself from it and some politicians who are emanating from their club hope none of the mud sticks. controlled by senior Civil doors. Or have an inquiry. Disown the Servants, afraid to challenge problem as much as possible. and assert themselves. The tail, A pawl of political fallout hangs is wagging the dog. over this Island which is It started with the Mount masking and spoiling those Murray scandal, then ended With a bit of luck all this special qualities that Illiam up with the MEA blowing us sweeping it under the carpet will Dhone died for. nearly right out of the water. keep it all at bay and not come Inter spaced with a disgraced back. But it has come back! The Political ineptitude, a CoMin Chief Minister who had to sad fact is though, it comes back culture of institutional club resign his position, child care and hammers our community arrogance, a heavily inquiries following deaths of and leaves a very bitter and sour bureaucratic system that young people, IRIS melt down, taste in our mouths. seems almost paralysed at a DHSS bursting at the seams times, and a system which trying to cope, and failing We don't like being ignored, we seemingly allows senior civil miserably, they just sack their don't like a Council of Ministers servants to heavily influence loyal staff, meanwhile waiting that seems to be there in spite Ministers and even pull their lists are elongating and of us, we don't like political strings: have all contributed to service targets are not being snobbery, we want a one of the worst series of met. Other much needed Continued..... yN PABYR SEYR Issue 36, January 2006 Page 6 English Oration continued My call here is - they certainly government that can lead us Parliamentary questions and in don't know enough about us, away from disaster. Not the effect stifling the special nor we of them. This situation current squeamish, scared democratic process we have. We needs to drastically improve as stiff of possible perceptions should be asking questions as a matter or urgency for the and what the world may think thats what we are here for! good of the Island and its of us Government. Not a Ministers bemoaning the fact economy. Government that just throws they have to face questions: open the Treasury doors and thats what they're there for - to The Island needs MHK's who throws millions of pounds to face the music! have the courage and pay off the MEA and Barclays convictions of what we are debacle - when we may not We need a Tynwald and remembering today. Not cluby even be liable. Government of robust cluby, not nodding donkeys - individuals, loyal first and people who have the guts to A membership constituting foremost to their House of Keys make waves when necessary. little more than men of straw. oath with the ability to and People who are willing to stand A membership that won't and courage to stand firmly to up in Tynwald and say what will not, even when I have challenges, not run in vanity from needs to be said and have a go persistently called for: failed perceptions - whether it be the at making the difference we to pass the MEA books, UK, Europe or elsewhere - what need. Politicians who are papers and documents to the ever they might or might not stalwart enough not to be afraid financial supervision make of our country. of falling out with each other commission and the Financial over what matters, but strong Crime Unit for assessment. They might make a hell of a lot and big enough to work more of us if we were more together in the interests of this Don't be deceived by the lame robust, challenging, forging more Island when we face serious excuses, the community must working relationships and better challenges. ask its self - why on earth is communications with our larger this not happening! These are neighbours. Being assertive with We have to rid ourselves of the supposed to be our leaders, Whitehall in this aspect and current stigmas, and be proud our Ministers and in charge, having better representation in of ourselves, our Tynwald, our accountable to us. They are Europe. However Europe special qualities which have working out side of their eventually works out, we still helped make us successful. We responsibilities and must be have to trade with them. Getting have to have a Council of brought back to account. to know our neighbors at a Ministers that has the ability to detailed, day to day working level fully engage with the No job should be too big or is critical for successful community. too small for a politician. development. MHK's, including me are there My message to the community for the people of this Island. We certainly don't want, nor is simple - for goodness sake - The latest scenes where could we stand in the future the make sure you are registered certain Ministers have been fiasco and humiliation of our to vote for the forthcoming outraged at questions being farming derogation being taken General Election, make your asked and claiming it is time off us, leaving our agricultural vote count. I would like nothing wasting, or not for industry teetering on the edge of better than to see a large parliamentary business have disaster. And this happened turnout. The old phrase - oh done nothing but further while the Chief Minister held a there's nothing that can be tarnish our Tynwald. To this I humble little trade stall in the done is not right. If you do say - Rubbish, absolute corridors of the European nothing, then nothing will ever rubbish! Parliament, announcing it as he happen. Make an effort and did as a great and glorious you can make a difference - a What we are witnessing here success. He asserted that they big difference. Make this year's is a deliberate attempt to need to know about us as many ballot boxes speak out for you. cajole and embarrass in Brussels are uncertain of the Members into not asking Island. And look what happened! Thank you. yN PABYR SEYR Issue 36, January 2006 Page 7 licencing has moved out of the Home ploy to drive people onto digital. License fee theft Office, more emphasis has been The UK forces us to pay a television placed, in the UK, on the licence fee as We will be forced onto digital in the Isle of license, even if we watch no UK a funder of "quality service provision." Man in two years time, ready or not, originating television. We are required to despite the UK having made no pay to have any television receiving As the UK government forges ahead provisions to support digital broadcasting eqipment. The UK conveniently forgot to with its plans to to move all terrestrial here. extend the legislation that compels the broadcsating to digital, those who BBC to reinvest 12% of its licence take remain on analogue are being force fed Meanwhile, householders who have into "regional programming" on its home a diet of mindless drivel through the air- understandably chosen to throw their turf. waves whilst being told what a good televisions in the bin are subject to a time they would have if they spent the campaign of harassment by the UK TV As responsibility for the BBC and money on going digital. A fairly obvious licensing authority. Wonderful.
If you remember Roly Drower's This explains why a group classic recital, "The Consultants" including Mr. Gelling went to (published in the July 2000 issue Brussels but didn't (apparently) of YPS), you must have laughed have anything important to talk when the government started about. It explains why, when the talking about the "Manx space same group went to the US in industry". November, they couldn't meet anyone worth talking to because it Just what constitutes this "space was a US holiday. It explains why industry" has not really been the Island has supposed to have explained but some have unkindly been removed from blacklists suggested that it involves looking which, according to previous into the ears of MHKs. propaganda, we weren't on to start with. It all became clear when Channel 4's (un)reality programme "Space It is now believed that the Cadets" revealed that it had duped delegations never left a hangar at a group of wannabes into believing Ronaldsay and dealt with a bunch that they had been sent into orbit. of actors throughout. From Holyrood to Bloody Rude We must all be aware of the controversy surrounding the construction of the Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood in Edinburgh, a project For more information about membership which went massively over budget. It was eventually completed at a cost of Mec Vannin and our policies, see our of £431,000,000, something like ten times the original projected cost, internet site at and with Scotland having a population of approximately 5.1 million this works out at something like £84 per head. Remember this is for a brand www.mecvannin.org new building for a brand new Parliament for use by 129 MSPs. [email protected] Compare this with our own refurbishment of part of our own Government Buildings, the so-called “wedding cake”. The cost presently standing at £11.7 million and a population of 76000 calculates at £154 per head, and this for a legislature of just 33 members! Even Alan Bell lambasted the additional spending requested at the December sitting of Tynwald, but was absent from the Chamber when the vote was taken.
All claims by the present Government that they are financially prudent now look totally unbelievable. Remember the “wedding cake” fiasco is only the latest example of financial profligacy. yN PABYR SEYR Issue 36, January 2006 Page 8 Yn Arrane Ashoonagh The National Anthem
O Halloo nyn dooie O land of our birth O Chliejeen ny s' bwaaie O gem of God's earth Ry gheddyn er ooir aalin Yee O Island so strong and so fair Ta dt' Ardstoyl Reill-Thie Built firm as Barrool Myr Baarool er ny hoie Thy throne of Home Rule Dy reayll shin ayns seyrsnys as shee. Makes us free as thy sweet mountain air.
Lhig dooin boggoil bee Then let us rejoice Lesh annym as cree With heart, soul and voice As croghey er gialdyn y Chiarn And in the Lord's promise confide Dy vodmayd dagh oor That each single hour Treishteil er e phooar We trust in His power Dagh olk ass nyn anmeenyn 'hayrn. No evil our souls can betide. Places called Wharf are in! Castletown (or is that Carseltown, now?) boat owners currently pay. There isn't This agenda is reflected in housing, was an early victim with "Brewery Wharf". any choice in this, of course. Existing health-care, food and transport costs. Now we have "Hillary Wharf" at the boat owners, already having had their Battery Pier in Douglas and just "The access to the sea impaired by an The name of blocks of flats may seem Wharf" at what used to be the warehouse unwanted barrier (and forget any like an unimportant issue, but it is on Lake Lane in Peel. Not to be out- environmental impact!) have the very indicative of a psychology that is foreign wharved, Jonathan Irving's simple choice of paying it or selling their to us and has no intention of redevelopment of the Viking Longhouse boats to make room for those who like to accommodating us. The very word (actually a net factory) on East Quay, own boats but not actually use them. " h e r itage" has become sullied to the Peel, is to be "Mariner's Wharf". point of being a by-word for tacky, The whole thing is yet another modern and artificial. All these developments have two things demonstration of an agenda that is in common: They are all flats and none insidious and pervades every aspect of Culture is what is around us, not some of them stand anywhere near anything our life: This island is being deliberately highly artificial government spoon-fed ever called a wharf. str uc tured to accommodate the wealthy semblance of an essentially lost culture. by driving out those who aren't wealthy. Perhaps some people need to extract In parallel to this comes the news that This agenda is being carried out with themselves from their Celtic mist and Peel harbour (as long suspected) is goint the full complicity of those who pretend take a look around them before singing to be given over to marina style pontoon to represent us. th e praises of a government who has berthing at around ten times the price cynically exploited them.
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