A backbench MHK is demanding answers following a spate of flight delays and cancellations.

Over the past three months, island passengers have faced disruption on air services in and out of Ronaldsway.

In June we reported how passengers were left stranded after Gatwick flights were cancelled on three Sundays in a row. The evening Gatwick flight back to the island was delayed overnight again the Sunday before last. Last Friday there were delays on BA’s London City route and the easyJet flight to Bristol.

Michael MHK Alfred Cannan has written to airport director Ann Reynolds seeking further explanation and reassurance that radar problems are not to blame. The new £3.2m radar at Ronaldsway is still awaiting final approval from the Civil Aviation Authority. Mr Cannan said: ‘Over the last few weeks I have received multiple complaints from constituents and residents island-wide about flight delays and cancellations at Ronaldsway.

‘We cannot and should not dismiss these events lightly and I am asking the airport director for a full explanation and details of what action is being taken to improve efficiency and reliability, as well as more complete details of how many flights have been affected in the last three months.’

The airlines have blamed bad weather for much of the disruption. EasyJet says Isle of Man Airport’s relatively short runway can be a problem when its foggy.

Easyjet’s flight tracker noted at one point last week: ‘Please be aware that we are seeing poor weather conditions on the Isle of Man. Operating flights to and from the Isle of Man can be challenging when certain weather conditions exist. The relatively short runway and fog conditions can lead to aircraft being unable to make a safe approach to land’.

Mr Cannan’s letter to the airport director states: ‘In general it appears that disruption at Ronaldsway is becoming increasingly frequent which is harmful to the general economy and the reputation of the island.

‘I would be grateful if you would inform me what action is being taken to resolve these matters and secure reliable levels of service. It would be useful to understand what rights of redress are available. I would also like your categorical reassurance that delays and cancellations are not being caused by radar problems.’

In her reply, Ms Reyonlds insisted that none of the recent airline delays have been caused by radar issues.

She wrote: ‘The only reasons I am aware of for flight delays and cancellations are weather, unserviceable aircraft (ie technical problems), crew hours, lightning strikes, ground handling staff issues at Gatwick, two ground incidents (not caused by BA or DOI staff), runway slots at other airports causing delay, and congestion within the London airspace affecting all London flights.

‘The last six weeks or so has seen several flight delays and cancellations by most airlines that operate into IOM, for the reasons given above. However I am not aware of any flight cancellation due to conditions at Ronaldsway airport.’

She revealed that the delay to last Friday morning’s BA flight to London City was due to the fire alarm in the island hotel where the overnight BA crew were staying going off three times during the night. This affected their sleep, and so they were not able to depart until 9.30am rather than 7pm.

Ms Reynolds said for a commercial runway, Ronaldsway’s is relatively short. The runway promontory project, carried out between 2008 and 2010, was designed to extend the safety zones at each end of the runway, rather than lengthen the runway itself, she said.

The shockwaves are still being felt from Chief Minister Allan Bell’s announcement that he is retiring from Manx politics after near 40 years.

But who is tipped to replace him as Chief Minister?

Mr Bell’s departure, and that of fellow Ministers Eddie Teare, John Shimmin and Richard Ronan, means that some 73 years of political experience will be lost from the House of Keys from September.

It leaves only four current Ministers - Howard Quayle, Laurence Skelly, Phil Gawne and Juan Watterson - who could be available for the top job, if they are successful in being re-elected. Education Minister Tim Crookall was elevated to LegCo last year.

Of those four, the front runners are Health and Social Care Minister Howard Quayle and Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly.

Mr Quayle and Mr Skelly were both first elected to the Keys in the 2011 generation election and joined CoMin in 2014.

Middle MHK Mr Quayle said: ‘I’m concentrating on getting re-elected. I don’t take the vote of the people of Middle for granted. Should I be successful I would be one of the few Ministers on this administration to get back in. I would then consider putting my name forward, depending on who else gets re-elected.’

Rushen MHK Mr Skelly said: ‘My main focus is on my election campaign which is only just starting. I’ve got a considerable amount of responsibility as Minister of DED to which I must remain focused in the run-up to the election. I’ve always done the job that’s been asked of me as chairman of planning, the Arts Council, Minister for DoI and now DED.

‘Should my peers want me to put my name forward, then I would.’

Others who could be in the frame are Michael MHK Alfred Cannan, former Policy and Reform Minister Chris Robertshaw (Douglas East) and LibVan leader Kate Beecroft (Douglas South).

Of these, Mr Cannan would be likely to garner the most support - Mr Robertshaw is considered something of a lone wolf while Mrs Beecroft has positioned herself and her party as the ‘opposition’.

Mr Cannan said: ‘My position is that I need to focus on getting elected and getting a mandate from the constituents of Ayre and Michael. If elected, I hope to play a key role in the next government.’

The next five years are certain to be a challenging time and unpopular decisions will have to be made by the next government.

Whoever is appointed as the next Chief Minister will need to pick the right cabinet team to deal with those challenges. But with so many years of experience lost from the Keys, that will be no easy task in itself.

l Your Views: page 26

The new Manx football season springs into life on Friday evening with the Eric Fletcher Charity Shield at the Bowl.

The campaign’s traditional curtain-raiser pits reigning Canada Life Premier League champions St George’s against FA Cup holders Peel.

The pair are rightly regarded as Manx football’s current top two sides and should produce a good contest at the national stadium.

Geordies have brought in Rushen man mountain Furo Davies as they bid to extend their period of dominance in Manx football. The Ellan Vannin striker will add to an already mouthwatering attack that can boast Ciaran McNulty, Calum Morrissey, Joey Morling and Chris Bass Jr among its number. That’s without mentioning skipper Frank Jones who chipped in with 20 league goals from midfield last term.

Peel, who finished five points behind Geordies in the league, have yet to make any official forays into the transfer market although Ayre striker Shaun Kelly and DHSOB’s former Ramsey keeper Kiril Velev have both turned out for them in pre-season.

Steve Falconer’s westerners will be keen to lay down a marker ahead of the new season and put in a strong performance against their rivals on Friday.

Geordies edged last year’s Charity Shield encounter between the pair 1-0 thanks to Chris Bass Jr’s second-half goal. Another close encounter should be on the cards in this one, although Geordies burgeoning forward line should give them the edge ahead of the league’s start on August 13.

Kick-off is 7pm. Fuller preview in Thursday’s Manx Independent.

Follow @manxfootyblog for Twitter updates throughout the match.

Emergency services were called to a three vehicle crash just before Windy Corner on the Mountain Road.

The collision took place yesterday (August 2) just after 4.30pm.

Conditions were poor at the time of the crash with visibility down to a few yards in places.

One driver was taken to Noble’s Hospital but their injuries are not thought to be serious.

An MHK and the Public Services Commission are set to sued for libel.

Onchan District Commissioners had requested a public apology from constituency MHK David Quirk and the PSC over ‘inaccurate and potentially defamatory’ comments they had made.

But with no apology forthcoming, commissioner’s clerk Malcolm Hulme said that separate actions for defamation would be issued in the next week or so.

‘They are in hand. We are going to go-ahead,’ he said.

The proceedings, which have the full support of the board, follow a statement issued by the PSC published on the government’s website in June.

This was in relation to a complaint made by Onchan resident Rae Hamilton against officers of the Department of Infrastructure.

The board strongly deny the allegations made against them. They said the PSC had failed to give the commissioners a reasonable time to comment on the contents of the statement or its accuracy. They were not a party to any inquiry and had not been asked to provide any documents or give any evidence.

‘Members were highly concerned to have been wrongly criticised by the Commission without having been given any opportunity to respond or rebut the potentially misleading and inaccurate allegations,’ minutes from a board meeting in July show.

Similarly inaccurate and potentially defamatory comments were made in a letter dated June 29 from Onchan MHK Mr Quirk to individual members of the board.

Lawyers for the commissioners wrote to Mr Quirk demanding an apology and a retraction of his letter, and indicating that if he didn’t do so legal proceedings for defamation might be launched.

The PSC had upheld the complaint against the DoI made by Mr Hamilton, the former lease holder for Onchan squash courts. Its report said the DoI had behaved improperly, given wrong advice and failed to give any credence to Mr Hamilton’s views.

Background to these events was the closure of the squash courts at Onchan Park in 2010 when the lease was awarded to a dance school.

Mr Hamilton claimed there had been a conflict of interest but Onchan Commissioners insisted there had been no wrong-doing.

An advice note, written in 2014 to the then DoI Minister David Cretney by the department’s chief executive Nick Black concluded, under a section relating to the allegation of ‘major wrongdoings’, that the awarding of the lease had been ‘disorganised’, the tender process ‘poorly conceived’ and there were concerns about confidentiality.

In January last year, Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne wrote to the commissioners’ clerk apologising for the use of the words ‘major wrong-doing’, saying the department had merely been paraphrasing the words of the complainant.

‘It is clear the department had not established there had been any major wrong-doings,’ he wrote.

The PSC in its statement said the publication of the advice note had ‘made a difficult situation worse’.

A scrutiny committee inquiry into the statutory procedure for complaints against local authorities was instigated by Mr Quirk on behalf of Mr Hamilton. Tynwald last month backed its recommendation that a Tynwald Commissioner be appointed to investigate such complaints.

Eddie Power, who played a leading role in the campaign to save the reciprocal health agreement, has been a long-time observer of the political scene both here in the island and in the Channel Islands.

He launched the ‘MHKs They Work For You’ website in 2010 and followed this in 2014 with the Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories Political News Facebook and Twitter pages.

Here, he gives Examiner reporter Adrian Darbyshire his assessment of the Allan Bell administration over the last five years – and what the future holds for Manx politics post-election and post-Brexit.

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When I first set up the website ‘MHKs They Work For You’ Tony Brown was Chief Minister, Manx politics were a lot more ‘parish pump’ and we left our MHKs to do as they saw fit with the UK and international agreements and relations.

The first sign of things to come was the attack on the VAT ‘agreement’ then on the reciprocal health agreement by Gordon Brown’s Labour government.

Suddenly the man in the street became vocal and from then the momentum increased. Maybe the use of social media and forums which exploded at the same time added to that momentum.

In the last five years we have seen:

• One Education member (Dudley Butt MLC) resign after a heated exchange in Tynwald over plans to cut funding to libraries and pre-schools. (February 2012)

• Two Education members (Zac Hall and John Houghton MHKs) sacked for opposing their Minister’s cuts to libraries and pre-schools. (April 2012)

• One Minister (Peter Karran MHK) sacked from CoMin for ‘opposing the Council of Minister’s policy on the future of the film industry’. (June 2012)

• One Treasury member (Bill Henderson MHK) sacked because the Treasury Minister was ‘sorry to say he no longer has confidence and trust in Mr Henderson’. (January 2013)

• One member (Richard Ronan MHK) resign from Social Care over ‘crucial policy disagreements’. (December 2013)

• The Department of Community, Culture and Leisure disbanded. (March 2014)

• One Economic Development Minister (John Shimmin MHK) resign after legal experts found a government bail-out of the Sefton Group was ‘outside of government powers’. (June 2014)

• One member (Alf Cannan MHK) resign from the housing section of Health and Social Care over ‘deeply flawed policy’. (September 2014)

• One Minister (Chris Robertshaw MHK) resign from CoMin because of ‘inadequate’ pace of government reform (February 2015)

• Four MHKs moved to the Legislative Council – David Anderson, David Cretney, Tim Crookall and Bill Henderson. (March - June 2015)

• One MHK (Brenda Cannell) retire for personal reasons. (2015)

• Five by-elections – in Glenfaba, Peel, Douglas East, Douglas North and Douglas South. (2015)

• One chairman of the Post Office (Graham Cregeen MHK) sacked for ‘undermining CoMin’s policy’. (March 2016)

• One MHK (John Houghton) suspended from Tynwald and the Keys by the President of Tynwald from May 2016 to present date, for failing to apologise to Tynwald Court.

Add to that state pensions, public sector pensions, health costs, accusations of being a tax haven, Panama Papers, Atos, Dependability and Brexit, and then it can only be described as a demanding five years!

How have our politicians dealt with things?

Pensions

The electorate has now been told that the new Manx state pension will stand at £170 per week for those with 35 qualifying years from 2019 and the Manx supplement will be phased out.

Talk about reforming the state pension has gone on since 2011, when Chris Robertshaw was Minister of Social Care, and with all the little bits of information released over those four years and the scare stories the person in the street must be totally confused.

All he or she knows is that household income, however it comes, is being cut to help out the island’s economy.

And yet when it comes to the very large elephant in the room, one of the biggest drains on the economy, public sector pensions, there is still no conclusion!

Again our MHKs have failed over five years to bite the bullet. What are they frightened of? Add to that the MHK made responsible for finding a solution to the public sector pension issue will not be a member of government or parliament from September 2016.

Whoever picks it up again after the formalities of a new parliament may not see it the same way, so things may go back to the beginning again. What chance is there of a result by the end of the next parliament? There is no doubt government works very slowly.

External relations

Our government has for a long time been very insular, both internationally and nationally.

Our Chief Minister Allan Bell has broken down barriers internationally. We are now working with the Channel Islands, there is power and safety in numbers.

I once asked a politician from the Channel Islands how are Isle of Man politicians viewed there. ‘Arrogant’ was the answer. That was pre-2011! Now in my daily life I have contact with Jersey and Guernsey politicians and I can confirm that relationships are good. Business-wise all three islands will always compete, but on policies and external relationships all three can learn and work together, rather than try and win points over each other.

It is to be hoped that the good work will continue. Maybe it is time we considered a specific External Relations Minister.

Governing the Isle of Man

This government has failed to take the public with them on many things. There has been a culture of turning out consultations like confetti. Ten years ago a consultation was a rare thing, now it is believed that it is the panacea for everything government wishes to bring in.

Anyone can consult, read the results and make whatever they want from it.

There was also Chris Robertshaw’s ‘Big Debate’ but rumour has it other MHKs did not support it, so that fizzled out.

A couple of political retirees told me a few years back, that it was not until they came out of government that they realised how out of touch government is with the public.

I know it sounds corny but government needs to listen. Phil Gawne and a number of others are trying to involve more in democracy and we shall see how that develops.

Some politicians have shown they are afraid of social media, but it is a great way to know what people are thinking. Although our Treasury Minister recently stated that social media was putting people off standing, I note there are a number of those standing who have set up a Facebook page to run with their campaign.

I do agree with the member for Ayre when he said people should not hide behind anonymity.

Again I go back to the government being insular. There is no doubt government believes what it has been doing is right and anyone who spoke against it is wrong or just a troublemaker. This culture must be broken – government does not have a monopoly on being right.

Changing of the guard

I think Allan Bell had decided to go a while back but Brexit and the Panama Papers had him deciding maybe he shouldn’t go. He was, out of the three leaders of the Crown Dependencies, the most experienced politician and as he proved at the anti-corruption summit he was someone not frightened to say what he thought. I think Gorst (Jersey) or St Pier (Guernsey) could take Bell’s position as group leader, but I cannot see who here can pick up the mantle.

I think Eddie Teare had just had enough, he knew he wouldn’t ever be Chief Minister. It has been hard work and long hours being Treasury Minister.

John Shimmin was another one who could go no further, after serving his time over Sefton, he had not returned as a full Minister which he expected and wanted to do.

Richie Ronan is a nice guy whose skin is not thick enough for the cut and thrust of politics. He has been attacked from all sides politically and policy-wise. He could not even return to his constituency to relax – even there the attacking was relentless. I am amazed he stayed as long as he did.

Politics either here or off-island is a 24-hour job with rolling news and the internet and there is no such thing as a weekend off.

New MHKs

New MHKs go in with plans to make a change and they promise things to their constituents and island residents. When they fail to do it the word goes out that all MHKs are the same – they get in and forget their promises.

You can promise the world, but when you get elected you have to convince the civil service your promise is good and workable and then you have to convince the 23 other MHKs, then get it through Tynwald without it being amended down to nothing or kicked in to the ‘long grass’.

Being a new MHK is like being a new pupil in school. Some experienced MHKs will help you, some will ignore you and some will tell you keep your head down in your first year or so.

We now know that new and old MHKs will have to elect a new Chief Minister, and with a limited number of candidates with experience that’s not an easy choice. It is to be hoped that the choice will not come down just to someone who has made it obvious he or she wants the job.

Experience, diplomacy and being able to work with other politicians from the UK, Crown Dependencies and most importantly able to communicate and take the people of the island with them are all the things a new Chief Minister will need.

Whoever it is will not be loved by all and will need a very thick skin.

The next five years

With a new Chief Minister and CoMin let’s hope the next five years are not spent changing what has happened in the last five. There is a saying in Westminster the first five years of a new government is spent changing everything the previous did, and the second five are when you can start to work properly. Again I say, I hope we do not follow that pattern. This island cannot and will not handle that.

Brexit

With Brexit no one really knows what will happen here or in the UK.

We now have the UK saying ‘we want to start leaving negotiations in maybe two years and by the way we want to keep all the good stuff and drop the bad stuff’. The EU – quite rightly – will not accept that. You can’t decide to leave and then say but ‘only on our terms’. What is Theresa May going to do if the EU say ‘no you can’t have any of those’? She can’t threaten to stay in the EU.

We could keep Zero/10, but if the Brexit negotiations go through with the EU we could be blacklisted again over it. But then with the UK, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland all dropping the corporation tax rates it may be of less benefit to us.

I think the Channel Islands changed their Zero/10 because they felt there was no benefit, but they always said we wouldn’t change ours because we thought of the idea.

A lucky player in the UK has scooped an £840,000 ($1.1m) prize after betting on the US Powerball game in World Lottery Club, the online secondary lottery service run by Annexio in the island.

The man, aged 30, who has not been named, lives in the Bolton area.

The mystery man has chosen to travel to the island to collect his enormous prize in person.

Annexio’s World Lottery Club allows players to bet online on the outcomes of some of the world’s biggest lotteries, including those outside their own country of residence, with winnings matching the official prize tiers available in those lotteries.

Launched in 2015, the site has quickly become a favourite with lottery players. As well as the US Powerball, World Lottery Club players can bet on the outcomes of MegaMillions, EuroMillions and other national lotteries such as the Australian, Swedish and Polish Lotteries.

Annexio’s managing director Jennifer Houghton said: ‘It is fabulous news that someone so close to home has picked up such a large prize.

‘World Lottery Club has been creating quite a stir since its launch last year and we are looking forward to meeting the winner to congratulate him personally as he has elected to collect his prize from us in the Isle of Man next week.

‘The range of lotteries we have available through World Lottery Club is always expanding, so there is plenty of choice for our clients to play on something very familiar or a bit different. Clients can also choose individual play by line or to participate on a syndicate basis.

‘Our players have the reassurance of knowing that Annexio is licensed both in the Isle of Man and UK, both leading jurisdictions for the licensing of responsible gaming business.’

A new apprentice training programme for the IT sector has been launched.

Starting next month (September) the programme has been developed to provide opportunities for people to begin a two year apprenticeship.

Apprentices will be employed for the duration of their training while also attending University College Isle of Man.

Individuals completing the apprenticeship will attain a nationally recognised Level 3 vocational qualification in IT as well as a range of ‘vendor qualifications, bespoke to the needs of their employer.’

The Department of Economic Development, working with the Department of Education and Children and the Manx Information Communication Technology Association (MICTA), has launched the pioneering scheme.

Graham Cregeen MHK, political member with responsibility for employment and skills at the Department of Economic Development said: ‘I am delighted to be able to launch this new scheme. This is a direct result of the close working partnership between Government and the private sector demonstrated by the range of placements due to be on offer in September.

‘ICT will be a key driver in the economic success of the island over future generations and it is essential we equip our workforce with the skills they need in the economy of the future.’ The new apprentice programme is said to form part of the Government’s overall strategy to develop the skilled workforce needed to support the growth of this important sector.

Tim Crookall MLC, Minister for the Department of Education and Children said: ‘With the rapid growth of the IT industry in the island it was vital for our departments to respond with effective additions to the programmes of education already in place. We have already stimulated fantastic IT education developments in the island’s schools. It is now a great pleasure to announce the next step in this process and launch the ICT Apprenticeship.’

Lloyds Bank staff in the island face an anxious wait to find out if they will be affected by the banking giant’s latest plan to shed a further 3,000 roles.

The group is also looking to make 200 branch closures by the end of 2017.

Lloyds stress they are keeping options open and no particular area, region or town town is being targeted at this stage.

Lloyds will be looking at aspects such as customer ‘footfall’ in branches.

And it says that it expects that after closures more thannine in 10 customers will have a branch within five miles of where they live.

There are branches in Douglas,Ramsey, Peel and Castletown.

Only at the end of June, Business News reported 41 people were set to lose their jobs with Lloyds in the island, mostly in the group’s expatriate banking operation centre - the ‘international centre of excellence’ at Peveril Buildings, Douglas.

These changes formed part of total role reductions of 9,000 as part of the group’s three year strategy.

A spokesman for Lloyds Banking Group told Business News:‘We expect to close branches across Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland and Halifax.

‘There will be no regional focus - we will continue to follow our customers in terms of how, when and where they decide to bank with us.

‘Whilst we are reducing our network, we expect to continue to have the biggest branch network in the UK.

‘Even after these further closures, more than 90 per cent of our customers will have a branch within five miles of them. The majority of roles will come from central or back office functions, but there will be roles that change on the front line and there will be reductions there as well.

‘Our intention is to reflect the increasing customer use and focus on digital channels, along with the ongoing simplification of our bank.

‘The Group’s policy is always to use natural turnover and to redeploy people wherever possible to retain their expertise and knowledge within the Group. Where it is necessary for employees to leave the company, we will look to achieve this by offering voluntary redundancy. Whenever the difficult decision to close a branch is taken, our colleagues and customers will be the first to know’.

Peter Reid, island director and head of operations at Lloyds Bank International, is also chairman of the island bankers’ association.

Last December he told Business News island residents could soon be able to see bankers face to face on computer screens as the ‘digital revolution’ moves ever faster.

He said: ‘It’s a big area of opportunity but it will be driven by customer demand.’ He stressed it was important customer choice was still there. ‘All we are doing in banking is looking at what customers need and what they want.’

Mr Reid is also proud of the company’s pioneering apprenticeship scheme, which has seen dozens of youngsters join the group.

Twenty youngsters celebrated last time and chief minister Allan Bell said: ‘It’s an investment not just in their future but in the future of Lloyds Bank and in a broader sense in the island and this is what we really need all employers to do.’

Manx National Heritage is celebrating the Olympic year with the return of the aptly-named O’Limpets!

The Rio O’Limpets takes place at Peel Castle tomorrow (Thursday) from 2pm to 4pm.

Each race will be organised by age group and will feature classics such as the egg ‘n’ spoon, the sack race, the three legged race, the fancy dress obstacle course and the sprint with a Rio twist!

Standard admission charges apply. Entry is free for ACE card holders, members and season pass holders.

Any clubs interested in setting up and running a BMX/skateboarding facility which would be open and public on the recreational land at Ballakilley in Rushen parish should contact the parish local authority.

The appeal was made following a meeting of Rushen parish, Port Erin and Port St Mary commissioners last week to discuss options for how the land should be used.

Part of the land – which is off Ballafesson Road near Port Erin - will be designated for use by Nomads Rugby club, but this will also be available at other times for activities other than sport. In addition, a substantial area of the field will be free for other uses.

Rushen Parish Commissioners have previously discussed various options and a BMX track had always been one of the possibilities. Various individuals have contacted the commissioners about both BMX and skateboarding facilities. It is hoped the land will also incorporate walkways, exercise and play areas.

A walkway will be dual purpose and also serve as a running track, with measurements for runners to gauge distance covered. There are also plans to create a ‘hang out’ for teenagers who are not sporty.

RPC reiterated that although they own the land and will remain responsible for it, the future facilities will be for the use and enjoyment of everyone in the south.

The authority said: ‘We look forward to working with the boards of both Port Erin and Port St Mary to ensure the absolute best use is made of this land as we have been working towards this for 20 years.’

This is the culmination of 20 years of campaigning by the authority for the land to be used as recreational and sports grounds. When the land was first zoned for recreational use, the authority set up the Ballakilley Working Party (BWP) and invited representatives from Port Erin and Port St Mary commissioners, the burial ground authority and Nomads rugby club.

Contact commissioners’ clerk Gill Kelly by email rushencommissioners@manx.net or phone 834501.

Estera has been shortlisted as Trust Company of the Year in the Isle of Man for the prestigious Citywealth International Financial Centre Awards 2017.

The fiduciary and administration services provider has also been shortlisted in the same category for Jersey and Guernsey, and chief executive officer Farah Ballands has been nominated for ‘Inspirational Woman of the Year’ in the magazine’s Powerwomen Awards 2017.

Sean Dowling, group director of Estera in the Isle of Man said: ‘To be shortlisted for Trust Company of the Year in three separate jurisdictions demonstrates the strength and depth we are able to offer our clients.

‘It is further testament to the hard work and commitment of our team delivering quality service to our clients.’

Estera employs more than 350 people across 10 jurisdictions, including more than 50 people at its Douglas office.

The Citywealth IFC Awards, now in their sixth year, were established to highlight excellence in the private wealth sector across the major international finance centres, while the Powerwomen Awards recognise individuals and companies who maximise the potential of women in wealth.

Winners in both awards are selected through a combination of an assessment by an independent panel of industry judges and a public vote.

The winners will be announced at prestigious ceremonies in London in early 2017.

A seventh candidate has come forward to contest the new seat of Arbory, Castletown and Malew in September’s general election.

Architect Steve Crowther, 58, is the son of Dr Raymond Crowther and Nadene Crowther MBE, who was awarded the Tynwald Honour in 2013 for her work with Hospice Care in the island.

Married with a teenage daughter and living in Castletown, he said: ‘At this time of change in local and world markets I believe my professional background and family’s integrity will contribute to the stability the current government will ultimately require.’

His parents moved to the Isle of Man in 1973 with his father becoming one of two GPs in the south of the island and his mother becoming a founding member of the Hospice charity. She was awarded the MBE in 1995.

Schooled at Castle Rushen High School, he went on to study architecture in Manchester for seven years, qualifying as an architect in 1987.

His career has taken him around the world.

He was involved in the construction of a new airport in Hong Kong and in detailed work on the underground Metro in Bangkok.

Following his return to the island in 2003 he worked for two local architects’ practices before setting up his own company, Cre8 architecture IOM, in 2009.

He said: ‘I want the electorate to benefit from my experience in complex international project management to bring greater collaboration to the Isle of Man’s infrastructure and government policy.’

Mr Crowther said he has strong family ties to Malew, having lived in Glen Road, Colby, for many years as well as Arbory Street in Castletown.

The other candidates standing in Arbory, Castletown and Malew are Graham Cregeen (currently MHK for Malew and Santon) Phil Gawne (currently MHK for Rushen, part of which will be in the new constituency), Richard McAleer, Jason Moorhouse, Carl Parker and Carol Quine.

Meanwhile, Manx-born company director Alan Kermode, 53, who lives in Lezayre, has announced he is standing in Ayre and Michael.

The other candidates are Pat Ayres, Tim Baker Alfred Cannan (defending, Michael) and Louise Whitelegg.

A 46-year-old man from Douglas has been fined £700 for having three defective tyres on his car and no insurance.

Mark William Burrows, of Empire Terrace, pleaded guilty to the four charges and was ordered to pay £50 court costs.

Prosecutor Barry Swain told the court how, on May 13, police were on patrol on Palace Road in Douglas when they saw a parked Toyota Corolla with a bald tyre.

They checked the other tyres and found that three out of the four were bald.

Burrows was contacted and met police at the car. When told about the tyres he also admitted that he had no insurance.

He told police: ‘I’m getting it scrapped in the next seven days.’ But as the car was parked on a public road it still needed to be insured.

The court heard that police would have considered a caution if it had not been for the insurance offence.

Defending Burrows in court, advocate Deborah Myerscough said that her client was of ‘impeccable character’ with no previous convictions.

Ms Myerscough said: ‘He has got to this age without ever being in trouble. He is taking this extremely seriously and is ashamed to be before the court.

‘The vehicle has been scrapped, it was an oversight on his part. His professional life is busy. He doesn’t use this as an excuse, but only as a reason for not getting rid of the vehicle more quickly. He is very distressed to be here. He the most polite man I have met at court.

‘He had left the vehicle to be scrapped after the TT period. He lives on a street with no off-road parking, hence why the car was parked on the street.’

Ms Myerscough asked the court not to disqualify Burrows, saying that there had been no indication of him driving the car and that he had been a man of good character for a very long time.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes pointed out that Burrows did not have a Manx driving licence but Ms Myerscough said that this was an oversight which Burrows would rectify.

Mrs Hughes gave said: ‘It is perhaps fortunate that you are not before the court charged with an offence in respect of your driving licence.

‘It is clear you are a man of good character and I note you would have only received a caution had it not been for the insurance offence.

‘There is no evidence to suggest you drove the vehicle. I have considered all the circumstances and do consider this can be dealt with by way of penalty points. Drive carefully over the next four years.’

Burrows was fined £100 for each tyre offence and £400 for having no insurance. His driving licence was endorsed with eight penalty points which stay on his licence for four years.

Help to create seed bombs to disperse wildflower seeds in the curragh area of the Wildlife Park.

The Manx Wildlife Trust event takes place at the Ballaugh park tomorrow (Thursday) from 2pm. Normal park fees apply.

Meanwhile, there’s two upcoming MWT events for wildlife adventure season pass holders.

Den building takes place at Claughbane plantation, Ramsey, on Tuesday next week from 2pm. And the following day, there’s rockpooling at Port Erin. Meet at the Cosy Nook cafe at 10am.

More muddy bogs have been added to the already gruelling Tough Mann course – in response to public demand!

The event, which takes place on Saturday, will once again be at Ballamoar farm in Ballaugh.

Around 700 people will take on the physically and mentally demanding course which will open with a gruelling two kilometre run and 1,000ft climb up ‘killer hill’. The first man and woman to reach the top will win the King and Queen of the Mountain titles.

Competitors will tackle 25 obstacles over the 10km of rough terrain, including the The Beast, The Mud Spa, Ice Dips and Monkey Bars.

The course will have competitors walking, crawling and running as they dive through muddy bogs, make their way through thick forest and clamber over hay bales and cars.

Event organiser Kez Wardell said this year’s course features new obstacles, including the sandbag carry and an ‘up and over’ style obstacle.

He said that more muddy bogs had been included having ‘listened to requests by the public’.

New route options have been added to the course for those aiming to get a fast time.

But there is also good opportunities for individuals and teams who just want to get through the adventure course in one piece.

All finishers will receive a victory T-shirt and a pint of Bushy’s beer, and they will be greeted at the finish with live music.

Manx Telecom is donating GoXtreme action cameras and Fitbits for the winners.

There will be plenty of entertainment for spectators on site, including a family tent, some DJ music and a children’s version of the Tough Mann course.

Last year’s King of the Mountain was Graham Turner who reached the summit in 15 minutes 18 seconds while Elissa Morris was named Queen of the Mountain after covering the same distance in 16m 50s.

The winner of the adventure challenge last year was Nick Colburn in a time of 1 hour 3 minutes 12 seconds.

Saturday’s event starts at 1pm and will finish just after 4pm.

It’s being sponsored by Manx Telecom for the second year, and this year the charity partner is Tabitha’s Trust.

Anyone who was unable to make Saturday’s official sign on should be on site at 10am so the race can start on time.

Manx war veterans have joined a UK campaign for a new medal to be awarded to people who have served in the armed forces since 1945.

A petition to support the ‘National Defence Medal’ has been handed to the Clerk of Tynwald who is checking it meets the requirements to go forward to Tynwald and be handed to armed forces champion Juan Watterson MHK who is supporting the campaign.

It has been organised by local veteran Colin Harwood, from Douglas and has 128 signatures so far hoping to win Tynwald support for the cause.

Juan Watterson MHK said: ‘I’m happy to support this campaign for those who have given service in the armed forces. The Isle of Man has been at the forefront of campaigns such as this and the Nuclear Test Veterans even though the Isle of Man government cannot issue medals for military service in HM Armed Forces.’

A spokesman for the campaign said: ‘We have given so much and asked for so little and this medal would give us the recognition we deserve.

‘The medal would award all those who did defence service, including standby service, for operational military activities and non-operational activities in defence of the United Kingdom.

‘It includes all those who served in support of any operation in times of crisis, emergency or arduous service conditions.

‘It recognises the day-to-day dangerous situations that perpetually pervades life as a member of the armed forces.

‘It would recognise combat operations for which campaign medals may not be awarded.

The UK petition has 6,758 signatures so far.

Sign the Manx petition at www.charge.org or join the ‘National Defence Medal for British Forces’ Facebook group to receive updates on the campaign.

A 26-year-old man from England has been sentenced to community service after punching a woman on Douglas promenade more than two years ago.

Louie Hobin, of Shaw Road, Royton, in Oldham, knocked the woman to the ground before running off and leaving the island the next day.

Hobin pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH) and was ordered to perform 240 hours’ community service as a direct alternative to 10 months’ custody in court on Thursday.

He was also banned from the island with a five-year exclusion order made and ordered to pay £2,500 compensation to his victim by October 31.

Prosecutor Rachael Braidwood told the court how, on May 18, 2014, the victim was in Jaks bar with a friend, when they were joined at their table by Hobin, who they did not know.

The victim said that Hobin made advances toward her saying: ‘You’re dead hot you are. Come down the beach and I’ll give you sex’.

Before leaving Hobin paid a £30 drinks tab with a credit card.

The victim and her friend got into a taxi but when Hobin got in too, they got out and got into another taxi.

Undeterred, he followed them, stopping the second taxi and getting in with the women.

They all went on to the Palace Hotel, but as they were leaving there Hobin was said to be complaining that he had bought the women drinks all night and now they were walking away from him.

The victim said that once on the promenade she heard someone run up behind her.

She said she turned and slapped the man, not knowing who it was, but the next thing she recalled was waking up in the recovery position on the pavement.

She was taken to hospital where tests revealed an undisplaced fracture of the right cheekbone.

The credit card was traced to Hobin’s father’s business in Oldham where phone messages were left by police but never returned.

In March 2015 Hobin called Manx police and said that he was coming to the island in April 2015.

He returned and told police he had been pushed in the back and slapped by the woman and he had turned around and punched her.

He was initially charged with causing grievous bodily harm, which he denied, but later pleaded guilty to ABH.

Hobin entered a basis of plea in court accepting that he had ‘responded with excessive force’ after being struck.

Defence advocate Ian Kermode said: ‘If he could turn back time he wouldn’t have reacted the way he did. The lesson learned is if there is trouble turn around and walk away.’

Advocate and notary public Fletcher Craine has become the fifth equity partner at Callin Wild.

Manx born Fletcher went to Ramsey Grammar School.

After completing his law degree at Keele University he went to the College of Law in Chester, returning to the island in 2007.

He qualified as an advocate in 2009 while at Dickinson Cruickshank which shortly became Appleby thereafter.

Mr Craine joined the litigation department of Callin Wild in 2013.

He has advised clients on various aspects of commercial litigation, including complex litigious matters, on island and cross border insolvency, injunctions, debts recovery and contract disputes.

He said: ‘I regularly appear in court and once appeared at the bar of the High Court of Tynwald, which is quite rare’.

‘In addition to commercial litigation he looks at employment law and provides advice in respect of both contentious and non-contentious employment issues.

In celebration of the appointment Callin Wild invited many of its clients to attend their office at Bank Chambers, Athol Street, Douglas, for drinks.

On a personal note Mr Craine is a keen football fan and fell runner, ‘trying my best to compete in the Callin Wild sponsored Manx Fell Running League!’

Mr Craine told Business News: ‘Callin Wild is a well established Manx law practice and, as a Manxman, I am delighted to be given the opportunity to help take forward the firm.

‘Callin Wild provides an outstanding service to its many loyal clients and over the past three years I’ve enjoyed being part of a successful team that undertakes a wide variety of work.

‘I’m looking forward to driving the firm forward to even greater success in the future, building on the excellent foundations laid by the partners and staff.’

Jeremy Callin, senior partner said: ‘It is exciting that Fletcher has joined the partnership after only three years at the firm.

‘Fletcher’s strong Manx roots will complement Callin Wild’s commitment to its local clients and his promotion comes at an exciting time in the firm’s development when we are seeing increases in both local and international work.

‘His promotion is based on merit, not simply time served and he will continue to add strength and depth to Callin Wild’s skilled and experienced team.’

Manx Gas customers are set to enjoy another price cut from next month. (September).

It will be the third reduction this year and the company claims it will mean a further £20 per year being knocked off bills.

Managing director Tony Nicholls told the Manx Indepndent: ‘We are lowering our prices by 3.6 per cent from September 6.

‘This is in addition to the 3.5 per cent reduction in April this year and the 3.5 per cent reduction made back in January 2016. We are very pleased that we’re able to reduce prices by 10.6 per cent this year.

‘These reductions, together with the regulatory adjustment which reduces the price of every unit of gas purchased for the next 12 months by 0.0891 p per unit, are hard evidence that the regulatory agreement is working for consumers.’

The cuts are being made following formal consultation with the Office of Fair Trading under the Regulatory Agreement.

Mr Nicholls added the reduction is a result of lower priced natural gas purchases and continued operational efficiencies together with higher than forecast gas outputs in the first half of this year.

‘The 3.6 per cent reduction will represent a further reduction of £20 per year for the average central heating customer. That’s a total reduction of £ 61 per year.’

Manx Gas’s parent company IEG was bought by a City of London based investment management business earlier this year.

Ancala Partners is a ‘long-term infrastructure investor.’