Environment Minister Phil Gawne has withdrawn his allegations of bullying by a member of the Legislative Council.

But MLC Alex Downie said he believed Mr Gawne should apologise to LegCo for his comments.

Rushen MHK Mr Gawne claimed he had been threatened by an MLC who he alleged may have been behind a dirty tricks campaign which included sending anonymous letters to his department and was apparently linked to his recent, unsuccessful, call to abolish the upper house.

He refused to named the politician involved and admitted he had no proof there was any orchestrated smear campaign.

But having read his comments, Speaker Steve Rodan invited Mr Gawne to refer this ‘most serious matter’ to Tynwald’s standards and members interests committee.

Mr Gawne wrote back, saying he would like to withdraw his comments and there was no basis to refer a complaint for investigation.

He wrote: ‘I have been reviewing my comments on various media and I now think I would like to withdraw my remarks about the actions of a member of the Legislative Council and, in particular, about any connection between a conversation that I had recently with Mr Downie or members of the Legislative Council and the circulation of anonymous correspondence which was critical of me and my department.

‘I do not think that I have any basis to refer a complaint from me to the Standards Committee.

‘I would be happy to meet you or the President and Mr Downie privately and sort out any remaining differences with Mr Downie, if any of you thought that would be helpful.’

The Speaker circulated the letters to all Tynwald members with a note saying that he hoped this would ‘finally deal with this matter’.

However, it has emerged that the matter has been referred to the standards committee by another member.

And Mr Downie is demanding an apology on behalf of his fellow MLCs. He said: ‘Having spoken to colleagues in LegCo, who were maligned unnecessarily, the general consensus is that we will be asking Mr Gawne for a full apology on MTTV, Facebook, Manx Radio and the newspapers.’

Mr Downie had previously confirmed he had sent to Mr Gawne’s department a copy of a letter from an anonymous farmer which criticised aspects of the Countryside Care Scheme. He said he had included a covering letter with his name and told the Examiner that Mr Gawne ‘should name and shame - put up or shut up’.

Should work permit holders be forced to speak English?

That was the question asked in the House of Keys as MHKs debated changes to the work permit legislation.

Peter Karran (Lib Van, Onchan) suggested an amendment that arrangements be made for work permit applicants to be examined for their ability to speak English – and to charge them for that test.

He said: ‘I want an inclusive society. If we don’t addess the issue of forcing people to be able to communicate in English, the divides will happen.

‘The previous chief constable has expressed concerns about certain areas in Douglas where English is not a majority language. We need to force people to make sure we don’t end up with ghetto-isation.

‘I believe it is not unreasonable that we make sure that English has to be encouraged. There has to be some sort of commitment to actually learn the language.’

Environment Minister Phil Gawne said: ‘It is essential for people who are living and working in the Isle of Man if they are here for some considerable time for them to be able to speak English. But equally I wouldn’t want us to appear we are being xenophobic on this and I’m sure that wasn’t the member’s intention.

‘There’s a positive aspect to a multi-lingual society and a multi-cultural society as well, provided we do make sure that people can communicate in the majority language of the country.’

But Mr Gawne pointed out there are international businesses operating in the island who may employ fluent Russian and Chinese speakers who don’t need to speak any English at all as they are specialists on a short-term permit.

Mr Karran replied: ‘My concern is the little pockets of areas where English is not the first language are growing.’

He said that where people had a problem with language, exploitation grows. ‘It is not acceptable there are people who are working in this island who can’t understand English. What happens to health and safety? What happens to employment legislation? We are creating an underclass. It’s so important for law and order because if we end up with streets where English is not the first language you end with the cultures of these places that are not on the same lines of going through the law enforcement agencies.

‘It may be an issue that’s premature at the moment but it’s an issue we are going to have to address. How can these people be safe if they can’t speak a reasonable level of English?’

Mr Karran also tabled an amendment calling for employers to have to pay for healthcare insurance for employees on work permits. He said it was regrettable that more Isle of Man workers on the dole weren’t taking up jobs like cleaning that were being done instead by foreign nationals, often from Eastern Europe.

Economic Development Minister John Shimmin suggested that the language used by Mr Karran was unfortunate and we should be encouraging, not discouraging, employers. He questioned how the health insurance provision would be enforced.

But he said his department would support the part of Mr Karran’s motion relating to English examinations. He pointed out the worst in the world for learning a foreign language was probably the British. ‘For many people coming over to the Isle of Man the main purpose is to actually learn the language,’ he said.

Mr Karran’s amendment relation to English tests was approved by 21 votes to one.

A new club aiming to help people of all ages learn the secrets behind computer coding launches at the weekend.

The first meeting of the Isle of Man Code Club will take place at 4pm on Saturday (March 8) at The Forum on Mount Havelock, Douglas.

And the inaugural session will seek to outline the club’s objectives, gauge interest in what the organisers are trying to achieve as well as welcome volunteers willing to share their skills.

Owen Cutajar, who is head of digital strategy for software technology firm Webtech, is the driving force behind the project and spoke to the Examiner about coding and why it’s important.

‘Computer code is the set of instructions, or program, which tells a device what to do and how to behave,’ he explained. ‘It requires an understanding of the structure of a system, but all programming languages are built on similar concepts and ideas which give us the power to control the behaviour of a device.’

He added: ‘We are all affected by computers in some way – and as this technology becomes more pervasive, it’s important for people to have an understanding of how it works and to realise that these systems aren’t powered by magic, but are built and designed by ordinary people.’

It is this last point, where people should have the skills to manipulate their environment rather than be merely consumers, which forms the mission statement on the club’s website – codeclub.im

But in addition to this, Owen wants people to use the informal sessions to create a community of people eager to learn about have fun with technology as well as share information, skills and ideas.

The club has been given enormous support by the Manx Education Foundation charity, and is able to use its Mount Havelock headquarters and equipment each Saturday between 4pm and 6pm. As things stand, membership for will be free, but this may change as the needs of the group alter over time.

The opening instructional session is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 15 , and will follow the opening 10-week course available on the Code Club UK website.

There are six computers available at the MEF for the club to use. However, Owen wants as many people as possible to bring their own PCs, tablets and devices in order to accommodate more members.

He said: ‘This elementary coding class, called Beginner Scratch, is aimed at 9-11 year olds, but we are happy to include anyone who would like to learn and won’t be restricting it on age. We do have limited class sizes though, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

‘The really exciting thing about learning to code is that it isn’t very difficult.

‘It does require a little bit of patience and some time to put aside to learn what it’s all about, but it’s within reach with some direction on where to focus and what to practice.

‘This is the idea behind the Isle of Man Code Club: some of us already have coding skills, acquired either through work or play, and are looking to share them with others and teach people who would like to learn, so that they can go on to create their own software and build new things.’

codeclub.im

mef.im

codeclub.org.uk

Today, TUESDAY

EXETER PICKS : 3.0 Somerby 3.30 Ballytober 4.0 Capote 4.30 Rugged Jack

NEWCASTLE CHOICE: 2.50 Farm Pixie 3.20 Bollin Julie 3.50 Light The City 4.20 Wild Card 4.50 Storming Gale 5.20 Wicked Spice

SOUTHWELL TIPS: 2.10 Fire In Babylon 2.40 Staff Sergeant 3.10 General Tufto 3.40 Tatting 4.10 All Right Now 4.40 SIR GEOFFREY (NAP) 5.10 DANCING FREDDY (NB)

If we found gas in our territorial waters, could that become one of the biggest earners for the Isle of Man?

Today’s Isle of Man Examiner reports that experts believe there’s a high chance we could find a good supply.

The story is previewed on the front page, with more details inside.

Page one also features this week’s big political news, the CoMin reshuffle.

Also inside:

Delays on the Manx Electric Railway line repairs

How ‘high net worths’ (very rich people) are helping the Manx economy

An embarrassing oversight that means gay sex is still banned under law in certain circumstance

The Liberal Vannin Party’s response to {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/speaker-deprecates-peter-karran-s-offensive-description-of-manx-government-as-institutionally-corrupt-1-6468688|this story}

An interview with new Lib Van leader Kate Beecroft

Heartwarming news about a response made by terminally-ill Katherine Crowe

A look at what’s been described as the most rundown street in Douglas

The purchase of five new fire engines at a cost of about £217,000 each

A suggestion that all work permit holders must be able to speak English

Drama at sea as lifeboat rescues fishermen

The Examiner also includes our great new sports section and 12 pages of business news.

Our business coverage isn’t all about hoity-toity chinless wonders wearing pinstripe suits and waving copies of the Financial Times.

Business News is about all sorts of companies and how we all spend our working lives.

This week’s coverage includes a story about one of the best-known people in the Isle of Man, Robert McAleer.

Robert and his son, also Robert, tell us about their new venture, the Thirsty Pigeon pub on Victoria Street in Douglas.

With Terry Cringle’s look back into the island’s past, the best forum for views about the Isle of Man in our letters pages and our new column of ‘Your News’ written by readers, the Examiner is an indispensible read.

The island’s favourite paper is in the shops now.

Leading British Superbike Championship rider Peter Hickman has confirmed he will make his TT debut in the summer.

The 26-year old will campaign a BMW S1000RR in the Dainese Superbike, RL 360 Superstock and PokerStars Senior TT Races for the Ice Valley by Motorsave team, owned and run by fellow competitor Paul Shoesmith.

Hickman started racing in 2000 and after cutting his teeth in the British Minimoto and Superteen Championships, has been an ever-present in the British Championship paddock since 2004 when he won the National Superstock Cup for Hawk Kawasaki despite missing the first race because he was too young to ride a 1000cc machine.

A move to the main British Superstock Championship followed and he finished ninth overall in 2005 with a podium at the final round before making the step up to the British Superbike Championship in 2006 when he rejoined Stuart Hicken’s Hawk Kawasaki squad.

After two seasons in the country’s premier series, Hickman was back in British Superstocks in 2008 where, riding for Ultimate Racing, he took a total of three podiums to claim an excellent third overall behind Steve Brogan and Jon Kirkham. That resulted in a move back to BSB where he sealed second in the 2009 Privateer’s Cup with 20 podiums from 26 races.

Hickman has remained in BSB ever since, enjoying his best year to date in 2011 with ninth overall, an excellent effort on the Quay Garage/Tyco Honda in a season that saw him narrowly miss out on a place in the ‘Showdown’.

A podium – second – was claimed at Thruxton along with no less than 16 top-10 finishes whilst a number of front row positions were also taken in qualifying.

In 2012 he started out with MSS Bathams Kawasaki but, after taking ninth in the second World Superbike race at Donington Park for Crescent Suzuki, he moved to Buildbase BMW for the second half of the season.

Last year saw him part of the Lloyd’s British GBMoto Honda set-up where more top-10 finishes were achieved on his way to a strong 11th overall.

Born in Burton upon Trent but now living in Louth, Hickman has visited the TT in recent years, studying the course in preparation for his debut. That homework has continued in recent weeks with more visits to the island and his addition to the entry list adds even more depth and quality to an already excellent line-up.

Road racing is very much in the Hickman genes with father Dave having won the 1977 Lightweight Manx Grand Prix and been a British Championship regular in the late 1970s. He has since become a highly respected mechanic and engineer in the BSB paddock and was also a key member of the Norton Rotary set-up, remaining with the team in its various guises from 1988-1994.

PwC Men’s Premier Division

IOMA Group Bacchas B 4-2 Celton Manx Castletown A

Paragon Valkyrs A 1-2 IOMA Group Bacchas A

Vikings A 2-1 LJ Skye Ramsey A

PwC Men’s Division One

HQ Harlequins A 4-1 Paragon Valkyrs B

LJ Skye Ramsey B 0-3 Fearless Saracens A

Vikings B 1-2 IOMA Group Bacchas Colts

PwC Men’s Division Two

Celton Manx Castletown B 2-1 Vikings Colts 1

Paragon Valkyrs C 1-2 IOMA Group Bacchas C

PwC Women’s Premier Division

Celton Manx Castletown 5-1 LJ Skye Ramsey A

IOMA Group Bacchas B 0-7 IOMA Group Bacchas A

Paragon Valkyrs A 1-2 Vikings A

PwC Women’s Division One

Celton Manx Castletown B 3-1 Paragon Valkyrs C

Celton Manx Castletown C 2-3 Fearless Saracens

IOMA Group Bacchas C 1-2 Vikings C

LJ Skye Ramsey B 4-1 Vikings B

Paragon Valkyrs B 6-3 HQ Harlequins

PwC Mixed Under-16s

IOMA Group Bacchas 0-12 Celton Manx Castletown

Full round-up of the weekend’s hockey in today’s Isle of Man Examiner.

Help is at hand for the estimated 8,600 people in the Isle of Man have persistent tinnitus,

The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 11, from 2pm to 4pm at the Claremont Hotel in Douglas.

Working with the British Tinnitus Association (BTA), Guy Wolstencroft, director of Isle of Man Hearing Solutions, is launching the tinnitus support group to ensure that people in the area are able to meet others with the condition and access information.

Mr Wolstencroft’s experience as an Audiologist has exposed him to some of the challenges people with tinnitus face.

He said: ‘As chair of the new group I am delighted to be able to offer support and help to people locally, we hope the first meeting will really help those attending.’

Tinnitus is defined as the experience of sounds with no external source, most commonly ringing or buzzing, but sometimes experienced as whooshing, clicking or even music.

Many people aren’t troubled by sounds they hear but for around 10 per cent the condition has a significant impact on their quality of life, often linked to stress, anxiety or sometimes depression.

David Stockdale, chief executive of the BTA, said: ‘Tinnitus can be an isolating condition, with friends and family struggling to understand how it feels to adapt to the presence of loud or persistent noises.

‘Those people attending this first meeting on the Isle of Man are welcome to bring a family member of friend with them for support.’

A number of speakers will be at the meeting. There will also be free tea and coffee plus music from the harp of Gina Williams.

To find out more or to book a free place or places at the meeting, contact Avril on 898039 or call in to the Hearing Solutions practice in Onchan.

The headteacher of one of the island’s smallest primary schools is to take over at its largest.

David Jenkins has been appointed headteacher of Bunscoill Rhumsaa, which has 472 pupils, with effect from September 2014.

Mr Jenkins has headed Dhoon Primary School for three years.

He will replace Jacqueline Barrow, who was headteacher of Bunscoill Rhumsaa since 2009 and who is retiring this summer after 36 years in education.

Mr Jenkins graduated from Reading University in 1998 with a degree in history with qualified teacher status. He took up his first post in the London borough of Redbridge as a newly qualified teacher before moving to a second school in the area as an information and computer technology coordinator.

In 2003 he returned to his native Isle of Man to take up a post at Onchan Primary School as literacy coordinator.

He then worked at Ashley Hill Primary School, Onchan, and enjoyed a year as a member of the island’s peripatetic team.

He was appointed deputy headteacher at St John’s Primary School in February 2007 and has headed Dhoon School since January 2011.

‘I’m delighted to be joining the team at Bunscoill Rhumsaa and I’m looking forward to getting to know the children, parents and staff there over the coming months,’ he said.

‘Of course, I’ll always look back fondly at the years I have spent at Dhoon, where it has been my pleasure to have worked with such a talented, committed staff and wonderful children.’

Mr Jenkins is married to Katie and they have a four-month-old son, Griff. His interests include history, cinema, reading and football.

The headship of Dhoon School will be advertised shortly.

Freedom Travel has announced a new partnership with British Airways.

The travel agency, in Strand Street, Douglas, will use BA jets to fly customers on direct holidays to the Balearic Islands between May and October this year.

The decision to partner with BA was taken following a long period of uncertainty over airline services in the Isle of Man, and the withdrawal of some Flybe routes from the island.

Freedom Travel’s Jan Wozniak said: ‘This is our fifth season flying direct to the sun, something our customers really appreciate.

‘We have been in negotiations with British Airways for some time and made the decision to switch from Flybe to BA to ensure we could continue to meet our customers’ needs.

‘This partnership will give our customers an enhanced service.’

Freedom Travel will be flying holiday makers to Majorca and Menorca on BA Embraer 175 jets on a weekly basis from May to October.

Flight times will be shorter, meaning even more convenience for customers.

Mr Wozniak said: ‘Our flights will continue to take off at convenient times of the day. Holidaymakers who check in at Ronaldsway airport at 11.30am on Saturday will be relaxing in their resort by late afternoon.’ www.freedomtravelholidays.com www.freedomtravel-iom.com

She’s been branded Liberal Vannin’s own Iron Lady.

But the party’s new leader Kate Beecroft says while she may share Mrs Thatcher’s dogged determination the comparisons end there.

She says: ‘I admire her as a gritty lady, I admire her tenacity. But I can’t say we come from the same political spectrum. The Iron Lady is a just a description my brother called me as I’m like a dog with a bone.’

Mrs Beecroft, 61, was elected Lib Van leader at the party’s AGM a week last Sunday. She says she’s been delighted with the positive comments she’s received about her growing reputation for holding government to account over controversial issues like the Pinewood deal, the Sefton bail-out and problems with management at Noble’s Hospital.

Her first target was the Liverpool Care Pathway ‘tick box’ regime for terminally ill patients which has been suspended here after an independent review concluded it should be phased out in England.

Mrs Beecroft: ‘I couldn’t take any credit for that as it was not anything I did. But we are starting to see real results. Not Pinewood and Sefton - yet – but certainly with the health service review. When I was elected I was asked if I enjoyed being an MHK. My honest answer was I couldn’t say I enjoyed it because I was not influencing anything. Now with the health service, we’ve a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel with the hope that things have changed.’

She claims some of the stories she has heard from hospital patients are as worrying as some that came out of the scandal-hit Mid-Staffs Trust but adds she cannot know the true extent of problems because ‘we don’t have the same benchmarking which I find worrying.’

Mrs Beecroft rejects the charge levelled at Lib Van by Ministers that the party is quick to criticise but doesn’t come up with solutions. She cites the example of the National Insurance holiday as one Lib Van suggestion now taken up by Treasury.

The Douglas South MHK has borne the brunt of some barbed comments in Tynwald, during question time. Does she think there’s sexism in parliament?

‘The system is geared up for men. I’m not particularly a feminist. I don’t think I come under attack because I’m a woman. I could be wrong but I think I come under attack because I’m challenging them.’

She says she dislikes the sound of her voice - ‘when I get angry I sound like a shrill fish wife!’ – and has to turn the radio off when she’s on.

Born in the Jane Crookall Maternity Wing and brought up in Tromode, Mrs Beecroft was educated at Braddan, Murray’s Road and Park Road schools. She had a 30-year career in financial services and now, with husband Tony, owns Manx Home Care, a domiciliary care service.

She entered politics because she wanted to see change, she says. She was a Braddan commissioner from 2007 until elected MHK for Douglas South in 2011.

Mrs Beecroft says her ambition is to field a Lib Van candidate in every constituency in the next general election and hopes to increase the number of women MHKs. ‘I live in hope - I’m a glass three quarters full person.’

Chief Minister Allan Bell has welcomed a further significant reduction in the level of staff sickness absence across the government.

Latest figures show a 12 per cent drop in the number of days lost per employee – 4.43 for April to December 2013, compared with 5.03 days for the corresponding period in 2012. That represents an overall cost saving of almost £1 million.

The most common reasons for staff absences include musculoskeletal problems, operations, hospitalisation and stress, anxiety, depression, which together account for 53.6 per cent of days lost.

One of Mr Bell’s first actions following his election as Chief Minister in 2011 was to ask the Office of Human Resources to produce a strategy to address staff sickness absence and provide regular updates for the Council of Ministers.

He said: ‘The vast majority of our staff are extremely conscientious and most cases of absence are genuine. The latest figures are another step in the right direction, but there is still room for improvement.’

An ordinary outing turned into an emergency on Sunday when a 27 foot Laxey fishing boat, Merit 1, suffered engine failure off Langness.

The boat was being driven onto the rocks by the wind and tide, so at the last minute, the four members of crew abandoned ship and swam to a small cove.

Beforehand they managed to alert Liverpool Coastguard, who scrambled the lifeboats in Port Erin and Port St Mary and the coastguard at 10am. Fortunately on Sunday mornings both lifeboat crews are assembled for exercises, so they were quickly on scene.

Port Erin lifeboat, which was already at sea, arrived first and found Merit 1 aground. One of the fishing crew members crossed a gully, which was soon cut off by the high tide, and met the approaching coastguard.

The other three crew remained stranded and one had swallowed sea water during the swim ashore, had injured his hand and was also suffering from the effects of being wet and cold.

The inshore lifeboats from Port Erin and Port St Mary, which had by now arrived, transferred the coastguard to treat the three stranded crew members. The injured crew member was transferred to Port St Mary’s all weather boat and taken to Castletown and was transported to hospital.

David Kneen, Port St Mary lifeboat operations manager, said Merit 1 had suffered engine failure and they were being blown on to the rocks.

He added: ‘It does not take much at all for an emergency to develop.

‘Langness is one of the worst spots in the UK, if not the world, because of the tides, it’s just horrible. I was concerned about sending the little boat out, its limit is a force five or six, but the crew were so experienced they were OK, in the end they were needed.’

SMP Partners are represented at the leading Asia e-gaming conference from today (Tuesday) to Thursday.

Business development director David Hudson and Lorna Coniglio-Burrows, who was recently promoted to senior manager and head of gaming Development, travelled to Macau for the iGaming Asia Congress.

The three-day event, Asia’s official conference and expo for interactive sports betting, gambling and lotteries, brings together major names from the gaming industry in the region.

SMP Partners says it is vital to attend such global events to meet existing clients and potential new business partners.

Mr Hudson said: ‘Our portfolio of licensed gaming operators and software providers already includes a large number of Asian-facing gaming operators, so iGA 2014 is an invaluable opportunity to meet up with them. Isle of Man Government representatives and other members of the island’s eGaming industry are also due to attend iGA.

Police say they have identified the driver of a vehicle involved in a suspected double hit and run in Baldrine.

The force in Ramsey thanked all those who contacted them in relation to Sunday’s incident.

A spokesman said: ‘The driver of the vehicle has been identified and is being dealt with.’

The police appeal {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/two-cars-hit-police-suspect-double-hit-and-run-1-6474184|reported here} was one of the most read stories on {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/|Isle of Man Today} yesterday.

Yellow fever vaccine is now available in the island.

This vaccine has been unavailable since last summer, however all three local designated yellow fever vaccine centres are now booking appointments for those travellers requiring it.

The yellow fever vaccine must be given at least 10 days prior to travel into a yellow fever area.

Yellow fever (YF) virus is an arthropod borne virus of the flaviviridae family.

Other flaviviruses include dengue and Japanese encephalitis viruses.

The areas at risk for transmission of YF are in tropical regions of Africa and South America.

accination against YF is available and should be recorded in an international certificate of vaccination or prophylaxis.

The illness yellow fever has a high mortality rate.

For more information visit the NaTHNaC website: {http://www.nathnac.org/travel/index.htm|click here}

The vaccination centres are: Castletown Medical Centre. Phone 686939; Hailwood Medical Centre, Governor’s Hill, Douglas, phone 686949; and Ramsey Group Practice, Bowring Road, Ramsey. Phone 813881.

Simcocks is pleased to announce the admission of Victoria Kiver to the Isle of Man Bar.

Victoria joined Simcocks as an articled clerk in 2010 after successfully completing her studies at Lancaster University and The College of Law in Bloomsbury.

The former head girl of Queen Elizabeth High School in Peel is part of Simcocks’ dispute resolution team where she has experience across a broad range of family law issues including separation and divorce.

She also advises on parental rights which often relate to child contact, residence and maintenance issues.

Victoria was formally admitted as an Advocate at a ceremony before Deemster Doyle.

Chief executive of Simcocks, Phil Games said: ‘On behalf of everyone at Simcocks I would like to congratulate Victoria on her admission to the Isle of Man Bar.

‘Simcocks’ dispute resolution team has a great deal of experience and expertise and we are all confident Victoria will be a valuable asset to the department.’

Victoria said: ‘Simcocks has been tremendously supportive throughout my studies and I am delighted to being part of this innovative and pro-active team. I am looking forward to building on my knowledge and expertise, the department deals with a wide range of disputes including corporate and commercial litigation, trust-related and shareholder disputes so I know it will be varied and challenging.’

Archaic laws banning gay sex on board Manx-registered merchant ships are probably an oversight according to a government spokesman.

The matter was brought to light by Lee Vorster, a member of Manx gay rights group the Manx Rainbow Association.

Though homosexual sex between consenting adults became legal in the Isle of Man in 1992, paradoxically the Sexual Offences Act of the same year prohibits such activity on Manx-registered ships.

Mr Vorster said: ‘We understand this does not represent the current stance of the Isle of Man government and we want to work with them to get this law repealed.

‘One of our aims is to portray the Isle of Man as a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-friendly place and this sort of legislation projects quite a poor image for potential visitors.’

He added when he had contacted the Manx Shipping Register they had been shocked by the revelation but had said it needed pursuing with the government.

According to Mr Vorster, the 1992 Act relaxed the constraints on civilians but prohibits homosexual sex aboard a Manx merchant ship, which is any Manx registered passenger or cargo ship.

A government spokesman said: ‘The island’s gay rights laws have been undergoing a process of modernisation since the early 1990s, when the 1992 Sexual Offences Act decriminalised gay sex.

‘Since then the age of consent has been equalised, and same sex civil partnerships introduced. However, the issue of male homosexual relations on Manx-registered merchant vessels has been overlooked in the reforms thus far.

‘This point has already been recognised within government and will be addressed in forthcoming legislation. We are not aware that the existing legal provision has ever been used against anyone.’

Treasury Minister Eddie Teare has pledged to ‘name and shame’ those convicted of benefit fraud.

His comments came after one woman was jailed for 10 months for dishonestly obtaining £63,390 in income support, as reported in our sister newspaper the Isle of Man Courier.

Emma Louise Margaret Quirk, 37, of Anagh Coar Close, Douglas, neglected to mention her partner was in full-time employment throughout the majority of her claim from 2007 to 2013.

A press release from the Department of Social Care gave some details of the case but did not name Ms Quirk.

But the Treasury Minister said he would have no hesitation in naming and shaming.

He said: ‘When social security goes into Treasury on April 1, we will be reviewing benefit claims. I’m happy to support those in genuine need but anybody who submits fraudulent claims we will be pursuing the maximum sentence available and we will be publishing the full details of the case and we will name the individuals concerned in the interests of openness and transparency.’

A zero tolerance crackdown on benefit cheats has resulted in 15 successful prosecutions in the past 12 months.

Anyone concerned about a possible fraudulent claim can contact the Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0808 1624043 or by clicking on the benefit fraud link on the department’s website.

Investigations into benefit fraud have resulted in identification of £251,830.56 in overpayments and £335,539.36 in benefit savings in the last 12 months.

The contribution made by wealthy residents to the Manx economy is highlighted in the latest quarterly economic report to the Council of Ministers.

It says the construction sector is expected to grow this year on the back of a high level of new planning approvals including new housing for the super-rich.

The report, which covers the final three months of 2013, explains that six recently approved properties have a combined value of £30m, which compares with a public sector housing programme in 2014 of £20m.

The boost for the local building industry is seen as one of a number of economic benefits brought by the sort of wealthy entrepreneur that the tax cap policy aims to attract.

Controversially, the tap cap was kept unchanged at £120,000 in last month’s Budget, although those that benefit from it can now elect to sign up to the cap for five years. Government estimates that such individuals are responsible for the creation of at least 360 jobs, paying wages of more than £27.5m with ITIP and National Insurance contributions of £6.65 million.

Total revenue for Government generated by tax cappers, including the income tax they pay directly, is estimated at £15.8m a year.

Chief Minister Allan Bell said: ‘The tax cap policy was introduced with the aim of attracting wealthy entrepreneurs who will be actively involved in supporting the local economy. The statistics show this small group of people is making a substantial and disproportionate contribution not only to the economy of the island but also to the government revenue that funds public services.’

The quarterly report states that the Manx economy continues to perform well with growth of between 3 to 4 per cent forecast.

However, it says this growth masks the problem of a twin-track economy, with domestic sectors continuing to struggle while export sectors are expanding quickly.

Manufacturing showed a mixed picture in 2013, with engineering growing by 10 per cent but general manufacturing shrinking by 7 per cent. It says the outlook is good for engineering with some parts projected to create 50 to 80 jobs this year.

The report says 2013 saw minor reductions in staff in the financial services sector but with significant regulatory challenges and downsizing of banks, the pressure will continue.

E-gaming’s growth is hailed. It now makes up 14 per cent of the economy and there are good prospects for growth in 2014. In contrast, construction remains depressed as does retail which saw tough trading conditions and shop closures last year but a more positive outlook is forecast.

The report reveals over £546,000 has been paid out to some 200 farmers out of the Agricultural Severe Weather Assistance Scheme following last year’s devastating snowfall. But it also shows no applications have been made for loans from the £1m Snow Scheme.

The report can be found at http://www.gov.im/media/1046718/quarterly_economic_report_october-december_2013.pdf