Martin Kennaugh, manager of aviation services for the Douglas-based ICM Group, has won the prestigious ICSA Trident Trust Award for Excellence for the year 2012/13.

ICSA is the membership and qualifying body for board and company secretaries, in-house lawyers and other professionals working in governance and compliance roles.

This particular award is given to the Isle of Man based graduate on the Chartered Secretaries Qualifying Scheme (CSQS) to obtain the highest overall results each year. This scheme provides a broad skills base in law, finance and strategy, with a particular focus on governance, corporate law and compliance.

Martin was pleasantly surprised at winning the award and said: ‘It is gratifying to receive such recognition when you put so much time and effort in to professional development. As everyone knows, working full time and studying at the same time can be a struggle. We are fortunate at ICM that we are actively encouraged to study and are supported throughout. So thank you to ICM and of course ICSA Isle of Man for recognising my hard work.’

Sarah Fry, director for the ICM Group of Companies with responsibility for HR, learning and professional development said: ‘This award is a fantastic achievement for Martin and confirms his commitment to continually improving and enhancing his professional profile. Martin’s qualifications together with his sector knowledge are an invaluable asset to the ICM Aviation team.’

A group of Manx members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made a day-trip to the LDS temple in Chorley, Lancashire, to watch ‘A British Pageant’, which was held over nine evenings in the Temple grounds.

This was the first time an LDS pageant, modelled after the pageants held annually in America, has been held in Britain, and only the second time a church pageant was held anywhere outside North America.

Tickets were free and every seat pre-booked months ago. Over the nine days a cast and choir of over three hundred volunteers and many others working ‘backstage’ entertained thousands of excited visitors.

The woman who wrote and directed the pageant served a mission for the church in the island in 2003.

The theme, as the title suggests, is the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (The Mormons) in Britain and the contribution Britain has made to religious freedom over the centuries.

Building on the accomplishments of such historical figures as John Wycliffe and William Tyndale, the pageant tells the story of British Latter-day Saints who have sacrificed so much to build their faith and strengthen their communities.

The first Mormon missionary to Britain was Heber C. Kimball who arrived in Liverpool in 1837. When he first set foot in Liverpool in 1837 he found a political rally in full progress with the slogan ‘Truth Shall Prevail’.

Sensing the significance of the moment, he used the words as his rallying cry.

Four years later John Taylor arrived in Douglas on the Liverpool boat to spread the word to the island.

John Taylor was born in Milnthorpe, Westmoreland, emigrated to Canada as a Methodist lay preacher and while there met and married Leonora Cannon, who was born in, and lived her early adult years in, Peel.

They converted to the LDS church and later John was sent on a mission to England, from where he eventually brought the ‘restored gospel’ to his wife’s homeland.

John Taylor went on to become the prophet/president of the church and, with Leonora by his side, the only non-American to date to be so.

From those first missionary efforts hundreds of Manx converts also emigrated to America and they and their descendants have become instrumental in the growth of the church there and further afield.

Over the years five, from the Cannon and Cowley family, became apostles.

Others played significant parts in the development of the early church.

Many also became notable in secular and political matters in America, among whom were mayors, congressmen, judges and state senators.

John Thomas Caine was largely responsible for Utah gaining statehood.

George Cannon made death masks of, and coffins for, the the church’s founder, Joseph Smith.

The 19th century policy of gathering church members to America resulted in the decimation of the church in the island and for the first half of the 20th century no LDS church existed here.

The picture shows some of the members underneath the banner at the entrance to the pageant grounds.

When Sally Adams’ son was referred to the Pre-school Assessment Centre in Pulrose she was happy to find it’s full of people who nurture the children and give parents the support and guidance they need.

At four-years-old, Sally’s son Sebastian could only say about 20 words and was still in nappies.

Following their support, he has just started in the reception class at Bunscoill Rhumsaa and is putting his difficulties behind him.

Sally, who lives in Ramsey, urged parents with a child they were concerned about to ‘address the issue, be persistent and keep pushing until you have the support and the guidance which we are fortunate in the Isle of Man to have’.

Sally’s experience has changed her views on children with special needs.

‘I changed from being a person who never gave a thought to the plight of children with special needs to admiring the love and devotion of parents who make tremendous sacrifices for their children to guide them towards a life which they will be able to achieve the best they possibly can.’

But she said there is still ‘immense prejudice’ in society from those who are afraid of special needs, particularly in the playground.

The specialist staff at the Pre-school Assessment Centre teach parents how to cope by giving them strategies and procedures which deal with the behavioural difficulties.

Parents then take what they have learned and develop their own way of handling their child which works.

Sally said: ‘Life suddenly gets better and when you understand how your child is thinking and what he does understand and what is too much for him to take in.

‘Then you can adjust the language you use to make your words meaningful then you get a child who is no longer battling and starts improving.’

‘If you are just beginning on this journey then look forward to it, make the best of it and follow this opportunity given to you. Sometimes the staff will say things which you don’t like. This does not make them wrong, try out their suggestions and watch your child improve.’

Sally said in the supermarket a compassionate attitude from shoppers would be much better than a mumbled comment such as ‘That child needs a good smack’.

She urged shoppers who see a parent struggling with a child to offer help, or even just say hello to the child as often the face of a stranger will calm the situation down and restore order.

‘A kind word rather than a mumbled comment will help that mother or father who will be making sacrifices daily for their child and probably suffering with lack of sleep and daily battles which unless you have experienced you will not comprehend,’ she said.

The Manx Eating Disorders Support Group is holding an open night for both sufferers and carers next week.

The event takes place on Wednesday, September 18, from 6pm-8pm, at Keyll Darree Nurse Education Centre, opposite Noble’s Hospital, Braddan.

A brief talk will start the event, and this will be followed by the chance to speak, in the strictest of confidence, to a member of the group.

The charity was launched in 2011 to offer help to both men and women with eating disorders or eating difficulties, in various stages of their illness and recovery, through a self-help support group.

It was launched by Donna Whalley and Georgie Shelley, and they have recently been joined by Liz Partridge.

The group is run within the guidelines and standards of Beat, the UK eating disorder charity, and is part of the Beat UK-wide self-help network. It’s also planning to form a carers’ support group to help those supporting people with eating disorders and difficulties.

For more information, contact 330922 (evenings and weekends) or email manxeds@hotmail.co.uk

A major development comprising 88 homes and four commercial units, on land opposite Tesco, in Douglas, has been refused planning permission.

Heritage Homes Ltd submitted its application (09/01386/B) in 2009 for the development at the former sawmill and timber yard between the River Douglas and Lake Road.

It included 88 two-bedroom flats and duplexes in five buildings as well as 117 car parking spaces in the basement. But refusing the application, planners were concerned the development could pose an ‘unacceptable risk in terms of on-site and/or off-site flooding’.

The Water and Sewerage Authority said the site was in a ‘high risk zone’ and the car park would be ‘very unsafe’.

Planners also raised concerns the road network would not be able to safely accommodate the traffic generated.

Following discussion with the highways division, Heritage Homes had made provisions for this, including widening the carriageway at Banks Circus, but because the road is in a conservation area, planning permission would be required.

The bid was found to be contrary to the Isle of Man Strategic Plan because no affordable housing was provided and there was not the necessary recreational and amenity space.

The site is used as a car park, pending redevelopment. Heritage Homes was given approval in principle for a residential development of flats in 2006.

A union leader claims government plans to scrap the Whitley Council - the pay negotiating body for public sector manual workers - is already a done deal.

But the Office of Human Resources has insisted that no formal decision has yet been made by the Council of Ministers and indeed no report will go to CoMin until after the summer recess.

Jonty Arkell, who is chairman of the employees’ side of Whitley Council, has accused Chief Minister Allan Bell of announcing in a radio interview that the Whitley Council would be ‘done away with’ - and questioned why the unions and the staff they represent had not been informed first.

Under the proposals a single employing authority for government staff will be created, replacing both the Civil Service Commission and the Whitley Council which negotiated pay body for some 2,500 public sector manual and craft workers.

In his interview on Manx Radio, Mr Bell said: ‘Later this year we are going to be in the process of setting up a new employing authority altogether, the Public Services Commission.’

He said this would merge civil servants and Whitley manual workers in a new body with terms and conditions reviewed ‘in due course’.

Mr Arkell, who had urged workers to take part in the public consultation process, said: ‘The unions expected to be informed first - not the population on the Isle of Man in a radio interview.

‘I’ve not been informed, Unite knew nothing about it. The public consultation meant nothing. Why are the people directly involved being so obviously denigrated? We don’t do anything without due democratic process.’

Consultation on the proposal to establish a Public Services Commission was launched at the beginning of May by the Civil Service Commission under the government’s Agenda for Change programme.

The Chief Minister says the existing structure is ‘not fit for purpose’ and he has described Whitley Council as ‘anachronism’.

But Mr Arkell rejected the accusation that Whitley was not prepared to change with the times.

He said: ‘We’ve proved him wrong. We agreed a pay freeze with the guarantee of no job losses until 2014. That has actually saved the jobs of people who would have been made redundant. This demonstrates our capacity to be reasonable and realistic.

‘But how does Mr Bell repay us? By announcing to the entire nation without any communication that this is a done deal.’

He said the rightful place for any announcement on the future of Whitley Council would have been the next meeting of the industrial relations forum later this month.

But a spokesman for the Office of Human Resources said the process had not yet got to that stage.

He said the public consultation was originally due to close on May 31 but was extended by a fortnight following a request by the employees’ side of Whitley Council.

‘The consultation responses are being reviewed and there are quite a number. Consultation responses should be published withing three months so we expected that to be done soon,’ he said. ‘At this point, no report has gone to CoMin. That will happen after the summer recess. Then it will be a matter for CoMin to decide as to the best way forward. No formal decision has yet been made.’

Following Chief Minister Allan Bell’s comments that allowing children to become fat could be tantamount to abuse, the island’s sport development manager is hoping for continued investment in physical activity schemes.

Mr Bell’s comments in turn followed the release of Department of Health figures suggesting more than a fifth of all five-year-olds in the island are obese or overweight.

Manx Sport and Recreation’s sport development manager Paul Bridson said he believes obesity is ‘spiralling out of control’, and the knock on costs to the health service, workforce and other areas are burdens that are increasing dramatically.

The Physical Activity on Referral Scheme for adults (over 16s) and its junior counterpart Fit for the Future now allows health professionals to prescribe exercise, rather than medication or therapy, for a range of weight-related ailments. Since its inception 18 months ago the scheme has provided free supervised 12-week programmes for around 600 adult referrals and 100 children.

‘We’re trying to beat the drum that by investing in physical activity, the long term savings can be significant,’ said Mr Bridson. ‘The kids come in two or three times a week. They tend not be involved in PE classes or a sports club because of being bullied. Their life is very sedentary. Some don’t learn to swim because they don’t like how their body looks.

‘We give them opportunities in a safe environment, it’s positive and encouraging to improve confidence, and to start to make physical activity the norm.’

He listed successes including a girl who lost four stone, who had been skipping PE at school, and now goes out for regular walks. Levels of people keeping up some form of exercise after completing the scheme are reportedly around 90 per cent.

‘There is a woman who was on a waiting list for a gastric band,’ added Paul. ‘She has lost so much weight through the scheme she’s off the list because she doesn’t need the surgery, surgery that probably would’ve cost the best part of £30,000.’

The adult scheme makes use of existing facilities and sessions, though Fit for the Future includes tailor made initiatives.

‘In summer we took the kids on a Snaefell challenge, and a ramble on the old railway lines. It’s all about fun,’ said Paul.

The junior scheme is funded by the departments of Community, Culture and Leisure; Education; Health and Social Care.

Mr Bridson said: ‘The scheme’s in its infancy, but the departments realise it ties in with their own objectives.

‘The adult scheme is 100 per cent funded by the Department of Health. They give us the money, we deliver the programme. We want this to continue. All we can keep doing is keep providing the evidence that this works.’

St John’s maintained their unbeaten start to the new Canada Life Premier League campaign thanks to a 1-1 draw with Laxey on Saturday.

The Johnners should have perhaps claimed all three points on offer from the encounter at Mullen-e-Cloie after enjoying three or four good chances to score a late second goal in the top-flight fixture’s final 10 minutes.

However, the westerners’ touch deserted them in front of goal and Nick Hurt’s side had to make do with a point from a game that had looked likely to end in draw after Mark Wolfenden and Craig Dolman had traded first-half strikes.

Both teams struggled to get a real grasp of the ball in the tie’s early stages as a muted and even match unfolded that was in stark contrast to the fireworks of last time these two met at Glen Road in March.

With the Miners’ unable to turn possession into ammunition for their new-look front three of Wolfenden, Ashley Webster and Michael Fernandes, the Saints enjoyed a good spell at the other end of the pristine Johnners’ surface midway through the opening 45.

Midfield maestro Hurt fired a free-kick from distance narrowly over before John Wrigley headed wide Nick Leung’s deep cross from the right.

United captain Ste Glover then got in on the act forcing Laxey keeper Andy Perry into two good saves in the space of three minutes. First the former island attacker stung the Glen Road number one’s palms with a stinging shot before forcing the ex-Ramsey man to tip another well-struck effort round the post.

Just after the half-hour mark, however, it was Derek Melville and Keith Brown’s visitors that broke the deadlock when Darryl Haslett’s corner from the left found John Callow on the edge of the area. The latter’s goal-bound strike found Wolfenden in the box who poked home from a matter of yards.

The Miners’ lead last barely a couple of minutes as United conjured up an almost instant riposte when Dolman converted Hurt’s deep free-kick.

St John’s pressed for a second at the end of the half, but the closest they would get was Glover’s goalward stab that was cleared off the line after the Saints striker had beaten Perry to Haggerdon’s cross from the left.

Laxey began the second half on the front foot and Johnners’ keeper Damyan Petkov had to be alert to tip away Paul Rowley’s low driven shot that skipped off the wet turf.

Callow then sent a header narrowly ashy after he met Darryl Haslett’s free-kick to the near post.

Another lull in goalmouth action followed as both sides cancelled each other out in a scrappy second 45.

Johnny Holland tried his best to liven up proceedings when he embarked on a determined run from his left back berth, but the St John’s man could only fire over as the scores remained level.

Cue the Saints’ final 10-minute bombardment on the Miners’ goal. First Haggerdon’s fizzing shot was parried by Perry, Andrew Chadwick firing wide the rebound with the goal at his mercy.

Haggerdon was then presented with a golden opportunity to claim his side’s second of the afternoon after he was teed up by Hurt, but he shot over the bar, again letting the Miners off the hook.

Another two good chances fell to Glover, but on each occasion he shot off-target as the visitors held out for a point.

Team check

St John’s: Damyan Petkov, Craig Dolman, Nick Leung, Sam Ingham, Johnny Holland, John Wrigley, Nick Hurt, Andrew Chadwick, Callum Taggart, Stephen Glover, John Haggerdon.

Laxey: Andy Perry, Michael Haslett, Ryan Williamson, Alan Harrison, Darryl Haslett, John Callow, Johnny Shields, Paul Rowley, Michael Fernandes, Ashley Webster, Mark Wolfenden.

Referee: David Murphy

Assistants: Neskho Marinov and Stuart Kneen

Booked: Williamson, Fernandes (Laxey).

Man of the Match: Holland (St John’s) - the Saints’ number five produced a typically determined performance from left-back

Match rating: 2*

Round 11 of the Moto Syko Pit Bike Racing Association series, sponsored by Bushys, took place on the JCK kart track at Jurby last week.

The mini motos provided much entertainment as Rhys Callister (aged eight) and Reece Hall (nine) duked it out on track.

A nasty spill in qualifying knocked the confidence of Callister in the earlier races, but he was soon back up to speed for the final.

Hall got a great start, but he was soon passed by the championship leader. Callister extended his lead and took the win by 1.29 seconds.

In the pit bike Evo class, James Comish took another hard-fought win to extend his lead in the championship. Alex Hollingsworth started on pole, but Comish followed closely and took the lead on lap six.

Hollingsworth fought back, but by lap seven had to drop out with engine failure, leaving Comish to bag full points.

David Carter finished a steady ride in third with Thomas Spiers fourth. Toby Marshall had been running well but a spill in the final stages of the race saw him sidelined for the rest of the race.

There was no let up from the two riders going head-to-head in the stock 140 pit bike championship.

Rob Vowles and Dave Gilbert shared the honours in the opening two races, but it was Vowles that took the glory in the final, closing the gap in the series to four points.

James Moore could well be the spanner in the works, knocking seconds off his lap times and putting in three very impressive rides to finish third. Jo Vowles, still chipping impressively away at her lap times, is also in the mix and took a solid fourth ahead of Paul Hartley.

Tony Cawte had been on rails in the first two races but, in the final 50cc classic bike race, engine trouble struck again forcing another DNS. Brian Kneale made a good start and led all the way to the chequered flag 0.58 of a seconds ahead of Richard Done. Andrew Watts finished third with Dave Cain fourth

The pit bike juniors crowned a new champion when Freddie Craine won all three races to take the 2013 title.

Ryan Crawley had bit at Craine’s heels all season, but work commitments meant he couldn’t attend the latest round enabling Craine to clean up.

A brilliant series, the pit bike juniors has seen some great racing from youngsters aged 10 to 16 on 125cc machines producing some very close finishes.

lThe next round is this Sunday, September 15. For more information call Moto-Syko on 459866 or visit moto-syko.co.uk

This nascent stage of the 2013-14 JCK Division Two season has an upside-down feel with Malew, Douglas Athletic and Braddan scaling dizzy heights.

It was the latter who had the chance of reclaiming pole position if they had beaten an out-of-sorts Marown. However, the Crosby outfit approached this fixture in determined fashion, defeating the hosts 2-0 at Victoria Road.

This was the result that David Brew’s side craved following on from their mid-week victory against Pulrose.

Marown now have an ideal platform to build from, most notably from an impressive back-four of Sam Cubbon, Cameron Avery, Jamie Blair and Sean Doyle who were all immense, breaking up numerous opposing attacks with measured precision.

It was a match which saw both teams play high defensive lines and keen to play the ball forward meant it was littered with numerous offsides. As the rain poured down throughout, Marown were eager to make a telling impression early on and Brett Kitching, who revelled in central midfield, unleashed a long-range effort that was acrobatically pushed onto the crossbar by Craig Hardie.

Braddan too were making inroads and Will Smith found the target, however referee Rod Jones had already blown for offside.

With quarter of an hour played, Marown took the lead. Niall Quayle, who made a number of telling runs on the right, beat the offside trap and square the ball to Kitching who exquisitely dinked his effort over the exposed Hardie and into the top right for the opening goal.

Braddan searched for an equaliser. With Adam McCullough leading the attack, the Swans number 10 received a perfect through-ball from Peter Dunn, only for goalkeeper Paul Young to make an important save with his legs.

The Victoria Road striker had a further two chances to level matters. Firstly, his determined run saw the centre-forward slalom his way through the Crosby defence, only to be thwarted by the opposing net-minder. Secondly, being the recipient of John McMullen’s superb cross-field ball, McCullough’s low effort was repelled by Young’s outstretched leg just before half-time.

Three minutes after the restart, Marown got their second when Juan Killip’s free-kick was planted into the mixer and Sean Shimmin got the important touch, heading his effort into the goal.

Killip and Smith had efforts that went wide of the target on both sides of the pitch. Braddan’s best chance of reducing the arrears came after Smith’s throughball found substitute Adam Phair and his shot forced Young into an acrobatic save.

As the match fizzled out into an uninspiring conclusion, Gary Christian fired an effort over the crossbar as three welcome points made their way back to the Memorial Playing fields after the final whistle.

TEAM CHECK

Braddan: Craig Hardie, John McMullen, Andy Marshall (Ben O’Neill 65m), Steve Robertson, Will Smith, Paul Ramsden, Tom Cain, Peter Dunn, David Kinrade (Adam Phair 61m), Adam McCullough (Ray Lovell 55), Mark O’Neill

Marown: Paul Young, Sam Cubbon, Cameron Avery, Jamie Blair, Sean Doyle, Sean Shimmin, Kevin Druggan, Brett Kitching, Juan Killip, Michael Wheeler (Gary Christian 75m) Niall Quayle (Richard Mulhern 61m). Sub not used: Neil Withers

Referee: Rod Jones

Man of the Match: Blair (Marown)

Match rating: HHIII

A car was taken without the owner’s consent from a road in Douglas on Friday.

Police this morning (Wednesday) appealed for witnesses.

The car, a red Honda Civic car, was taken from a parking bay in Grosvenor Road between 9.30pm on Friday and the following morning.

The vehicle has since been found.

A motorcycle was removed from a front garden of a Douglas property on Saturday and its speedometer and clock taken from it.

The machine was taken before 7.45am on Saturday from outside a home in Eastfield.

It was abandoned a short distance along Eastfield but the speedometer and clock were removed and are still missing.

The police are investigating.

Police are investigating a hit and run incident in Laxey, which we reported earlier this morning. have traced the cars involved.

A collision occurred at about 1.45am on Saturday on Old Laxey Hill.

Today marks the start of the four-day St Leger meeting at Doncaster.

Today, WEDNESDAY

DONCASTER: 2.0 Fair Ranger (Richard Hughes) 2.30 Expert (Richard Hughes) 3.0 Borderlescott (P Mulrennan) 3.35 My Guardian Angel (J Lowe) 4.10 Gatewood (William Buick - NB) 4.45 Fils Anges (Frankie Dettori - NAP) 5.15 Hazelrigg (B McHugh)

Police are appealing for witnesses to the damage of two vehicles, which took place between 12pm and 1pm on Saturday.

The vehicles were parked in the car park of the Tesco store in Douglas.

A police spokesman said: ‘At this stage the damage appears to be consistent with a vehicle either trying to enter or leave a parking space next to the two damaged vehicles.

‘The offending vehicle involved is believed to have been red in colour and it is thought that the incident may have been loud enough to alert anyone who may have been in the vicinity.’

Constable Aaron Mason is investigating the matter. He wants to hear from anyone who saw what happened or who has any information that may assist the investigation.

Constable Mason is based in Lord Street police station, Douglas. Telephone 631212.

A ‘Discover the Organ’ day at St German’s Cathedral on Saturday, September 14, will give any budding musicians the chance to have a go on the keyboard instrument.

The Isle of Man Organists Association will host a one-day workshop with renowned teacher and improvisor, Tom Bell, which will answer such questions as ‘how does the pipe organ work?’ and ‘is it the same as playing the piano?’.

The day will start with a session for primary school children giving them the opportunity to explore what fun can be had with the instrument.

After lunch secondary school aged students and adults will have their chance to benefit from Tom’s renowned tuition.

Pianists and organists are invited to come along, as well as beginners.

At 4.30pm, Tom will give a free organ recital at the cathedral with everyone welcome.

Tom plays regularly around the UK and abroad. Recent trips have taken him to Denmark and the USA. His debut CD was released this year.

He has recently given masterclasses at Birmingham Conservatoire and the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia.

Tom teaches for the Royal College of Organists St Giles Organ School.

To register your interest in attending the workshop or for further information call John Riley on 675569 or email johnriley@manx.net

This week, IoM Friends of the Earth’s Cat Turner

asks us to get cross and complain loudly – NOW

----------------

It was Henry Kissinger who famously said: ‘Control oil and you control nations. If you control the food supply, you control the people.’

Not an admirable man, but certainly a smart one: he understood the ways in which fundamental resources such as food can be used as tools to manage populations – and through it their health, wealth and ability to make choices.

Does all that sound a bit improbable? Surely governments and bodies such as the United Nations and the World Health Organisation, who make the rules about food production and distribution, have our best interests at heart. After all, just look at their names: ‘United’; ‘health’. The words sound so benign, don’t they?

And even when things go badly on a global scale, it’s hard to believe it’s anything other than well-meaning but muddleheaded incompetence, or sheer bad luck. Because to wield that much power, and to use it to the detriment of the people you govern, would be wickedness on a scale that no one wants to believe in. A world where that can happen just isn’t a safe place to be.

That unbelievability, though, might be what makes it possible. Because right now, there is a co-ordinated assault on your ability to feed yourself healthily, and it’s going very well. (For business, that is, but not for the rest of us). Before too long, organisations such as Monsanto, Bayer, Dow and the like could control – in fact ‘own’ – the rights over many natural staple foods, and over your rights to grow them for yourself in your garden. Monsanto has already been successful in patenting conventionally-grown broccoli in certain countries (no, I’m not kidding), despite the fact that no less than 2 million people signed a petition protesting against this. Many saw it as the theft of a natural resource – an existing plant type – something that used to belong to all of us, or no one, depending on your viewpoint.

How can this have happened without an outcry across the world? Here’s the timeline of recent events:

– April 15, 2013: Ms Angelika Werthmann queried the European Parliament’s ability to grant Monsanto rights to own natural plant species derived through conventional breeding (ie, not genetically engineered). The species were cucumbers, broccoli and melons. At the time she did not get any reply.

– June 12, 2013: a Monsanto subsidiary called Seminis was granted patent number EP 1597965 in respect of conventional broccoli. It owns it: it didn’t invent it, but now broccoli belongs to Seminis, and not to the world.

– July 2, 2013: Ms Werthmann finally got her reply from the European Commission’s Mr Barnier – after, of course, Monsanto had had its way. His response was, predictably, favourable to Monsanto.

So there you have it. The Monsanto group of companies now owns, in certain countries, a “plurality of broccoli plants .. . grown in a field of broccoli.” A company can claim a patent over a food plant which already exists, thereby in theory controlling who can sell, swap, save and grow that plant - and how much they pay to do so.

You might recall that earlier this year I wrote in a Green Column about the EU Plant Reproductive Materials Law, which was passed this year and will be enacted into national country laws by 2015 at latest. That law paves the way for the criminalisation of selling, swapping or saving of any seed type which isn’t on a national plant register (yet to be established). Who’s going to own those seed types and patents? Monsanto and its ilk, of course – it’s just fired the first salvo.

Now, it might be tricky for Monsanto to implement its rights, and a number of farmers and gardeners groups have said as much: ‘We’ll just carry on as normal, how would they ever police it?’; ‘We should just grow our own food and avoid buying their damaging pesticides and seeds’; and ‘Why fight Monsanto when we can just buy organic? If we just do our little bit, we’ll win in the end.’

Not so. Local efforts are important – now more so than ever, in fact. Buying and growing good, honest local produce is essential if we’re to support our island’s farmers, and the health of our families.

But if we don’t protest loudly, and at international level, then hard on the heels of that broccoli will be the cucumber and melons they have their eye on.

And whilst the island isn’t part of the EU, many EU directives find their way into our national laws.

Then it could become ‘normal’ for every food plant you can think of, from potatoes to hemp, to be owned and controlled by them, with our tacit permission.

Do you want to live in a world where what you or your local farmer can grow is controlled by companies like Monsanto – not just controversial genetically modified crops, but – following the ‘broccoli precedent’ – conventional plants too? Do you want to see the end of local and ‘heirloom’ varieties? No, me neither.

I started this piece with a quote from Kissinger. Catherine Bertini, who was head of UN food programmes in 1995, later paraphrased him as follows: ‘Food is power. We use it to change behaviour.’ Sheesh. No joke.

On October 12, 2013, the Manx March Against Monsanto will be reconvening, and we hope you’ll join us.

I hope also that as many readers as possible will take the time to find out more about what’s happening to the world’s, and your personal, food supply. If you don’t like what you’re seeing, share the news. Write letters, join campaigns, sell your shares in those companies. Do the ‘small stuff’ by living well – but if you care about your future, and that of your children, now’s the time to get involved with the big stuff too.

You’re not insignificant, your voice counts, every letter or email or cry of protest helps. Please use it.

The latest property sales recorded at the General Registry.

Jon Cutts and Sarah Louise Cutts, of Doncaster, bought Ballamoor, Earystane, Arbory,for £1,800,000.

It was bought from Mark Steven Broadie Blake and his wife Gillian Carol Blake.

Other recent property transactions recorded at The General Registry in Douglas are as follow:

David Mitchell and Sheila Mitchell, of 20 Quay West apartments, Bridge Road, Douglas, sold Lynton, 18 Devonshire Road, Douglas for £407,500 to Robert Novello Davies and Amanda Katrina Davies, of 2 Park Avenue, Douglas.

Alan Douglas Cain and Rhona Mary Cain, sold 9 Orchard View, Saddlestone Park, Douglas, for £340,000 to Shaun Wainright and Helen Jane Wainwright, of 19 Robert Cubbon Close, Douglas.

Paul Collins, of 36 King Edward Road, Onchan, sold 24 Falkland Drive, Onchan, for £290,000 to Paul Anthony Hinstridge and Francesca Kelly Hinstridge, of 11 Victoria Avenue, Onchan.

Joan Clague sold Longdale, 5 Ballaughton Close, Douglas, for £280,000, to John Prentice and his wife Wilma, of 11 Richmond Grove, Ramsey.

Financial Properties Limited, whose registered office is at 2nd floor, Belgravia House, 34-44 Circular Road, Douglas, sold 28 Hope Street, Douglas, for £274,000 to Planet Software Limited, whose registered office is at 34 Athol Street, Douglas.

Thomas Alan Clague and Muriel Alma Clague, sold Cronkbourne, The Level, Colby, for £272,000 to Timothy James Woakes and Katarzyna Maria Woakes, of 10 Richmond Court, Manor Lane, Douglas.

John Henry O’Neil and Kathryn Mary O’Neil, sold 9 Campion Way, Abbeyfields, Douglas, for £270,000 to Sean James Weir and his wife Kerry Anne, of 31 Hailwood Avenue, Governor’s Hill, Douglas.

Edward Paul Newis and Dawn Louise Newis, sold Kerlin Villa, Ballavitchel, Marown, for £250,000 to Douglas Grant Ross and his wife Carla, of 2 Vicarage Road, Douglas.

Caroline Louise Kelly as receiver of 12 Cronk Elfin, Ramsey, and Roy Lawton Corkhill by receiver, sold 49 Waterloo Road, Ramsey, for £130,000 to Keith Terrance Roy Lenon and his wife Rita Lenon, of Lincoln.

Ada Norton Lister, sold 4a Stanley Road, Douglas, for £110,000 to David Frank Corris, of 4 Fairfield, Douglas.

Healeycroft Limited whose registered office is at Ravenscroft House, Station Road, Port Erin, sold land adjacent to Cherry Orchard and Close Famman, Port Erin, for £105,000 to Edward Patrick Joseph Mulgrew and Elizabeth Martha Mulgrew, of 3 Erin Crescent, Port Erin.

Randles Property Company Limited, registered office at 1 Falcon Street, Douglas, sold a garage/workshop at the rear of Falcon Street, Douglas, for £38,000 to David Philip Randle and Alison Margaret Randle, of 12 Hilltop Rise, Farmhill, Douglas.

Andrew Charles Webster, of Harrogate, Yorkshire, sold land at Ballamodha Beg, Ballasalla, for £25,000 to Alan Stuart Greenhalgh and Angela Jefryna Greenhalgh, of Cly Cur, Ballamodha, Ballasalla.

Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture sold land part of former common lands, Ballacubbon, Foxdale, for £5,000 to James and Denise Cubbon, of Kennaa, St John’s.

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We publish details of all house sales unless we receive a written request from the police or probation service.

The Government’s commitment to help young people find employment was highlighted at the 2013 STEP Final.

Administered by the Department of Economic Development and co-ordinated by local businessman, Ian Moncrief-Scott, 2013 has seen the largest single group of STEP students and organisation projects since the scheme started with 37 placements secured.

Minister for Economic Development John Shimmin MHK said: ‘The STEP programme enables our talented local undergraduates to add value to a wide range of Isle of Man organisations.

‘I was highly impressed with the standard of presentations and would like to congratulate all involved in making this year the most successful ever.

‘I would also like to thank Celton Manx for their continued sponsorship of the STEP programme.’

The award for Most Enterprising Student went to Penny Crookshank who completed an Environmental/Capital Impact Analysis for Colas Holdings Ltd.

The award for Best Presentation was given to James Allen who created an interactive map of Nobles Park for Douglas Borough Council.

STEP co-ordinator, Ian Moncrief Scott said: ‘I was very impressed by the marked increase in the numbers but, more particularly, the high calibre of undergraduates, who have applied to participate in STEP Isle of Man 2013.

‘My thanks go to the numerous hosts who have so positively engaged students this year in a range of interesting and challenging projects. 

‘I would also like to acknowledge the support of the five hosts who supplied project applications that regrettably and unusually matches could not be made.’

Bill Mummery, executive director of STEP sponsor Celton Manx Ltd said: ‘The STEP programmes is a unique formula that brings the under graduate, the private sector and by definition future employers and Government through the Department of Economic Development together sharing in a very worthwhile and rewarding experience for all of the participants and stakeholders.

‘Congratulations to all involved, it’s a real privilege for Celton Manx to be involved as sponsors.’

The government’s Department of Economic Development has administered STEP in the island for the last 10 years during which more than 170 projects have been completed.

STEP is a programme which places undergraduates into local organisations to work on specific projects for eight weeks during their summer break.

The continued growth of Permanent Bank International Ltd (PBI) is an example of the increasing strength of the island’s banking sector.

That’s the message from PBI’s managing director Carlton Freegard who was commenting after the sector suffered a setback last month.

It was announced the Bank of Ireland Group was to close its Isle of Man subsidiary.

PBI – which is part of the Permanent TSB Group – says it is now the only remaining Irish banking presence anywhere in the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey and Gibraltar that is still taking deposits and accepting new customers.

Mr Freegard said that while he was saddened to hear news of Bank of Ireland Group’s plans to close its Isle of Man business, the bigger picture was one of a stable banking sector on the island – with PBI making its own significant contribution to this more confident mood.

He said: ‘The decision to close the Bank of Ireland operation on the Island represents a reduction in choice for the consumer which is unwelcome for the sector.

‘However, the general picture for the banking sector here is positive.

‘The message to all of our customers, existing and potential, is that PBI is here to stay and is very much open for business.

‘That’s good news for our customers, and for the Isle of Man’s banking sector.’

The PBI managing director’s comments were echoed by Niall O’Grady, Permanent TSB Group’s director of transactional banking, savings and investments.

He said: ‘Permanent Bank International Ltd will continue to play an important role within the Permanent TSB Group.

‘The Group’s restructuring plans are well advanced and on target and include a significant contribution from PBI.’

Permanent Bank International employs 11 staff in the Isle of Man, has customers in more than 70 countries, and is part of the Permanent TSB Group which is 99.2 per cent owned by the Irish Government.

PBI moved to impressive new premises at Hillary House on Prospect Hill, Douglas, in March this year with the new offices being officially opened in May by the Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood.

The last few months have seen a steady growth in deposits, a trend fuelled by the launch of new and improved deposit account terms.

These include the recent announcement that PBI is now offering its highly competitive Sterling 1 Year Fixed Term Deposit Account rate of 1.85 per cent on balances of £20,000 or more, and a Euro 1 year Fixed Term deposit Account rate of 1.5 per cent. PBI’s full range of deposit accounts are available to personal, corporate, trust, pension and life company depositors. PBI’s roots date back to 1884 with the establishment of the Irish Temperance Permanent Benefit Building Society culminating in the launch of Permanent TSB in 2002. For more information go to www.permanent-bank.com