G4S has lost its contract to provide prisoner escort services – and notices of redundancy have been issued to up to 11 staff.

Off-island based support services company Resource Group has won the three-year contract to escort prisoners and will take over the service on July 1.

It is currently recruiting staff to work in prison escorting and court custody services.

G4S has operated prison escort services since April 2008, following the transfer of inmates from the old Victoria Road jail in Douglas to the new prison at Jurby.

Services were previously run in-house.

Managing director Stuart McCudden said: ‘It’s extremely disappointing given that we have provided a high-class, high-calibre service for the last five years. It’s disappointing when the government’s competitive tender goes to an off-island provider that is not domiciled here.

‘We have had to issue notices of redundancy to 10 to 11 staff. We hope to redeploy some within the business. My understanding is that most would have liked to stay with G4S.’

G4S, which is based at Ballacottier, Braddan, employs just over 200 full-time and part-time staff in the island. It has been based here since 1970.

It will continue to provide front of house security staff at the courthouse as well as its long-established cash businesss and the DHL parcel distribution service.

In a statement, the Department of Home Affairs said: ‘Resource will take over the operation of the Isle of Man’s prisoner escort service on July 1 2013.

‘Expressions of interest were sought in August 2012 and Resource has been awarded a three-year contract, with an option to extend for a further two years, after a full and open bid process. The current contract with G4S will conclude on June 30.’

Resource, which employs 6,000 staff across the UK and Ireland, is a leading provider of outsourced security, cleaning and support services. It has the contract to provide aviation security at Isle of Man Airport.

It is recruiting full-time, part-time and casual hours prison escort officers as well as a supervisor and deputy supervisor.

Email IOM@resource-group.com for an information pack. Closing date for applications is April 24.

ONCHAN Commissioners has launched a petition to ‘keep housing local’.

Ratepayers in the local authority received a letter urging them to sign the petition at the same time as they received their rate demand.

This month Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw MHK – in charge of rent for local authority homes – has twice overruled the commissioners, who wanted a rent cap for their tenants.

The letter states that continuing to provide affordable housing within the community on a regional level will allow the local authority to ‘preserve and protect the local identity and communities with individual identities; the knowledge of its local communities and environment; the housing needs of the coming generations; the housing needs of an increasing ageing population’.

It continues: ‘A strong local base will enable housing authorities to adapt and become completely self-financing.’

Onchan Commissioners believe this has a number of advantages. The letter states that it would allow the authority ‘to set our own rent levels that will be acceptable to our local communities’.

And it would ‘lift the restriction on money that is spent on maintenance and improvements’.

It would allow Onchan Commissioners to continue to buy land and buildings for affordable housing. And it would ‘allow us to construct housing taking into account the demands for size and affordability’.

The letter continues: ‘It is important to continue to develop a solid and sustainable community by using properly resourced local housing.’

Earlier this month, Mr Robertshaw MHK had told the board they could not cap the rent increase at 15 per cent despite its concerns about affordability.

Authority chairman Robin Turton said: ‘Onchan does not need to collect such an increase.

‘We should not be implementing a rental system that seeks to make a profit out of social housing,’ he said.

It led chief executive Malcolm Hulme to write to the minister again explaining, in detail, the reasons behind the commissioners’ resolution to determine an equitable and fair rent for our public sector tenants.

But in Tynwald on Tuesday, Mr Robertshaw again rejected the board’s call, saying a blanket cap for Onchan tenants would be ‘inequitable’. The DSC has said the updated points system, in place from this month, provided a fair and equitable means of charging rent for all public sector properties, regardless of the location.

The revised system updates the rent calculation system which has remained largely unchanged for more than 20 years and did not take account of new build properties, improved modern designs, layout, thermal efficiency and the modern amenities now provided in most public sector homes.

The petitions are available to sign at Onchan Library, and at Onchan Commissioners’ Office.

A poll run as part of a competition by Sitons, an online magazine for kayak enthusiasts, has found the Isle of Man to be one of Britain’s top 10 dream kayaking locations.

The poll was taken as part of a competition for watersport fanatics to win a GoPro Hero II camera. More than 500 entrants were asked where would be their dream place to kayak.

The Isle of Man was found to be among the top 10 ‘UK’ locations, ranking in at fifth. The rest of the top 10 was made up of three Scottish locations, the Lake District, two Cornish spots, Devon and Pembrokeshire and Dorset.

Tez Plavenieks, one of the faces behind Sitons, said: ‘The polled results make for interesting reading. The obligatory far-flung locations do indeed make the cut, but it seems many still prefer the idea of paddling closer to home.

‘The demand for sit-on-top kayaks has grown over the last few years, because launching yourself down rocky waterfalls isn’t for everyone. With a sit-on, anyone can learn the basics of kayaking and have fun in the water within minutes without the need for having to be “extreme”. They’re also safer than closed cockpit models if you capsize and durable to boot.

‘Watersports have always played a big part in boosting tourism, especially in coastal areas through the summer. With events like Paddle Round The Pier in Brighton growing every year, it’s evident that more and more people are looking to the water to have some fun.’

Other findings from the survey revealed that the top three dream kayak regions are Alaska (USA), The Rockies (Canada) and Abel Tasman National Park (NZ) with both Scotland and Wales also making the top 10.

THE second phase of the new fish processing development in Peel should get underway shortly after politicians gave unanimous approval to spending the money.

A sum of up to £1,428,000 will now be sunk into the Mill Road Yard development allowing factories totalling 1,400 square metres to be built on three new sites in the developmenet.

Environment Food and Agriculture Minister Phil Gawne MHK told members two of the sites were under offer to Manx seafood processing companies and leases had been issued by the Attorney General’s chambers. Though interest had been shown in the third plot, no deal had yet been struck as it was needed for access during the development of the first two sites, he said.

Mr Gawne said the further development would create 93 more jobs worth a total of £1.56m in wages and the tax revenue from this was worth £320,000 per year to the governemnt.

Additional rental income for the Department of Environment Food and Agriculture will be £20,000 per year.

The development will create work for the local construction industry with Manx suppliers and contractors providing 92 per cent of the project worth £1,273,988. Off-island expenditure on various peripheral items like fencing and steel mesh would be worth £112,000.

The latest phase of the development will involve new drainage systems, work on new roads and footpaths and creating car parking areas. Upgrades will be completed to the water, electricity, gas and telephone services which are not adequate for the increased burden on them. As part of the overall development work, Mr Gawne said a long standing flooding problem in Mill Road was to be addressed.

‘It is a good investment with the government supporting the generation of wealth and jobs that will in turn increase our revenue,’ he said.

Middle MHK Howard Quayle voiced disquiet at the 10 per cent level of professional fees incurred by the project.

‘Sometimes we seem to nod things through, but I think on the whole we are getting value for money. We are paying £141,000 for professional fees and it concerns me that that’s over the top. However, I will be supporting it because I feel it is a valuable project.’

Mr Gawne admitted he shared ‘some concerns’ over fees, but added: ‘Bearing in mind the complexity of refurbishing quite elderly underground infrastructure, I believe the level of fees is quite competitive compared to other government capital projects.’

For the first phase of the food park development, security cameras and fencing were installed which Mr Gawne said had addressed previous problems with fly-tipping and vandalism and allowed food processors to comply with British Retail Consortium Standards. There are currently 12 companies based at the site.

The development attracted complaints from some tenants about the cost of fencing and difficult access for lorries through the gates but Mr Gawne said most concerns had been resolved.

THE former Lieutenant Governor, Sir Laurence New, has quit his role in the church after a disagreement with the Bishop.

Today’s Isle of Man Examiner has the full story.

The paper’s main story is about the government rescue of the Sefton Group. Chief Minister Allan Bell says why he agreed to using taxpayers’ money to rescue the company.

If Tesco had kept to its original timetable and got its way, the people of Castletown would have been shopping at a branch in the town for more than a year now. The Examiner reveals the latest situation with the proposal.

On page 3, we have the touching story of a man whose girlfriend died two years ago. He has scattered her ashes in places throughout the world. Reporter Lee Brooks has more.

People in Onchan have been blaming newly-installed traffic lights for delays in the village. The Department of Infrastructure says the issue is a matter of ‘driver education’.

Sport leads with Bacchas securing the men’s title in hockey’s premier division.

After a very sad week at Isle of Man Newspapers, we include tributes to one of our own reporters, Esther Richmond, who died on Tuesday aged 84.

The Examiner is in the shops now.

THE Liberal Vannin Party has issued a statement to say why it’s opposed to the government’s Sefton Group deal

It says: ‘The recently announced deal has been met with disgust by the Liberal Vannin Party.

‘The rescue package consists of a £1,300,000 bail out to stop the Sefton from going under and the purchase of the Middlemarch site in Lord Street from the Sefton Group for £3,200,000.

‘The proposal is that the Sefton Group lease this site back from Government for five years at £160,000 per annum.’

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/govt-bail-out-struggling-sefton-group-1-5597293|Last week’s story about the Sefton bailout}

The party says: ‘This deal was completed on April 18 without the knowledge of, or input from, any MHK other than the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers.’

The party leader, Peter Karran MHK (Onchan), is to table a question in the House of Keys on Tuesday to ask for the government’s justification for its action.

He said: ‘It does not make sense. Government has no business using public funds to bail out a failing PLC.

‘The banks and the shareholders are the risk-takers and they reap the profit when times are good so they also have to take the financial hit when things go wrong.

‘What about all the smaller businesses who are in financial difficulty? We don’t see government bailing them out!

This rush to make sure the hotels are open for TT week is rubbish.

‘If the company went into liquidation/administration the financially viable parts of the group would be kept open for business whilst a buyer was found.’

The party lists a number of questions it would like to see answered.

· Why won’t the banks offer additional finance if the group is so viable particularly as it is reported to have reduced its debt from £96 million to £24 million in just three years?

· Why should the government be stepping in if professional financiers don’t have the confidence to help?

· Have they attempted to sell any of the assets themselves?

· How much is currently owed to government by the Sefton Group for ITIP, NI and VAT?

· What are the terms of the £1,300,000 loan? Is there any security?

· Where does the £1,300,000 loan rank? i.e. do the banks have the first or second charges?

· What happens if the Sefton Group fail to meet their financial obligations to government under this deal?

· When was the last time the Middlemarch site was independently valued and what was that valuation?

· Who is taking responsibility for the due diligence and the appraisal of this package?

CORINTHIANS finished their Warehouse Fitness sponsored women’s league campaign with a resounding 10-0 win over DHSOB at Ballafletcher on Sunday.

Leading 6-0 at half-time, Kiera Morgan (3), Stephanie Hall (2), Jade Burden, Anna Dillon, Sarah O’Reilly, Melissa Bell and Alsivarne McGreggor netted for the champions.

Castletown won the southern derby, defeating Colby 1-0 at Station Road courtesy of a first-half Joeanna Roney effort.

Gymnasium defeated Laxey 5-0 at Glen Road. Lauren Millar (2), Zoe Carney 2) and Elaine Wiseman netted for the Tromode outfit. It also witnessed Laxey’s final participation for the 2012-13 season after a decision was made to withdraw from league competition.

In the FA Cup quarter-final, Douglas Royal defeated Peel 7-1. Leading 4-0 at the break, Bekki Cole (3), Sarah Breen (2), Becci Pate and Kym Hicklin netted for the Whites, while the western response came via a Melissa McKnight effort.

A full round-up of all the women’s football will appear in this week’s Manx Indepdent.

A BACKBENCH MHK says he’s opposed to the Sefton bailout deal.

Alfred Cannan MHK (Michael) says the decision to use public funds to help ‘bail out’ the Sefton Group ‘is both ill-judged and fundamentally unfair to those many companies and businesses who are also struggling in a difficult economic climate’.

He said: ‘The correct course of action would have been to appoint an administrator who would have sought to run the group as a going concern until such time as a buyer or buyers were found.

‘As a result, it is highly conceivable that the hotels would have kept running through TT week and into the summer season. It was unlikely to have sent the economy into a “tailspin” as the Chief Minister claims.

‘It is fair to say that it was the management and the Directors of the Sefton Group, some of whom are still in post, who created these problems and who are responsible for sorting this out, not the public purse.’

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/govt-bail-out-struggling-sefton-group-1-5597293|Click here to read last week’s story about the Sefton deal}

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/former-lieutenant-governor-in-row-with-the-bishop-1-5603489|Click here to see the front page of today’s Isle of Man Examiner}

He added that the chief minister, Allan Bell MHK, had said he was ‘providing a statement of support to the wider economy’.

Mr Cannan said: ‘I am sure that there are many people out in the community who will feel aggrieved that the government was not there to provide direct financial support to their businesses or jobs in their hour of need.

‘Furthermore, as the government continues to cut services and increase charges and fees in a number of areas, it is hard to see how a bailout of a publicly-listed company, chaired by a former chief minister [Sir Miles Walker] and with multiple connections to government, will be seen as anything else but “cronyism” at its very worst.’

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/liberal-vannin-disgusted-by-sefton-deal-1-5603624|Click here to read the Liberal Vannin Party’s reaction to the deal}

ST George’s and St Mary’s will renew their rivalry after being drawn together in the semi-finals of this season’s BCS Hospital Cup.

Geordies booked their place in the last four courtesy of a 4-1 victory over Peel at Glencrutchery Road on Sunday evening. Chris Bass Jr was the star of the show as he grabbed a hat-trick and he was joined on the scoresheet by Calum Morrissey. Daniel Bell scored the westerners’ consolation.

St Mary’s were made to work hard for their place in the semis as they were pushed all the way by Rushen United at Croit Lowey. Jack Saxon netted for the Spaniards in the first half-half while Brian Crellin scored for the visitors to leave the tie finely poised at 1-1 going into the interval.

However, in the second half Liam Doyle, having just returned from university in America, won a penalty then converted the spot kick to send his side through.

Elsewhere, DHSOB were in rampant form as they brushed aside JCK Division Two outfit Foxdale 7-0 at Blackberry Lane. Lee Gartland and Callum Stewart led the way for the hosts with two goals apiece and they were joined on the scoresheet by Darren Hudgeon, Philip Knox and David Quirk.

Union Mills were also in lethal form in front of goal as they put lower league Douglas and District to the sword 4-0. Stephen Halsall, Chris Kelly, Steven Quine and a Joey Morling penalty did the damage for the Millers who will now travel to Old Boys in the semi-finals this Sunday.

BCS Hospital Cup semi-finals draw

Old Boys v Union Mills

St George’s v St Mary’s

Ties to be played Sunday, April 28.

-----------

Football results for Sunday, April 21

BCS Hospital Cup Quarter-Finals

Rushen 1-2 St Mary’s

Old Boys 7-0 Foxdale

St George’s 4-1 Peel

Union Mills 4-0 Douglas and District

Women’s Warehouse Fitness League

Corinthians 10-0 Old Boys

Colby 0-1 Castletown

Laxey 5-0 Gymns

Paddy Power Veteran’s FA Cup preliminary round

Ronaldsway 4-3 Corinthians

St Mary’s 3-2 Colby A

Women’s FA Cup quarter-final

Douglas Royal 7-1 Peel

Paddy Power Veterans FA Cup quarter-final draw

Braddan v RYCOB

St Mary’s v Ronaldsway

Ayre v Colby B

Peel v Foxdale

TWO of the best known voices of the the TT in recent years have been dropped from the commentating team.

Charlie Lambert and Charlie Williams will both be absent from this year’s line up when Manx Radio’s live coverage of races and practices starts on May 29.

Commenting about the decision in his blog, Mr Lambert said he was very disappointed by the decision but it had not been a major shock.

‘It’s been evident for several months that Manx Radio and the IoM Government were having difficulties reaching a deal for 2013. Money is in short supply and I’m part of the collateral damage. So is my pal Charlie Williams who is not being engaged this year.’

Over the past nine years, he has commentated on 193 races, including historic moments such as the 2007 centenary, the first 130mph lap by John Mcguinness, Hutchinson’s five TT race wins in a row, Dan Kneen’s MGP treble, the closest-ever Mountain Course finish when Craig Atkinson won the MGP Junior by one hundredth of a second and Carolynn Sells’ first victory by a woman.

He was involved in the making of Closer to the Edge, the TT documentary film, and was asked to lead the funeral of Paul Dobbs, all of which he said were a huge privilege.

‘I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me over the years,’ he said.

The announcement came as Manx Radio struck a new deal with the Department of Economic Development to broadcast the TT races as well as the Manx Grand Prix, and Classic TT races between 23 and 30 August and now branded as the Festival of Motorcycling. They will use an all Manx commentary team covering both the racing and the general festival events.

Leading the commentary team for both events will be Tim Glover with regular pit lane presenter Chris Kinley, Dave Christian at Glen Helen and Roy Moore at Ramsey Hairpin. The station will also cover the Pre TT classic races and Post TT races at Billown.

Manx Radio managing director Anthony Pugh said he was delighted to have Tim Glover as the anchor commentator for the races and Chris Kinley doing pit lane commentary as well as the morning chat shows but was disappointed to lose Mr Lambert and Mr Williams.

‘I would like to thank both, for their passionate commitment to the success of Manx Radio TT,’ he said.

A GROUND breaking agreement has been reached protecting Port St Mary’s Bay Ny Carrickey from excessive pot fishing, making it one of just two such protected areas in the British Isles.

The area is within one already protected from scallop dredging (introduced last summer) and is a by-product of that ban.

The ban on scallop dredgers attracted more pot fishermen to the area.

The same has happened in Lyme Bay, Devon, which was protected from scallop dredging in 2008, resulting in over pot fishing. Last July, fishermen and conservationists there agreed to limit the number of pots in the Lyme Bay area.

Following suit, concerned pot fishermen in Port St Mary formed Bay Ny Carrickey Crustacean Fishery Management Association a few months ago and approached the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) about imposing pot fishing limits in the area.

‘The amount of pot fishing taking place was not sustainable,’ said pot fisherman and association member Christian Clugston,

He said of the agreement, that came into force last Wednesday, ‘I am over the moon.’ He added: ‘At a time when many fishermen are worried that increases in fishing effort are putting their livelihoods at risk, we are very pleased that we are now in a position to control effort in our fishery, and ensure that it is sustainably run. We have a responsibility to ensure that we do not overfish the bay, and I am confident that the scientific monitoring that we will be undertaking ourselves, and input from independent fisheries scientists, means that we will soon be able to confirm that we are managing our fishery sustainably.’

In the agreement – which is a pilot scheme – responsibility for conservation and management of stocks in a 11 square kilometres of Bay Ny Carrickey has been handed over to local fishermen who can introduce conservation measures, such as a ban on new entrants (strictly controlled initially until scientific findings suggests otherwise) and a cap on overall fishing effort.

Seven boats (that have fished the area for at least two years) are permitted to pot fish in the protected area. Six of the boats have a limit of 100 pots and the seventh has 50 pots meaning a maximum of 650 pots will be used in the bay. The pots include five for research supplied by the DEFA that have no escape panels. Details about the size of juvenile lobsters (which are territorial, meaning they indicate the affect of the ban on the immediate area) caught in these pots will be recorded by fishermen and relayed each month to Bangor University (the scientific advisor to DEFA).

The minimum landing size (MLS) of lobsters will increase by 1mm carapace length each year, from 87mm to 90mm.

The brown crab MLS will increase – with immediate effect – from 130mm to 135mm.

‘The extra monitoring of juvenile lobsters which the fishermen have agreed to undertake, could, in time, be an invaluable data set that helps us understand the fishery better,’ said DEFA minister Phil Gawne MHK.

Mr Gawne explained why there was no consultation before the ban was introduced. ‘We wanted to see how it worked. We are going to consult over the summer, looking at this area, and there is potential for other areas to be introduced.’

Some pot fishermen excluded from fishing in the area have expressed concern to Mr Gawne, who said: ‘I can understand there are concerns, but we are not just doing this and ignoring them … had we done that [consultation before imposing the ban], the very real possibility is lobster and crab fishermen would have been fished out the bay.’

He said this pilot scheme is open to review. ‘If there are overwhelming arguments against it, we will change. It is in place until October, which is the same as the scallop closure. I would hope we will extend that and have a more lengthy period in the agreement with crab and lobster fishermen.’

The agreement indicates the island is at the forefront of creating a sustainable fishery, he said. ‘This is another example of our fishing industry developing into a mature custodian of the marine environment, rather than taking the short term view. We will be carefully monitoring the success of this venture, which I hope in due course becomes a template for other Manx fishermen to take on responsibility for their own fisheries.’

He added: ‘It is visionary.’

A PUBLIC meeting to discuss the issue of dog mess in Peel will take place this week.

It will be held at the Corrin Hall, in the grounds of St German’s Cathedral, on Wednesday, April 24, at 7pm.

Peel Town Commissioners agreed to a public meeting after concerned residents attended the commissioners’ public meetings.

A group of residents turned up at a meeting and voiced their concerns to commissioners in the recess, following the public part of the meeting.

Residents are fed up with dog walkers who leave their animals’ mess and therefore spoil the beauty and enjoyment of the town.

The commissioners employ a town warden who can issue fixed penalty fines to dog owners for not cleaning up after their dog.

But the board only has finite resources to plough into more measures to tackle the issue and instead are keen to work with the community of Peel to find a solution.

All nine commissioners will be at the meeting and are happy to discuss suggestions on how to tackle the continuing problem.

Meanwhile, at the meeting the commissioners will also discuss the need for dog bags.

Currently, the town hall gives away the bags free of charge to dog walkers, but the supply has run out.

Whether people will have to pay for the bags will be discussed, commissioner Kate Felton stated that she had spoken to people who wouldn’t mind paying for the dog bags.

Commissioner Alan Jones stated that he hoped the commissioners would buy a further stock of the dog bags while seeking the public’s opinion on the matter.

Commissioner Ian Davison agreed with Mr Jones.

NEDBANK Private Wealth, which changed its name from Fairbairn Private Bank in October last year, announced a strong year of growth for 2012 and encouraging continued growth levels into the first quarter of 2013.

Year-on-year profit in the bank after tax was up 33 per cent in 2012, but when one-off revenue factors are excluded underlying year-on-year profit growth still remains impressive at 15 per cent.

The business continues to see strong new business flows with double-digit percentage growth in the number of new client accounts during 2012. Greg Horton, managing director of Nedbank Private Wealth, said: ‘It is very pleasing to see that the strong progress made in 2012 has continued through into 2013.’

Mr Horton reported that total holdings on its award-winning integrated banking and investment platform, Focus, were continuing to grow strongly and were up a further 6 per cent in the first quarter of 2013, having comfortably passed through the £2 billion (US$3 billion) mark for the first time.

He sees the driver for this growth as being the bank’s consistent profile of success and its strong reputation for integrity and excellence of client service: ‘We have never lost sight of the fact we exist to serve our clients, not ourselves, and, throughout these difficult economic times, our commitment and passion has never wavered in this regard.

‘Our offering and execution has remained strong throughout and as wealth managers and bankers to our clients, we have continued to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns and provided a secure home for their wealth.’

The vast majority of new accounts are emanating from existing client referrals across its six different geographic locations.

Its winning formula has already been endorsed by independent market analysis and, so far this year, the business has won: a maximum three stars, designated ‘extraordinary’, from the UK Best Companies Accreditation; a remarkable straight ninth-year listing within the Sunday Times sponsored Best 100 Small Companies to Work For; two Euromoney Private Banking Awards and the Wealth Adviser title of ‘Best Private Bank for Channel Islands and Isle of Man’.

IT may be a well-travelled fundraising adventure these days, but that shouldn’t diminish the challenge ahead of friends Hayley Phillips and Bernie Dempsey, the latest Manx contingent to tackle the imposing slopes of Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro.

The giant 5,895 peak is Africa’s largest free-standing mountain, and dwarfs our own Snaefell, which clocks in at an altogether more modest 610 metres.

There’s another mountain to climb before Hayley and Bernie touch down in Tanzania though, as more than a year’s worth of fundraising for the island’s children’s hospice kicks of with a charity quiz at Douglas bar The Outback next Monday (April 29).

There are less daunting ways to raise money for charity, but Hayley, 27, of Colby, and Bernie, 28, of Douglas, said the timing felt like ‘now or never’ to take on Kilimanjaro.

‘We’re going October next year, but we are starting fundraising for Rebecca House this year,’ said Hayley. ‘We have a close friend with a daughter who goes to Rebecca House, we believe the work they do is inspirational.’

She added: ‘They are a strong support network for the families during both day to day and difficult times. We could not think of a better cause to support.’

Trekking to the summit, more than 19,000ft above sea level, will take place over seven days. Temperatures at altitude, even in equatorial Africa, will drop well below freezing.

‘We will face several challenges on a daily basis – namely sharing a tent with each other – but more seriously the likes of altitude sickness and long days, the summit day alone being 14 hours of trekking,’ said Hayley, who has taken to regular running and swimming.

‘We have been out for a few training walks, we’ll probably go away too and do some training,’ she added. ‘Bernie does absolutely loads of walking anyway, but our first big walk will be on Saturday.’

Monday’s quiz will be hosted by Douglas mayor David Ashford.

Starting at 7pm, it costs £5 to enter, which includes food provided by the Outback – where Bernie works part time – so all money goes directly to charity. Aside from the quiz, there will be some good raffle prizes on offer.

‘Local businesses have been absolutely amazing. Sure gave a mobile phone. Regency Travel and the Glen Helen Inn have donated overnight stays at the hotel,’ explained Hayley.

For tickets call Hayley on 365040 or Bernie on 348812, or sponsor them online at www.justgiving.com/Hayley-PhillipsBernie-Dempsey

THE Office of Fair Trading is investigating the scale of problem of pay day loans in the island.

Chief Minister Allan Bell revealed that the Council of Ministers would consider whether a change in law was needed to prevent pay day loan companies charging extortionate interest rates.

The issue was raised in Tynwald by Liberal Vannin leader Peter Karran MHK (Onchan) who asked, in view of the increase in pay day loans, if the Chief Minister would bring forward legislation to ‘prescribe a maximum percentage rate for loans whose repayment can be enforced through the courts’.

Mr Bell replied: ‘We are aware of the publicity on this subject currently being generated in the UK and are working with the Office of Fair Trading to assess the extent to which there is a similar problem on the island, and if so, the nature and scale of that problem. In that context, Council will make an evidence-based policy decision as to whether legislative change is required, and if so, the nature of such legislative change.’

Mr Karran asked for a time-scale for possible legislative changes and pointed out that pay day loan companies were already operating in the island. He recalled the time when the island had a big issues with loan sharks.

He said: ‘We are now going into a difficult time for a large section of our community, and this is when the likes of loan sharks and the likes of pay day loans will flourish. That is why there is a need for us to actually get on with sorting this issue out.’

John Houghton (Douglas North) suggested pay day loans were already a ‘great problem’. He said publicity was needed to warn people of the risks.

Mr Bell replied: ‘We do not have a specific timetable to work to at the moment, other than to recognise there potentially could be a problem here and that the OFT, in conjunction with council, will be working as quickly as possible to identify whether there is a problem and what sort of solution would be appropriate.’

CHIEF Minister Allan Bell this morning made a statement to the House of Keys on the Sefton Group bailout.

He was speaking after Liberal Vannin leader Peter Karran MHK (Onchan) asked him to speak on the matter.

Last week, the government agreed to spend taxpayers’ money to keep the hotel group afloat.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/govt-bail-out-struggling-sefton-group-1-5597293|Click here to read the original story}

The Liberal Vannin Party subsequently released a statement opposing the move. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/liberal-vannin-disgusted-by-sefton-deal-1-5603624|Click here to read it}

Other MHKs have also voiced opposition.

Mr Bell’s statement is reproduced below in full.

There will be more on this story in Thursday’s Manx Independent.

‘In the absence of the Economic Development Minister on government business, I and the Treasury Minister gave a presentation on Friday to Members of Tynwald on the reasons for Council of Ministers’ decision to support the Sefton Group. However, I am happy to set out the reasons again now.

‘After careful consideration of the facts, Council of Ministers agreed that support for the group is in the national interest for three key reasons.

‘Firstly, the core business is profitable, sustainable and provides vital hotel accommodation. The Sefton Group represents around a quarter of all hotel beds in the Island and nearly half of all 4-star accommodation – so there can be little doubt this business plays a key role in the visitor economy, which remains a key part of the Island’s economy as a whole. Also detailed financial information from the Group show its hotels are profitable and should remain so as a result of this re-structuring. So this can in no way be characterised as putting public funds into a failing business. Rather, this is government playing a role in the Group’s wider re-structuring to ensure this important business continues to play a key role in our economy for years to come.

‘Secondly, the failure of such a high-profile local business could also adversely affect wider business and consumer confidence, causing further economic and fiscal contraction.

‘Off-island, confidence of both tourist and business visitors would be adversely affected, causing them to change or even cease travel plans to the Isle of Man. In the run-up to TT, the adverse publicity and economic impact could have been very negative.

‘On-island, while the economy as a whole continues to grow, we must recognise that many local businesses and their workers are struggling, so a high-profile business failure could cause businesses and consumers to reduce spending. This could have caused significant further harm to both the economy and government income.

‘Thirdly, if the Sefton Group were to cease trading, this could result in many job losses as well as substantial losses to many local creditors (including government), which could lead to further job losses. The Sefton Group typically employs over 300 people directly and spends over £7m annually in our economy. I understand the group owes approximately £1.7m to local private creditors, so if the Sefton Group were to cease trading it would have been highly likely that some local businesses would have incurred substantial losses, leading to further job losses and business closures on the Island.

‘As a result, the total cost to the economy and to government revenues would in all likelihood have been significantly greater than the direct cost of the failure of the group.

‘Some have suggested that the group could have been placed into receivership and then acquired by another business so that only the Sefton’s shareholders would have borne any losses. Anyone with experience of receiverships will know that this is an over-optimistic simplification. In all likelihood, any acquirer would seek to cherry-pick the best assets with no obligation to honour all debts. Receiverships are costly and complicated so in all likelihood such a route would have involved substantial costs to customers of the Group as well as the economy and government revenues.

‘Based on all the information available, Council therefore agreed to participate in a deal which enabled Sefton to continue to trade, while taking all available measures to minimising the risk to public funds.

‘It is important to note that government is playing a relatively minor but key role in the total re-structuring which has allowed the Sefton Group to reduce its borrowings by approximately £72m to £24m. As a result, creditors, customers and the wider community can have far greater confidence in the Sefton Group than prior to the re-structuring.

‘The Middlemarch site has been acquired for £3.2 million from the land acquisition reserve and the Sefton Group has leased it back over the next five years with a provision to purchase the site after that period for the purchase price plus inflation. In addition, the group has been provided with an interest-bearing loan of £1.3 million from the Economic Development Fund. In this manner government should recover the full £4.5 million.

‘As I said at the outset, I provided all of this information to honourable members at the briefing on Friday. I have also provided this information to the media to enable the public to understand why this action was in our national economic interest. I trust that addresses the honourable member’s question.’

DOUGLAS hotelier Michael George won the 50km Sara Killey memorial walk in mixed conditions on Sunday.

The Manx Harriers man completed the northern sector of the Parish Walk course in a time of 4hr 40min 30sec to cross the line 34sec in front of last year’s joint Parish winner Richard Gerrard.

There was a tie for first place in the women’s event with Maureen Moffatt and Sue Biggart crossing the finish line outside Ramsey fire station joint 12th in a time of 5:40.25.

The event started in damp conditions at 8.30am from Peel fire station and by the time the bulk of 148 competitors reached the second fire station at Kirk Michael (roughly 10km) conditions were extremely wet.

By mid-morning on the Ballaugh to Bride coastal stretch, conditions had dried up considerably, and by the finish at Ramsey the sun was out and the temperature was very pleasant.

The day raised in excess of £3,000 for the Fire Fighters Charity, for which Isle of Man Fire and Rescue chief Kevin Groom thanks everyone who took part for supporting the event.

Leading results, Sarah Killey Firemen’s Walk (50km) Sunday: 1, Michael George 4hr 40min 30sec; 2, Richard Gerrard 4:41.04; 3, Vinny Lynch 4:54.52; 4, Jock Waddington 4:54.53; 5, Dave Walker 5:02.04; 6, Terry Moffat 5:11.30; 7, Brian Wade 5:23.37; 8, Chris Cale 5:25.23; 9, Simon Briggs 5:27.03; 10, Michael Bonney 5:28.22; 11, Dale Farquhar 5:28.23; 12=, Maureen Moffatt and Sue Biggart 5:40.25.

l Full report and pictures in Thursday’s Manx Independent.

IOMA Group Bacchas A retained the Wi-Manx Men’s Premier Division title with a draw against title rivals Paragon Valkyrs A at the National Sports Centre on Saturday afternoon.

Despite chances for both sides, neither team was able to breach the other’s defence.

The Tromode side won the title on goals scored as they ended the season level on both points and head-to-heads. Valkyrs will now be looking for revenge in this weekend’s Wi-Manx Cup final.

Manx Telecom Vikings B ensured their top flight status remains with a 5-0 victory over Paragon Valkyrs B to condemn the westerners to relegation. Two goals apiece from Adam Braidwood and Steve Underwood, plus a strike from captain Ian Perry proved enough for Vikings.

The points were shared between Celton Manx Castletown A and IOMA Group Bacchas B. Goals from Christian Steriopulos, Steve Ronan and Sven Lindeque for Castletown were cancelled out by strikes from Tony Bentley-Roberts, Richard Le Page and Chris Bass for Bacchas.

Manx Telecom Vikings A claimed a 4-1 victory over CM Skye Ramsey A. Two goals apiece from Jonny Killey and Andy Harding were the difference for Vikings. Matt Grice was the only Ramsey player to find the net, scoring from a penalty corner.

Wi-Manx Men’s Division One

Celton Manx Castletown B continued their good run of form with a 6-0 victory over Paragon Valkyrs C.

Mark Castle opened the scoring for Castletown from a well-worked penalty corner. Graeme Brown netted a hat-trick before goals from Robin Masson and Brown again rounded off the scoring. Mike Flowers had the best chance for Valkyrs but put his shot narrowly wide.

Fearless Saracens were 3-1 winners over CM Skye Ramsey B. A single goal from Phil Riley and two from Steve Cottier saw the points go to Saracens. No details of the Ramsey scorers were received.

IOMA Group Bachas C were narrow 5-4 winners over Manx Telecom Vikings C. Chris Hill led the way for Bacchas with a hat-trick. Ashley Sandyford-Sykes and Matt Garrett with his first goal added further strikes. Vikings replied through Ian Duggua with two and single goals from Matthew Mey and Dave Elliot.

IOMA Group Bacchas Colts moved to the top of the Wi-Manx Men’s Division One with a 3-1 victory over HQ Harlequins. Goals from Freddie Hall, Josh Riordan and Tom Evans ensured the points for Bacchas. Nick Hamer was the only Harlequins player to find the net.

Wi-Manx Women’s Premier Division

Manx Telecom Vikings A ended the season with their unbeaten record intact following a 7-0 win over Celton Manx Castletown A.

Captain Kim Carney led the way for Vikings with four goals and she was joined on the scoresheet by Louise Slater, Zoe Carney and Katie Errock.

IOMA Group Bacchas A secured the runners-up spot in the Wi-Manx Women’s Premier Division with a 2-1 victory over Paragon Valkyrs A. Two goals from Sam Franklin sealed the win for the Tromode side while Andrea Kneen was the only Valkyrs player to find the net.

IOMA Group Bacchas B were 5-3 victors over Celton Manx Castletown B. Alice Bowen top scored for the Tromode side with a hat-trick, Niamh Goddard and Fay Wilcox adding further goals. Lauren Jones, Hazel Knowles and Rebecca Jacobs found the net for Castletown.

CM Skye Ramsey A claimed a 4-0 victory over Paragon Valkyrs B thanks to two goals from Christina Kermeen and single strikes from Ellen Robinson and Alex Callow for the northerners.

Wi-Manx Women’s Division One

Paragon Valkyrs C secured the Wi-Manx Women’s Division One title and promotion to the top flight of women’s hockey with a 4-1 victory over CM Skye Ramsey B.

Goals from Rebecca Tully, Hannah Hesselton, Carol Whitelegg and Kaitlyn Shimmin proved enough for the westerners. No details of the Ramsey scorer were received.

Manx Telecom Vikings B were 7-1 victors over Manx Telecom Vikings C. Jan Carney led the way for Vikings B with a hat-trick, she was joined on the score sheet by Sacha Duchars with two and single strikes from Beckie O’Brien and Chelsea Bawden. Daisy McGarrigle was the only player to find the net for the Vikings’ third string.

Honours ended even between Celton Manx Castletown C and HQ Harlequins. Kay Hullock opened the scoring for Castletown before a second-half equaliser from Ali Hird.

Wi-Manx Mixed Under-16s

IOMA Group Bacchas A extended their lead at the top of the Wi-Manx Mixed Under-16s with a 5-1 victory over Manx Telecom Vikings. Two goals from Sam Riordan and strikes from James Harrison, Harry Corlett and Sophie Hudson proved enough for the Tromode side. Brandon Parker was the only Vikings player to find the net.

Celton Manx Castletown put IOMA Group Bacchas B to the sword with an 11-2 victory. Robin Masson netted five for Castletown, Bevan Rodd scored twice with single strikes from Lucy Allen, Anya Watterson, Anna Munro and George Powell. Bacchas replied through Callum Robb and Georgia Perry.

CM Skye Rogues and Rascals scored eight times and maintained a clean sheet in their victory over HQ Harlequins. Aaron Bell top scored for the northerners with a hat-trick. He was joined on the scoresheet by Toby Wiltcher with two, plus single strikes from Will Greenbank, Leah Morgan and Sophie Stoutt.

THE Isle of Man is to host an open 100 mile walk in early August, sponsored by Tower Insurance and incorporating the Race Walking Association (RWA) National Long Distance Championships.

It will take place over the National Sports Centre perimeter road, beginning at midday on Saturday, August 3.

The RWA long distance championships have been held in the island twice before in the recent past, one of which was incorporated into the Parish Walk.

Entries for this year’s event will be £30 and can be made online at www.isle ofman100milewalk.co.uk

The number of entries is limited and the closing date for applications is midnight on July 19.

If 100 miles is too much for you, perhaps consider the 20-mile Starlight Stroll around the same circuit, starting at 10pm on August 3. The entry fee for that event is £15 via the same website.

For further details or any enquiries regarding the Tower Insurance Isle of Man Open 100 mile Walking Association (RWA) National Long Distance Championships contact Steve Taylor on 347232, or email 100@manx.net

No fewer than 46 Isle of Man residents or Manx-born walkers have achieved ‘centurion’ status by walking 100 miles in under 24 hours.

Retired postman John Cannell, who has entered this year’s event, is the fourth quickest centurion of all time (third Briton as one of the walkers ahead of him is Irish). John won the National 100 title in 1987.

Race organiser and London Olympic Games chief judge for race walking, Steve Taylor, commented: ‘I first met JC as he is better and more affectionately known when I became involved in race walking in about 1980.

‘He was already a centurion from back in 1966 and a winner of the Parish Walk in 1976, but it was in 1981 that he won the first of what became an historic hat-trick of wins in the Parish Walk.

‘Yes, others have done it since, but JC was the first, setting the benchmark for others.

‘Having secured the hat-trick, he took victory again in 1993 and 1994 to take his total number of wins to six, more than anyone else.’

Other locals who feature prominently in the all-time list include Derek Harrison, Graham Young, Irene Corlett, Willie Corkill, Sean Hands and Jock Waddington.

THE boss of a rival to the Sefton Group has criticised the government’s decision to prop up the indebted hotel group.

Mark Wilson, managing director of Sleepwell Hotels Group, said: ‘This intervention into the private sector has very clear negative implications for the Isle of Man hospitality sector (and others), both in terms of operations and also the ability to secure future private investment.

‘Sleepwell Hotels, as part of a diversified global asset portfolio, operates a business with over 200 beds on the Isle of Man, a similar number in the UK, as well as restaurants, bars, a nightclub and event facilities. In the Isle of Man, Sleepwell Hotels considers its natural competitor to be the Sefton Group.

However, the differences are obvious. Sleepwell Hotels has invested over £30 million into Douglas Promenade in recent years and its beneficial owner, Jim Mellon, has displayed an unparalleled track record of active support for the wider Isle of Man economy and community.

‘The Government, in return, has created for us a biased and dysfunctional commercial environment, with unfair competition making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for Sleepwell Hotels to trade profitably in the future.

‘The Sefton Group is now free, with its Government support, to undertake a policy of anti-competitive discounting and uncapped re-investment secure in the knowledge that the Government will have to support its underwriting.

‘Further, to make sense of the intervention, the Sefton Group will presumably also be the sole beneficiary of the significant volume of annual government hotel and hospitality business - handed over with no transparent due process.

He added that before the government’s Sefton Group intervention, Sleepwell Hotels was happy to continue investment into its bed-stock.

The Claremont, which is in the third phase of a £2 million refurbishment, now provided an international standard and fit for purpose 4-star-plus business hotel he said.

Mr Wilson added: ‘Sleepwell Hotels’ parent company demonstrated its commitment to the island by tendering to re-develop the former bus station on Lord Street, Douglas, only for the contract to be awarded to another party. There is now little, if any, rationale for further investment into our hotels on the Island.

‘The government’s actions will undoubtedly have a detrimental effect upon the large number of local businesses that are engaged in competition with the Sefton Group across various sectors. At a time that many companies and individuals toil to succeed in a difficult economic climate, the government has rendered that struggle all the greater by favouring one enterprise over many.’