November 2013 e newsletter

An Isle of Man Government publication ISSUE 6: November 2013

INSIDE: Air links Planning process Awards for Excellence World War One Consultation

Tips on how to stay

healthy during the

winter — p4-5

Isle of Man

Gov. enews

Isle of Man is one of only 18 countries in the world to be deemed ‘compliant’

Headteacher

clocking up the

miles — p6-7

Top rating from OECD

Full steam ahead forrailways calendar

>>> The 2014 Isle of Man Railwaysscenic events calendar has beenpublished.

It features new photographs of theManx Electric Railway, Steam Railwayand Snaefell Mountain Railway alongwith details of key railways eventsplanned for next year.

The calendar is available from theWelcome Centre in Douglas SeaTerminal, priced £5. Call in to purchase acopy or telephone your order to +441624 662525. Postage and packing ifrequired is £1.50 for IoM/UK and £3.50to Europe.

>>> The Isle of Man has been awardedthe top ‘Compliant’ rating by the globalbody reviewing tax transparency aroundthe world.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation andDevelopment (OECD) Global Forum on Transparencyand Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes haspublished ratings for the 50 countries reviewed to dateand the Island is one of only 18 to be awarded the toprating.

The rating is based on a peer review assessmentcarried out by a team of experts on behalf of theOECD’s Global Forum, which involves 120 countriesincluding the Isle of Man.

The rating has been welcomed by Chief Minister

Allan Bell MHK, who commented: ‘The ratingannounced by the OECD Global Forum puts theIsle of Man into the premier league and yet againconfirms its position as one of the world’s leadinginternational business centres.

‘The standard required to achieve a top ratingis very high, as can be seen by the number ofjurisdictions that have not yet made the grade.This is an achievement the Isle of Man is rightlyproud of. It is yet further evidence of the Island’sinternational standing and reputation and that theIsland can no longer be referred to as a “taxhaven”.’

Story:

http://tinyurl.com/oksofyk

Zoe aiming

for Olympic

success — p11

E-newsletter issue six:IN FOCUS AUTUMN 2010 28/11/2013 11:15 Page 1

Isle of Man

Gov. enews

The Isle of Man is situated in the middle of the Irish Seaat the centre of the British Isles. It is 33 miles (53km)long and 13 miles (22km) wide at its broadest point,with a resident population of 84,500.

The Island has a distinct cultural and political iden-tity. It is not, and never has been, a part of the UnitedKingdom. Nor is it part of the European Union, withwhich it has a special and limited relationship allowingfor free trade in agricultural and manufactured products.

The Isle of Man is a self-governing British CrownDependency with its own government and laws, madein Tynwald, which was founded more than 1,000 yearsago and is the world’s oldest continuous parliament.

It is the policy of the Isle of Man Government to beboth economically competitive and internationally re-sponsible in supporting the interests of its people.

More information about the Isle of Man Govern-ment can be found at http://www.gov.im/

in fact

New principalis appointed

PAGE 2

Manxeducation

Draper to head College of Further and Higher Education

>>> A NEW principal has beenappointed at the Isle of ManCollege of Further and HigherEducation.

Geoff Draper will take up the post inJanuary.

Mr Draper joins the College with awealth of experience which includes Princi-pal at the Royal National College for theBlind, a 30-year career in the British Army,where he achieved the rank of Colonel,and as a consultant to the education sec-tor.

He has been involved in education andtraining throughout his career and histeaching experience ranges from voca-tional studies and A levels to postgraduateand Masters-level programmes.

Mr Draper’s military service includedserving as Principal of a Joint Service Mili-tary College, Deputy Director of Army Edu-cation and a secondment to the UnitedNations as a military observer in the for-mer Soviet Republic of Georgia.

He said: ‘I am delighted at being ap-pointed Principal of the Isle of Man Collegeof Further and Higher Education and amvery much looking forward to working withthe College’s dedicated staff and buildingupon its excellent reputation in serving theIsle of Man community.’

Mr Draper was educated at Liverpooland Manchester universities and graduatedfrom the Royal Military Academy, Sand-hurst, on joining the Army. He enjoyssporting activities, including running, skiing

and golf, and other interests include musicand the theatre.

He will be relocating to the Isle of Manwith his wife, Rebecca, and said: ‘We arevery much looking forward to working andliving in such a friendly, welcoming andbeautiful Island.’

He succeeds Professor Ronald Barr,who took up the post of Chief ExecutiveOfficer of the Department of Educationand Children in September.

The College in Homefield Road, Dou-glas, offers degree courses as well as fur-ther education, professional, vocationaland leisure and recreation courses. It hassome 5,000 full and part-time studentsand a budget of £11 million.

NewsDigest...

Treasury warningIsland-based businesses that employstaff working in the United Kingdom arebeing urged to make sure they arepaying the correct National Insurancecontributions.

The warning from Eddie Teare MHK,the Treasury Minister, follows theconclusion of legal proceedings againsta local company found to owe £3.2million in employer NI contributions,ultimately payable to HMRC in the UK.

Story:

http://tinyurl.com/pfovl3d

Tax ConventionThe Isle of Man has become part of aninternational network of more than 75countries co-operating on tax matters.

The Island is the first British CrownDependency to join the Convention onMutual Administrative Assistance in TaxMatters, a multilateral agreementproviding for tax co-operation betweenits signatories.

The net effect of the move will beto bring the Isle of Man 38 new taxtreaty partners, as it already hasagreements in place with the otherConvention countries.

Story:

http://tinyurl.com/nmk3r5x

BIC delegationChief Minister Allan Bell MHK led asenior delegation from the Isle of ManGovernment attending the 21st British-Irish Council Summit in Jersey.

Mr Bell, Treasury Minister EddieTeare MHK and Economic DevelopmentMinister John Shimmin MHK took partin top-level discussions on a range ofissues.

Story:

http://tinyurl.com/jwwr89l


Isle of Man

Gov. enewsPAGE 3

Airlinks

>>> Footage of a teenager’s amazingencounter with a grey seal during a diveoff the Isle of Man has been seen bymillions of people across the world.

The video clip of Jamie Gallacher, 15,getting up close and personal with hismarine buddy went viral after beingpicked up by the UK and internationalmedia.

It was even shown on Good MorningAmerica.

The encounter happened in Augustduring a dive close to the Calf of Man,with the footage captured by divinginstructor Michelle Haywood.

Watch the BBC news item http://tinyurl.com/p4glo4m

Seal of approvalfor teenage diver

NewsDigest...

Tax legislationNew legislation progressing through thebranches of Tynwald will put an end toavoidance of Manx income tax by use of‘personal service companies’, TreasuryMinister Eddie Teare MHK has warned.

The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill2013, which last week completed theclauses stage in the House of Keys,includes provision to ensure thatindividuals working through suchcompanies pay tax in the same way asother employees.

Story:

http://tinyurl.com/pjcp9ax

Manx Radio awardManx Radio has won the RadioAcademy’s Station of the Year award inthe North West for 2013.

It will now go forward into theStation of the Year (under 1 million)category at the 2014 Radio AcademyAwards.

Instagram hitThree of the world’s most prolificInstagrammers have visited the Isle ofMan to capture and share the Island’sbeautiful and varied scenery on thehighly popular social network, Instagram.

Story:

http://tinyurl.com/mfdsnno

Discussions heldwith Flybe boss>>> Chief Minister Allan BellMHK has met Flybe’s new ChiefExecutive Officer to discuss theimpact of the airline’s plannedbase closure.

Mr Bell said he made his concerns veryclear during a ‘frank but amicable’ meetingwith Saad Hammad on 21 November.

The Chief Minister outlined to MrHammad his views about:

• The potential loss of jobs for theFlybe crews and the challenges these staffwould have to find alternative work onIsland, raising the prospect of skills beinglost locally

• The significance of the Liverpoolservice and patient transfer contract,which accommodates around 13,000passenger journeys a year

• The importance of good air links tothe UK and the effect on the Islandeconomy if these are not maintained.

The Chief Minister said: ‘Mr Hammadmade it clear that no final decisions hadbeen made with regard to redundancies orthe routes that Flybe plans to operate in

the future. We had a frank but amicableexchange of information and I made ourconcerns very clear.’

Mr Bell and Minister of InfrastructureDavid Cretney MHK also held a separatemeeting with representatives of Flybe’slocal employees.

They offered reassurance that the Isleof Man Government is keen that a solutionis found for the staff.

The Chief Minister concluded: ‘I do notbelieve it will be long before final decisionsare made and I expect further details fromMr Hammad and his executive team withinthe next two weeks.

‘We will use this time to researchoptions and alternatives so that we canmake a rapid response to any proposalsfrom the company.

‘Flybe has been a very loyal operatorfor the Island. I accept that thesesignificant cuts are designed to protecttheir business in a challenging tradingenvironment but we will consider alloptions including the possibility that otherairlines may be eager to operate on theroutes currently served by Flybe.’


Isle of Man

Gov. enews PAGE 4

Top tips on how to stayhealthy as winter arrives

TheNumbers...

Set the heating in at least oneroom in your house to 21C

Aim to change your electricblanket every 10 years

In a life threatening situationcall the emergency services

Cold weather can affect seniormembers of the community

21 10 999 65+

Taking care of yourself in the cold months of winter is essential for your general wellbeing.

Here, the Department of Health provides some top tips on how to stay warm and healthy

Winterhealth

>>> The Department of Healthhas produced a new online guidefull of tips and handy informationabout how people can stay wellduring the cold winter months.

In line with statistics in the UK, the Isleof Man sees an increase in the number ofdeaths during winter, particularly amongthose aged 65 and over.

Cold weather also has an impact onother vulnerable groups such as those onlow incomes, the disabled and those withchronic conditions such as heart, lung andkidney disease.

Top tips on staying healthy and warmduring the cold weather:

• Vaccinations — contact your GPsurgery to arrange for an annual flu jab tovaccinate against the influenza virus andfor information about pneumococcalvaccination (to help protect againstpneumonia, septicaemia, and meningitis).

• Protect against germs: avoid pickingup and spreading germs by practicinggood hygiene — washing your handsregularly with soap and hot water, coveringyour mouth and nose with a tissue orhandkerchief when you cough or sneezeand using hand sanitizer when out andabout.

This will help protect against gettingcolds, flu, and other conditions such asnorovirus (diarrhoea and vomiting).

• Keep active — try to maintain ahealthy and active lifestyle, with

HEALTH ADVICE: Contact your GP toarrange a flu jab and (inset) makesure you drink plenty of water

appropriate regular exercise (speak to yourGP before commencing an exercise plan)or by moving around at least once an hour.

• Eat well and drink plenty of fluids —eat a healthy and varied diet and drinkplenty of water and hot drinks to keepenergy levels up and to stay warm — if

Continued on page 5


Isle of Man

Gov. enewsPAGE 5

HELPFUL HINTSLocal information with relevant links

can be found at

www.gov.im/winterhealth

Keep an eye on the Isle of Manweather forecasts

www.gov.im/weather

necessary, stock up on tinned and frozenfoods so that you don’t have to ventureout to the shops in severe cold weather.

• Wear the right clothing — dress forthe weather, both inside and outside thehouse – multiple thin layers (such as avest, shirt, and jumper) retain body heatmore effectively than one thick layer (suchas a woolly jumper).

• Wear slippers or shoes in the houseto keep feet warm and ensure thatfootwear has grips to help avoid falls.When outside, don’t forget to wear a scarf,gloves and a hat to prevent heat loss.

• Heat your home effectively andsafely — set your home or at least oneroom at around 21C (70F), setting heatingtimers to come on before you get up andbefore you go to bed if necessary,remembering to close curtains, doors andblock drafts to keep rooms warm.Bedrooms should be above 18C (65F) andyou can use a hot water bottle or electricblanket in bed (but not both).

Heating appliances should be regularlychecked and used with adequateventilation to avoid the risk of fire andcarbon monoxide poisoning; electricblankets should be checked regularly andreplaced at least every 10 years.

• Keep a supply of good homeremedies for colds, sore throats, andcoughs which are all common at this timeof year.

Continued from page 4

What the doctor says ...Dr Paul Emerson, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, said: ‘The newonline guide is designed to act as a one stop shop for winter healthadvice, and brings together information not just from the Department ofHealth but also other government services and external agencies.

‘It’s vital that people take responsibility for their health and wellbeingall year round, but especially over the winter months. Winter can take itstoll on older and vulnerable people which, sadly, can lead to an increasein death rates.

‘Some of these deaths could potentially be avoided just by followingthe simple steps and advice we’re promoting. It’s important we keep acommunity spirit, ensuring that people have the information they needand that during particularly cold periods we make an effort to check onvulnerable neighbours regularly.’

Try to make regular checks onany vulnerable neighbours

• Keep an eye on the weather forecastseither by television, radio, internet ornewspapers — or alternatively call 09006243300 for a recorded forecast or visitwww.gov.im/weather.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help eitherby contacting friends, relatives,neighbours, your GP, social worker, districtnurse, or housing officer and remember, ina life threatening situation you shouldalways dial 999 immediately.

STAYING WARM: Cold weather can takes its toll, especially on the elderly


Educationandsport

Isle of Man

Gov. enews PAGE 6

The running man

What’s your teachingbackground?

I started teaching in Stockport 24 yearsago after graduating from London Univer-sity. I moved to the Island to take over asmusic co-ordinator at Rushen School in1992. I secured the deputy headship at Ar-bory in 1996 and became headteacherthere from 2000. I've headed Cronk-y-Berry for the past seven years.

What do you enjoy about yourjob?

The fact that every day is unique andyou get a real sense that you are making adifference to the lives of youngsters. I amin the privileged position of being able tomake important decisions about how ourchildren should be nurtured and given thebest possible chances to succeed and I amso lucky to be able to work alongside fan-tastic teachers and support staff who aredevoted to, and passionate about, theirroles.

What are the challenges?

Dealing with an upset pupil who hasfallen over and needs a plaster, meeting aparent who feels their child should havemore homework, finalising a report for thegoverning body, going through financeswith the secretary, assisting the caretakerwith a broken toilet – and all this beforemorning break. The scope and intensity ofthe job, from the moment I arrive at7.15am to when I leave at 5pm, is always

Rob Sellors, Headteacher of361-pupil Cronk-y-Berry PrimarySchool in Douglas, is one of theIsland’s most accomplished felland long distance runners. The47-year-old father of two from

Port Erin tells us how he jugglesa demanding job with the

rigours of training – and whatsport can teach the young.

Headteacher is passionate about value of sport

TheNumbers...

The year Rob began running,with a short jog near home

Rob regularly runs more than 50mile a week in training

Length in miles of coastalfootpath tackled over two days

Rob’s time for the LondonMarathon in 2011

2006 50+ 95 2:58

going to have challenges – and re-openingthe laptop in the evening may open upeven more.

How and when did you beginrunning?

One cold, dismal evening in February2006, I got home from a long day at work.There had been some big issues to dealwith, so I felt down in the dumps. I askedmy son, then 15, if he fancied getting offthe sofa, putting down the computer andjoining me for a quick run down to theharbour in Port Erin. He left me standingand returned home from a one-mile jog 10minutes before me, asking me whether Ihad got lost. We continued this ritual forseveral more days and eventually I man-

aged to stay with him. I soon realised that15 minutes in the fresh air made me feelso much better and enjoyed the exhilara-tion, even if I couldn't run the whole dis-tance to begin with. After a few weeks, myson moved on to other things (asteenagers do) and I carried on running,gradually increasing the distance, until Iwas happy tackling 10 miles. I soon foundI had to replace most of my wardrobe dueto the weight loss from all the running,which became 50+ miles each week.

How do you fit your running inwith such a demanding day job?

I snatch a run in any ‘spare’ time. This

HITTING THE HEIGHTS: Rob tackles theGreeba fell race and (inset) celebratesfinishing the London Marathon

Continued on page 7


Isle of Man

Gov. enewsPAGE 7

‘

‘Everything comes so much easier andseems more logical while I am runningin the fresh air, particularly along ourbeautiful coastal paths

— Rob Sellors, Headteacher and distance runner

100-mileultra eventis nextambition

could be before school (although thismeans getting up at some silly hour andusing a headtorch in the winter) or, morecommonly, as soon as I get home. Week-ends are great for longer runs over thehills such as Spanish Head, Cronk ny ArreyLaa and the Carnanes and I have masteredthe technique of working while running –composing a report or preparing a difficultresponse to someone.

Everything comes so much easier andseems more logical while I am running inthe fresh air, particularly when running offroad along our beautiful coastal paths.Running in the hills and through glens canbe a source of inspiration, even in thepouring rain, mist or snow, and helps meto reflect on everything that really matters.

What are your proudest athleticsachievements to date?

These have to include winning the Isleof Man Marathon, the High Peak 40 ultrarun in Buxton, Derbyshire, and completingthe London Marathon in a time of 2 hours,58 minutes – all in 2011. This August Iwas proud to run the whole length of theIsle of Man coastal footpath, 95 miles, intwo days with Ben Scott.

What are your next goals?

I would love to tackle some other fa-mous big city marathons such as NewYork, Chicago, Paris. I’d like to have a goat the Comrades ultra marathon in SouthAfrica. Closer to home, I quite fancy takingon the Lakeland 100-mile ultra event.

How important is sport in thedevelopment of children? Whatcan it teach them?

Sport provides a huge opportunity forchildren to develop skills in resilience, com-peting, teamwork, and, of course, it en-

courages healthy and active lifestyles. Chil-dren are so much happier and feel moreconfident about themselves when involvedin physical activities. I see a huge improve-ment in a child's self-esteem and confi-

dence when engaged in a sporting pro-gramme. We are so lucky on our Islandthat sports development is given such ahigh profile and that so many sports areavailable.



HowTo ...

Make a comment abouta planning application

Isle of Man

Gov. enews PAGE 8

>>> Development proposalsoften generate public interest.

Your opinions are vital to the decision-making process, whether positive ornegative.

Whatever your view — provided it isplanning-related — it will be taken intoaccount, as the majority of developmentshave an impact on the surrounding areaand community.

Participating in the planning process isabout more than just objecting. Supportinga proposal or suggesting amendments orconditions that will alleviate your concernsare just as important.

Making a comment

All comments should be based on factand therefore it is vital that the plans ofthe development are seen.

Planning applications are available forpublic scrutiny electronically via the Isle ofMan Government’s online services, in hardcopy at the Division's reception at MurrayHouse in Douglas or at the offices of theclerk at the relevant local authority.

Following the Department ofInfrastructure’s publication of the weeklyplanning list in the local press, and theplacement of the site notice at theapplication site, 21 days are allowed formembers of the public and consultees tomake comments on a proposal.

Submission of comments must be inwriting to the Department or by e-mail [email protected]

It must be noted that every commentis available to be viewed by the public and

Your opinions are vital to thedecision-making process in

relation to planningapplications, whether

positive or negative. Here,we provide an overview ofhow you can participate in

the planning process

PLANNING PROCESS: Participating is about more than just objecting

the press, both during and after theconsultation process.

When submitting comments, please:

• State your name and postal address.Please note that any anonymousrepresentations will not be considered aspart of any planning determination;

• State the planning applicationnumber your comments relate to;

• Clearly indicate the relationshipbetween your land or building(s) and theland or building(s) that are the subject ofthe application;

• Provide details of your interest in thesubject matter of the application.

Comment content

When comments are viewed by therelevant planning officer, only certainissues relating to planning, known asmaterial considerations, can be taken intoaccount.

These could include, for example, therisk of noise and disturbance,overshadowing of a property or loss ofprivacy.

Interested party status

People who make representation, andwho live close enough to be affected by adevelopment, may be entitled to‘interested party status’.

This defines whether the contributorhas the ability to appeal against a decisiononce the outcome of the application hasbeen determined.

In order to be considered for interestedparty status, comments must be receivedby the Planning Officer prior to a decisionbeing made on the planning application.

Once a person has recorded theirinterest in an application, the Departmentwill keep them informed of the outcomeand their party status by letter.

Interactive guide to Manx planning

http://www.myhouse.im/


Isle of Man

Gov. enewsPAGE 9

Have

say on ...your

The draft of the Health CareProfessionals Bill 2014

You can play an important part in helping to shape the Isle of Man’sfuture by responding to Government consultations on a wide range of

issues. To find out more visit http://tinyurl.com/cmjsal6

HELPFUL HINTS>>> There’s still time to haveyour say on the draft of theHealth Care Professionals Bill2014.

The deadline for submissions for thepublic consultation is 5pm on Monday 2December.

The draft Bill, if approved by Tynwaldand its branches, will make it mandatoryfor all doctors in the Isle of Man to berevalidated as fit to practice by the GeneralMedical Council every five years.

It will also require chiropractors andosteopaths practising in the Island to be

registered with their respective regulators,the General Chiropractic Council and theGeneral Osteopathic Council, adding bettersafeguards and protection for the publicwho use their services.

Minister for Health, David AndersonMHK, said: ‘This will be an important pieceof legislation which will help to raisestandards and, in doing so, will furtherimprove patient safety and strengthenpublic confidence in doctors, chiropractorsand osteopaths practising on the Island.’

Following consultation and anyamendment to the draft Bill, it will be

A copy of the consultation documentcan be found online at

http://tinyurl.com/ovqrnpo

presented to both the House of Keys andthe Legislative Council, with a view toreceiving Royal Assent in time forTynwald’s summer recess in July 2014,meaning that the revalidation process canbegin next summer.

7up for Island mountaineer Phil

>>> Isle of Man adventurer PhilDrowley proudly holds aloft the Manxflag presented to him by the ChiefMinister after completing the final legof an epic challenge.

The local policeman climbed CarstenzPyramid in Papua New Guinea to join anelite group of just 230 people around theworld to have scaled the highest peaks ineach of the seven continents.

Phil had already conquered six of theworld’s most daunting mountains —Everest (28,320ft), Vinson Massif inAntarctica (15,670ft), Aconcagua in South

America (22,267ft), Denali in NorthAmerica (19,821ft), Kilimanjaro in Africa(18,864ft) and Europe’s Mount Elbrus(18,054ft).

At 15,629ft, Carstenz Pyramid is thetallest peak in Australasia and also one ofthe most remote of the ‘Big 7’.

Phil, acting Chief Inspector ofoperational policing with the Isle of ManConstabulary, once again used his globe-trotting exploits to raise money for RonaldMcDonald House Isle of Man Family andFriends.

http://www.justgiving.com/PhilDrowley

>>> e-billing provides a faster,more efficient and convenient wayto receive and check your bills.You'll receive your electricity billdirectly to your chosen email inboxand it will look exactly like yourcurrent paper bill.

What are the benefits of e-billing?

• View your bill as soon as it'savailable, wherever you are

• Bills are issued directly to theintended recipient

• Information is secure andconfidential, as it is sent direct to yournominated inbox

• No more bills to file or shred

• You help to protect theenvironment by reducing the need forpaper bills

To sign up, visit the MEA websitehttp://tinyurl.com/oayckrm and fill inthe application form.

Alternatively, call the CustomerServices team on 01624 687675 oremail [email protected] quoting yourMEA customer and property number.

Take advantageof the MEA’se-billing service


Isle of Man

Gov. enews

Celebrating the Island’ssuccess in all its forms

AwardsforExcellence

PAGE 10

Continued on page 11

Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK says the annual Awards for Excellence ceremony is anopportunity to reflect on the strength and resilience of the local community

‘

‘

We can be proud of our dynamiceconomy, excellent quality of life, richheritage and diverse culture

— Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK

>>> The 2013 Awards forExcellence provided anopportunity to reflect on thestrength of our community,celebrate our many successes andlook to the future.

The annual event serves to showcasethe Isle of Man as an outstanding place tolive, work and do business — and we canbe proud of our dynamic economy,excellent quality of life, rich heritage anddiverse culture.

However, there should also be no

track record of adapting to change.

Those attributes will continue to be putto the test in the time ahead as we seek todrive forward the economy, rebalancepublic finances, and protect the morevulnerable members of our community.

We are approaching these challengesfrom a position of strength.

The Island has performed remarkablywell during a period of global economicuncertainty. We have a growing anddiverse economy, relatively lowunemployment and an outstanding

doubt that we remain in a period ofunprecedented challenge.

The world is a very different place as aresult of the financial crisis and the Isle ofMan, in common with many othercountries, is facing some difficult decisions.

Internationally, the nature of taxcooperation is rapidly evolving, withautomatic exchange becoming the globalstandard.

We are fully committed to playing apart in shaping this key agenda and willensure the Island remains at the forefrontof best practice and enhances itsreputation as a leading internationalbusiness centre.

Domestically, Government is working tomanage the loss of nearly a third of itsrevenues, caused by the renegotiation ofthe VAT revenue sharing agreement withthe UK.

We are reviewing the delivery ofservices across all areas of Government todrive forward even greater levels ofsavings and efficiencies.

Major reforms will be needed as weseek to address the growing pressures onour health services and pension provisionas a result of the Island’s ageingpopulation.

I have witnessed many significantevents during my years as a Member ofthe House of Keys, and have always drawngreat encouragement from the Island’sresilience, resourcefulness and impressive

Read the Isle of Man Government’scontribution to the Awards for

Excellence supplement

http://tinyurl.com/ov8xpgc

CHIEF MINISTER: Allan Bell MHK


MEDIA SPOTLIGHTA round-up of coverage about the Isle

of Man in the international media

Isle of Man

Gov. enewsPAGE 11


We must continue to be

future with confidence

positive and invest in our

HELPFUL HINTSFor more news about the 2013Awards for Excellence visit the

IoM Newspapers website

http://tinyurl.com/nehldvt

reputation as a centre for internationalbusiness.

However, we cannot afford to becomplacent.

We must achieve further efficiencies,cost savings and increased economicrevenue.

Tough decisions will have to be made,but the Isle of Man has the experience,skills and solid public-private sectorrelationships necessary to emerge fromthis period of transition in an evenhealthier position.

Progress will be achieved by workingtogether and demonstrating the enterprise,innovation and independent spirit thathave stood the Isle of Man in good steadfor many years.

Further growth and diversification ofthe Manx economy is necessary to sustain

employment and public services, andthe commitment of private sectorcompanies and individuals will be crucialto our wellbeing.

To move forward in thesechallenging times, we must continue tobe positive, celebrate success and investin our future with confidence.

Chief Minister

Allan Bell MHK

Isle of Man snowboarder Zoe Gillings, ranked in the top 10 in the world, ispreparing for her third Winter Olympics in Sochi next February.

Here she talks to the Daily Telegraph about her ambitions.

http://tinyurl.com/okynnz7

Snowboarder targets Olympic success

Focus on manufacturing>>> The November edition ofAerospace Manufacturing containstwo articles about the Isle of Man.

The magazine, one of the leadingmanufacturing publications with areadership of more than 10,000, includes atwo-page feature (pages 26-27) with KevinBurnell, Director of ISO Isle of Man.

Adrian Moore, Chairman of the Isle ofMan Aerospace Cluster, explains (on page34) the importance of engaging with anaerospace cluster.

The e-version of AerospaceManufacturing can be viewed here:

http://tinyurl.com/pqhe3wv

Cav has point to prove>>> Mark Cavendish tells the DailyTelegraph he has a point to provenow that his position as the world’sfastest sprinter is under threat.

Reporter Jonathan Liew writes:‘Cavendish is a genius. The most skilfulsprinter in British cycling history alsohappens to have perhaps the sharpestbrain in the sport.’

Read more:

http://tinyurl.com/prqkus8

5 top golf holes>>> Yourgolftravel.com highlightsthe par 4, 5th hole at Castletown golfcourse as one of the 5 holes golfersmust play in 2014.

The website says: ‘There are a lot ofgreat holes at Castletown, but for me the5th probably provides the bestcombination of views, design, anddifficulty.’

Read more:

http://tinyurl.com/orj7hj3


Isle of Man

Gov. enewsIsle of Man GovernmentGovernment OfficeBucks Road, Douglas,Isle of Man, IM1 3PN

Telephone: +44 (0)1624 685284Fax: +44 (0)1624 686243Email: [email protected]

Is published by:

The External Relations DivisionChief Secretary’s Office

Isle of Man

Gov. enews PAGE 12

WWICommemorations

HELPFUL HINTSFor more information about WWI

visit the Government website

http://tinyurl.com/qgxlw2j

>>> The Isle of Man Governmentwill play a central role in effortsto commemorate the 100thanniversary of World War One.

A working group has been establishedto help community organisations andpublic authorities mark significantmilestones taking place between 2014 and2018.

Chaired by Edmund Southworth,Director of Manx National Heritage, thegroup brings together Government officersand representatives from the Royal BritishLegion, Municipal Association and Chamberof Commerce.

It will not directly organise activities orallocate funding, but will instead providecentral coordination for WWIcommemorations being held in the Island.

Part of this work will focus on helpingto raise awareness of the Isle of Man’s

Our role in the Great War

contribution to the Great War andencouraging community participation inevents.

The Government website features asection dedicated to the Island’s WWIcommemorations, including a local eventscalendar so that organisations can plantheir activities and avoid any potentialclashes.

This central support is in addition toWWI projects being planned byGovernment Departments, Boards andOffices, including Education and Children,Infrastructure, Health, Social Care, ManxNational Heritage and the Post Office.

Mr Southworth said: ‘4 August 2014will mark the 100th anniversary of thestart of World War One, the first globalconflict. The Great War had a dramaticimpact on the Isle of Man, not just in theconsiderable number of lives of Manxmenlost, but also in the profound economic,social and political upheaval experiencedover those four years and beyond.’

He added: ‘We want to gain an

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1. A Sea Scout airship of the RoyalNaval Air Service lands at King William’sCollege while on anti-submarine patrolin 1918

2. HMS Ben-My-Chree after conversionto a sea-plane carrier

3. HMS King Orry leads Germanbattleships in to surrender, 1918

4. Tents at Douglas internment camp

overview of how the Isle of Man as awhole is planning to commemorate WWI,so that we can help to coordinate andpublicise activities via the Governmentwebsite and act as a central point ofcontact for information.’

Official records show that 8,261 menenlisted in the armed forces, which was82.3% of the Isle of Man’s male populationof military age. Of these, 1,165 gave theirlives and 987 were wounded.


Documents

November 2013 e newsletter