A firefighter has left the Manx brigade with a blistering attack on his bosses and politicians.

Justin McMullin has left a message of social media that’s generated a lot of likes.

We have asked for a response from the Department of Home Affairs.

Here is his posting in full:

Seventeeen years ago I followed my childhood dream and joined the Fire and Rescue Service.

Well on Tuesday I did something that I ever dreamed I would ever do and that was to hand in my resignation in order to follow some new dreams.

I have had an amazing career and have worked with some of the most Professional and damn right proudest people that this little island has to offer.

This goes not only for my colleagues in the fire service but also the police, paramedic service and the staff at the ESJCR amongst others.

We are often undervalued and criticised and the easy target for politicians and other senior officials who are only interested in their own agenda and who see the frontline services as a group of people who no matter what sh*t they throw at them that they will stand firm and carry on doing their job cos they love what they do.

Well, I have news for you which won’t come as a surprise to a lot of people but a large proportion of experienced and once loyal frontline staff in our island’s emergency services are at the end of their tether and are fed up with the constant budget cuts and the appalling attitude of our politicians and senior managers towards them and many are considering leaving and pursuing other careers and jobs such as myself.

Just look at the recent departure within the police force of new recruits and other long time serving officers which has been kept under the radar.

Its starting to spread as more and more staff realise the Isle of Man Government just don’t give a toss about these highly experienced, highly motivated and once highly loyal frontline emergency service workers.

The current pension debacle, the overtime bans, the freeze on pay rises, the cutbacks on staff numbers, the threat of redundancy, the threat of station closures, the threat of being dismissed on capability grounds and losing everything...... and it goes on.

These threats and actions are destroying our frontline and once platinum services and this Island is going to be left with the bare minimum of cover that is fine when its quiet but when the chips are down like they were on Thursday with the floods then the wheels will come off and peoples lives will be at risk. This isn’t shroud waving - it’s a FACT!!

Its been happening in the UK for a while and now it’s happening here.

I didn’t want to leave but a number of things have happened in the last year that have focused my mind and made me realise that life is too short and in order to fulfil all of my dreams I needed to make a radical decision and follow it through.

So there you have it. I’m hanging up my helmet a lot earlier than planned but I will be able to look back and say I have seriously had an amazing 17 years and feel bloody proud to have served and helped all of the people whom have had the misfortune of calling us out.

I’m now going into politics ..................... LOL

A parked car was vandalised when it was parked outside a pub in Douglas.

The black BMW was on the North Quay, outside the British Hotel, when it was attacked some time between 5.50pm on Friday and 10.30am the next day.

The damage is to the nearside wheel arch of the vehicle and was carried out from the pavement side.

Anyone who saw what happened should phone Constable Kirstie Bowley on 631212.

Round three of Northern AC’s Ramsey Firemen’s road running league was understandably postponed last Thursday.

It has been rescheduled for this Thursday, starting 7pm. Entries will be taken on the night from 6.15 in the fire station. All welcome, distances 1.7 and 5.1 miles; all competitors must wear hi-vis clothing.

l A cross-country report will appear in Thursday’s Manx Independent.

Mark Cavendish will begin his Team Dimension Data career in Australia next month when he competes in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

The Manx Missile signed for the South African-based team in September after three years with Belgian outfit Etixx Quick-Step, putting to paper on a similar three-year deal.

The ex-world champion will be joined by former team-mates Mark Renshaw and Bernhard Eisel.

The Cadel Evans race is still in its infancy - 2016 will be its second edition - but it already has previous Manx interest, with Peter Kennaugh finishing ninth in this year’s inaugural edition.

The race will take place on January 31 over 174 kilometres around the port city of Geelong on the southeast coast of Australia.

Speaking about his debut, Cav commented: ‘I am looking forward to starting the 2016 season in Victoria and racing for the first time with Team Dimension Data at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

‘I’ve heard great things about the challenging race course and I’m especially excited to visit Geelong again – last time I was there was for the 2010 UCI Road World Championships.’

The man whom the race is named after, Cadel Evans, has also spoken of his delight at the decision for Cav to compete in the event:

‘Mark Cavendish, the best sprinter and most victorious professional rider of our era. I am delighted that he chose to start this important Olympic year here.

‘It will be interesting to see Cav and his new team Dimension Data in action here in Geelong, and follow their progress through to what will most likely be a sprinter’s World Championships in 2016.’

Ciaran McNulty looks well on course to land his third Canada Life Premier League Golden Boot.

The St George’s striker has struck 26 goals so far this season, 10 more than closest rival Furo Davies.

McNulty’s prolifc season means the former Gymns man has scored 256 goals since the Premier League began in 2007-08. This makes McNulty the division’s all-time leading scorer, 14 ahead of nearest rival Steven Priestnal who has bagged 242 league goals in the same period.

In this season’s standings Davies lies second after netting his 16th of the term for Rushen in their 4-1 win over DHSOB on Saturday.

Former Rushen team-mate, and current Golden Boot holder, Josh Kelly is joint-third in the standings having netted 15 this season for Peel.

St George’s Calum Morrissey has also struck 15 times this term as he nears the landmark figure of 200 Premier League goals.

Joint fifth in the charts are DHSOB’s man Darren Hudgeon and Peel’s Ashley Webster.

The pair have both hit 14 so far this term, Hudgeon’s best return for a Premier League campaign.

In seventh Laxey striker Michael Fernandes has plundered 12 goals this season as has St Mary’s player-manager Steven Priestnal.

Next comes Peel winger Lee Gale who has a haul off 11, leaving him six off the milestone of 100 Premier League goals.

The only other two players to reach double figures in the top-flight so far this season are Laxey’s Sean Gavin and St George’s Frank Jones. Both have 10 goals to their name.

Golden Boot standings (top 10)

1, Ciaran McNulty (St George’s) 26 goals

2, Furo Davies (Rushen) 16

3=, Josh Kelly (Peel) 15

3=, Calum Morrissey (St George’s) 15

5=, Darren Hudgeon (DHSOB) 14

5=, Ashley Wesbter (Peel) 14

7=, Michael Fernandes (Laxey) 12

7=, Steven Priestnal (St Mary’s) 12

9, Lee Gale (Peel) 11

10=, Sean Gavin (Laxey) 10

10=, Frank Jones (St George’s) 10

Premier League all-time scorers (top 10)

1, Ciaran McNulty 256 goals

2, Steven Priestnal 242

3, Calum Morrissey 191

4, Ashley Webster 142

5, Josh Kelly 136

6, Own goals 130

7, Callum Stewart 125

8, Stephen Glover 123

9, Chris Bass Jr 117

10, Frank Jones 113

Mark Wolfenden leads the charge for JCK Division Two’s Silver Boot.

The Douglas Athletic front man has scored 34 times this season for the champions-elect to put him 10 goals ahead of Braddan’s Andy Glover in the second tier goalscoring standings.

Next come Jim Collett (Colby) and Alex Crawley (Castletown) with 18 goals apiece, while Wolfenden’s Athletic team-mate Connor Dowell has struck 17 times.

Silver Boot standings (top eight)

1, Mark Wolfenden (Douglas Athletic) 34 goals

2, Andy Glover (Braddan) 24

3=, Jim Collett (Colby) 18

3=, Alex Crawley (Castletown) 18

5, Connor Dowell (Douglas Athletic) 17

6=, Darren Flanagan (Pulrose) 13

6=, Daniel Thirlwell (Governor’s Athletic) 13

8, Daniel Simpson (Gymns) 12

Stats supplied by Eric Clague.

Twelve-year-old Billy Clegg was one of the last St Ninian’s Lower School students aboard the ill-fated bus that fell in the river.

The year eight student, who lives in Glen Road, said it had been a scary journey down into lower Laxey from the main road.

‘When we were up at the top by the Co-Op there was water coming into the bus through the doors because it was so deep,’ he said.

The bus driver told the students they would have to get off the bus when after passing Laxey Football Club.

He then had to wade through water, which was well over the tops of his shoes, to get home.

‘I couldn’t push the gate open so I had to climb over the fence to get in,’ he said.

He returned home to find water had got into the ground floor, damaging the floorings.

Mum Bev said the floorings had been completely drenched and would need to be replaced.

British Supersport Championship campaigner Josh Daley is to make his debut at next year’s TT.

The 19-year old from Wigan is set to contest the two Monster Energy Supersport races on his regular Kawasaki ZX-6R with the firm intention of becoming a Mountain Course regular in the years ahead.

Daley’s motorcycle career began as an eight-year-old in 2004 when he competed in the British Minimoto 4.2 Championship going on to finish second overall for three successive years.

In 2007 he finally won the 4.2 Championship, also finishing second in the Production title race.

For 2009, he made the move onto tarmac claiming 13th overall in the Thundersport Aprilia Superteen Championship, the fourth best newcomer. He improved considerably in 2010, finishing fourth overall which led to him moving up to the GP2 and 400cc classes in 2011, winning both the F400 and Open 500 Aintree Championships and taking second in the Thundersport GP2 class.

The student continued in the same Championships in 2012, winning the F400 series and claiming second overall in the Open 500 and Open 650.

Having conquered the club-racing scene, Daley made the step up to the Pirelli National Superstock 600cc Championship in 2013, scoring his first points at Brands Hatch.

He immediately moved up to the Supersport class in 2014, contesting the inaugural Evo Championship, finishing an excellent eighth overall in the final reckoning.

It was more of the same for Daley in 2015 as he took 10th place in the Evo Championship with another podium, at Cadwell Park, amongst a series of excellent performances. He also scored points in the main Championship with a best finish of 11th at Snetterton.

Commenting ahead of his TT debut he said: ‘Racing at the TT has been on my mind for a while and I want to give myself the chance of the best possible preparation by focusing just on the Supersport bike in my first year.’

A ‘Question of Sport’ dinner in aid of Manx Workshop for the Disabled and Skills for Independent Living Scheme (SKILS) raised £2,700.

The event, held by Isle of Man Sporting and Dining Club, offered guests an evening of competition, entertainment and networking at the Palace Hotel and Casino, all while raising funds for two local charities.

Teams competed in an interactive Question of Sport-style quiz to win the Club’s Silver Claret Jug and Champagne, and had the opportunity to bid in live and silent auctions.

Accountancy firm PwC sponsored it.

Partner Ian Clague, said: ‘We have sponsored Isle of Man Sporting and Dining Club’s Question of Sport dinner since it began in 2012, and this year’s event was the best yet, raising a brilliant £1,350 for each charity.

‘Corporate responsibility is integral to PwC, and we are proud to support the Island’s community and a number of local charities. We would like to thank all of our guests for their generosity, helping us to raise a fantastic amount for Manx Workshop for the Disabled and SKILS.’

Manx Workshop for the Disabled offers employment and remuneration for disabled people in a therapeutic working environment, providing training and skills to increase their job opportunities. The charity also aims to improve public perceptions and acceptance of disabled people at work, and support local businesses and organisations.

Peter Hindley, general manager at Manx Workshop for the Disabled, said: ‘We are hugely grateful to PwC for supporting this event, and to Isle of Man Sporting and Dining Club for hosting this year’s dinner in aid of our charity.

‘Our workshop is equipped with the latest machinery and technology, so that staff can reach their full potential and create a range of incredible items. The funds raised really are a tremendous help, and enable us to purchase the tools and materials we need for members to carry out quality work that makes such a difference to their lives.’

SKILS promotes independence and education for learning disabled residents in the Isle of Man. The charity aims to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities, assists suitable candidates who wish to pursue further education, and promotes the inclusion of those with learning disabilities in the local community. It also financially assists students attending accredited courses at The Children’s Centre Community Farm.

Georgina Revill, chairman at SKILS, added: ‘SKILS assists financially with tuition fees and transport costs for young adults with learning differences to view colleges and universities in the UK. We would like to thank PwC and Isle of Man Sporting and Dining Club for holding this event in aid of our charity – every penny raised benefits Manx students, so these funds really will benefit our service users.’

Ian Hutchinson will once again ride for Keith Flint’s Team Traction Control in next year’s two Supersport races.

The Bingley Bullet dominated the Supersport class at the this year’s TT, winning the first race by more than seven seconds from Bruce Anstey and the second by almost 15 seconds from the Kiwi, the first time that he had stood on the top step of the TT podium since his record-breaking year in 2010.

Hutchinson, who will ride for Tyco BMW in the big bike classes, said: ‘It was an obvious decision to join the team on their Supersport bike after the results we had this year.

‘Before the TT I had never ridden the bike until the first lap of practice and then we won both Supersport races so this feels perfect for me. It was so easy coming and riding with the team and we know what we can improve together for next year so we can move the job forward again.’

Residents of Old Laxey Hill have been told they must remove their cars from the road tomorrow morning.

It comes as the Department of Infrastructure prepares to begin work to move the bus from the centre of Old Laxey.

Residents have received a letter saying that the road will be closed between 9.30am and 12.30pm tomorrow (Wednesday) and the same times on Tuesday, December 15.

Parking will be banned on the road entirely from 9am till 5pm every day except Sunday starting from tomorrow until Friday, December 18.

It seems likely that the DoI will be moving equipment down the road tomorrow to knock down what’s left of the bridge before it can move the bus to the harbour, where it will be dismantled.

{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/how-are-we-going-to-recover-bus-1-7606617|A previous story about this issue}

Graham Burden told iomtoday that thousands of pounds of damage had been caused to his Glen Road home in the flooding.

He had left his work in Ramsey early on Thursday after hearing the forecast.

But on arriving in Laxey, he found he couldn’t travel down Minorca Hill or Glen Road because they were both blocked.

‘I left my van and ran down because I had my dog in the house,’ he said. ‘The water was up to my knees. I was almost swept off my feet trying to get trying to get in the door.’

The downstairs of his home, where he has lived for 11 years, was under six inches of water.

‘I came in, got the dog and bailed out to a friend’s house,’ he said.

The following day he could be seen cleaning out the house with the help of friends.

Mr Burden, aged 43, expected to have to replace the white goods in the kitchen.

He said it was devastating to see the damage, adding: ‘But what can you do? It’s mother nature.’

Meanwhile, the destruction caused by the flooding was all too clear to see at Paul Bloom’s single-storey home, Rosedean, also in Glen Road.

The water had come up to waist level in his home, destroying everything in its path.

The cabinet maker had made his furniture himself and said that he had lost a number of priceless items, from photos of his children to his stamp collection.

St Columba’s Catholic Church in Port Erin will be hosting a traditional Christmas celebration in words and carols at 3pm on Sunday (December 13).

Everyone is welcome to come and listen to the Christmas story, watch it being acted out and join in with the carols as they fit the story.

Rushen Silver Band will be providing the music.

There will be a retiring collection towards Rebecca House children’s hospice.

Refreshments will be served in the hall afterwards.

An online service for making work permit applications has been launched.

Employers will find it easier to make work permit applications and will be able to track applications online.

Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly MHK said: ‘This is a great example of how government is using technology to improve services and reduce costs to both taxpayers and our service users.’

The number of government departments is to increase by one.

Questions have been raised in Tynwald about the legal status of the Cabinet Office, created in the last government restructuring, as it is not officially a department. Lib Van leader Kate Beecroft claimed that the flagship Cabinet Office ‘didn’t actually exist, it has no legal reality’.

Now proposals will go before this month’s Tynwald sitting to turn the Cabinet Office into a department in its own right.

Chief Minister Allan Bell admitted the situation had become ‘messy’. The Cabinet Office has taken over responsibilities from other parts of government but does not have the legal vires or power to do things such as sign legal contracts.

He insisted: ‘This is really just an administrative change, there are no extra costs and it doesn’t mean any more staff.’

Mr Bell said the impetus for change was the plan for the Cabinet Office to take over planning policy. ‘It is important to bring planning policy into the centre and it really has to have a proper legal basis.’

He stressed no decisions had been made without legal vires and cited for example of contracts for Government Technology Services, which is part of the Cabinet Office, that had had to be signed by Treasury. ‘Nothing has been done wrong, nothing that doesn’t have legal vires,’ he insisted.

The 2014 restructuring saw the number of departments cut from nine to seven.

For almost 10 years now, Manx Hockey Association has been involved with the Single System initiative, a development pathway for all players to reach their potential.

It is based on Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) principles that put the participant at the centre of all decisions.

The first phase of this year’s program is now underway, with the Junior Development Centre (JDC) involving 80 players from all clubs around the island.

Players taking part range from under-13s to u17s and coaching sessions are held on a Sunday, led by the experienced coaching quartet of Dee Gimbert, Tom Wilson, Niamh Goddard and goalkeeping coach Paul Woods.

After the JDC program, coaches select players to move onto further sessions within the Junior Academy Centre (JAC) where they are joined by eight players who previously went to the UK and trained at the next level, the Junior Regional Performance Centre (JRPC).

Manx hockey’s most talented youngsters can then be selected from the JRPC to play for the Pennine Pumas in England Hockey’s prestigious Futures Cup.

The latter is a tournament that prepares the players to potentially go forward into a national age group squad.

Thanks to the collective hard work of the Single System coaches, helpers and of course the players themselves, the association announced earlier this year that five elite Manx hockey players would play in the Futures Cup, a feat that head of performance Jon Whiting would no doubt like to match, if not better in 2016.

The 2015 Futures Cup Participants are Will Greenbank (under-16s), Freya Duchars (u16s), Georgia Foxton (u16s), Tom Evans (u17s) and Amy Stoutt (u18s).

The MHA would like to thank Tobermore Concrete Products for their generous sponsorship of the equipment used in Single System, along with the continued assistance from Charles Turner at Intersport.

If you would like to find out more about the system, contact Single System administrator Debbie Shimmin on ssadmin@manx.net or visit the England Hockey website at www.englandhockey.co.uk

Laxey FC’s midfield schemer Fraser Vaughan has been named as the Canada Life Player of the Month for November.

The Miner was in superb form throughout the last few weeks as he helped his team clinch the last spot in this season’s Railway Cup semi-finals.

Vaughan helped himself to a goal as he inspired the Glen Road side to a fine 5-2 victory against St Mary’s at the Bowl and then produced further impressive performance against RYCOB and Corinthians as Laxey remained unbeaten during the month.

As such, the midfielder caught the eye of Eric Clague’s ratings panel and garnered a score of 6.5 points for November to clinch the monthly accolade.

Just half a point back and claiming the Youth Player of the Month award was Ramsey Youth Centre’s Ruairi Poole.

The talented 21-year-old enjoyed a fine month for the northerners as he was utilised in both defence and midfield, shining in each position for the Schoill ree Gorree side.

While Youthie are still without a win during the 2015-16 season, Poole displays have inspired a string of spirited performances by Youthie and their first three points of the campaign will surely arrive soon.

Completing the top three in the monthly ratings and just another half a point back is Peel’s midfield maestro Marc Kelly.

The island cap is enjoying a good season for the westerners, manning the midfield engine room with aplomb and pulling the strings in the heart of the pitch to help the Sunset City side maintain their push for the league title.

His score of 5.5 was half a mark ahead of a trio of players all on five, including his Douglas Road team-mate Lee Gale as well as Chris Cannell and Ciaran McNulty.

Gale helped himself to three goals in Peel’s only two games during the month to continue the westerners’ winning run, while Cannell has been a rock at the back for Corinthians as the Whites have now gone more than two months unbeaten in the Premier League.

St George’s striker McNulty has maintained his scintillating form from earlier on in the campaign and remains well on course to claim both the Golden Boot and Player of the Year awards at the end of the season.

The former Gymns man currently has 26 goals for the season - five of which came in his two games during November, including a hat-trick against Marown - and he currently lies eight points clear at the top of the overall player ratings standings.

His nearest challenger at the moment is Peel forward Ashley Webster on 20.5 points who enjoyed another fruitful month for the westerners, helping himself to two goals in two games as well as 4.5 points.

Currently lying third in the overall standings is St George’s talisman Chris Bass Jr whose recent injury problems now seem to be a thing of the past and the winger also helped himself to a couple of goals during their reduced fixture list.

Player ratings for November: 1, Fraser Vaughan (Laxey) 6.5 points; 2, Ruairi Poole (RYCOB) 6; 3, Marc Kelly (Peel) 5.5; 4=, Chris Cannell (Corinthians), Lee Gale (Peel) and Ciaran McNulty (St George’s) 5; 7=, Darren Cain (Corinthians), Sean Gavin (Laxey), Darren Hudgeon (DHSOB), Nick Leung (St John’s), Joey Morling (St George’s), Sean Quaye (St George’s) and Ashley Webster (Peel); 14=, Andrew Ball (RYCOB), Marc Priestnal (St Mary’s), David Quirk (DHSOB) and Josh Thomas (DHSOB) 4; 18=, Darryl Haslett (Laxey), Frank Jones (St George’s), Josh Kelly (Peel) and Phil Knox (DHSOB) 3.5; 22=, Daniel Bell (Peel), Chris Coxon (DHSOB), Nick Hurt (St Mary’s), James Lace (Union Mills), Johnny Lund (RYCOB), Rhys Oates (St John’s) and Jonny Shields (Laxey) 3.

Overall player ratings: 1, Ciaran McNulty (St George’s) 28.5; 2, Ashley Webster (Peel) 20.5; 3, Chris Bss Jr (St George’s) 19; 4, Karl Clark (DHSOB) 18; 5, Lee Gale (Peel) 17.5; 6=, Conor Doyle and Frank Jones (both St George’s) 15.5; 8, Daniel Bell (Peel) 15; 9=, Christian Cellamare (Union Mills and Josh Thomas (DHSOB) 14; 11, Furo Davies (Rushen) 13.5; 12=, Sean Gavin (Laxey), Joey Morling and Sean Quaye (both St George’s) 13; 15=, Darren Hudgeon (DHSOB), Dominic McGreevy (Peel) and Tom Smith (Laxey) 12.5; 18=, Chris Cannell (Corinthians), Josh Kelly (Peel), Jack McVey (St George’s), Max Murley (Laxey), Johnny Myers (St George’s) and Danny Oram (Corinthians) 12; 24=, Chris Duggan (Ramsey), Marc Kelly (Peel) and Fraser Vaughan (Laxey) 11.5; 27=, Liam Cowin (Rushen Utd) and Michael Hooper (DHSOB) 11; 29=, Michael Baker (Rushen Utd), Andrew Ball (RYCOB), Sean Doyle (Corinthians), Daniel Kelly (Ayre Utd), Matthew McQuarrie (Marown), Rhys Oates (St John’s), Gary Quirk (DHSOB), Kane Ridings (Corinthians) and Jonny Shields (Laxey) 10.5; 38, Steven Priestnal (St Mary’s) 10.

Manx Telecom has made two appointments to further strengthen its so-called ‘Global Solutions’ division.

Paul Keen is now senior global solutions manager, and Mitchell Fordham has joined the division as an account manager.

Paul joined Manx Telecom in 2011 as retail manager and was promoted to become public sector accounts manager in 2013. In his new role he will lead, develop and motivate the Global Solutions Account management team to expand the rapidly growing division which offers Manx Telecom’s portfolio of smart SIM solutions focused to UK and EU markets.

These ‘solutions’ are designed for strategic partners and resellers who provide connection critical, M2M (machine to machine), and MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) solutions to their clients.

Manx Telecom claims it is the market leader for strongest signal mobile connectivity in the UK where there are more than 50,000 customers already using Global Solutions’ Chameleon smart SIMs, including emergency services, security services, vets, lone workers, telehealth and VIPs.

During Paul’s time as public sector accounts manager, Isle of Man Government became the anchor tenant for Phase 1 of Manx Telecom’s Greenhill Data Centre (GDC), and earlier this year major contracts with Government were renegotiated and extended for the provision of telecommunications and network services. Paul also played a pivotal role in the launch of a managed services contract for Isle of Man Post Office.

Paul said: ‘During 2015 several key public sector contracts have been renewed, and with the completion of other significant projects the timing was right to move on.

‘I’m delighted to be joining the Global Solutions team.

‘It’s a big focus for the company and a major opportunity to continue to expand into off-Island markets, especially in the rapidly growing machine-to-machine sector.’

Mitchell Fordham joins Manx Telecom from AvePoint in the UK where he was an account manager for the company which provides software and consultancy services to financial services organisations.

Tom Meageen, head of global solutions, welcomed both appointments and commented: ‘We see our off-Island business as an integral part of Manx Telecom’s strategy for future growth. As such, strengthening the Global Solutions team with these two key appointments represents another important part of an ongoing investment program designed to ensure that we have the personnel and capabilities required to achieve our strategic goals.’

In recent months Manx Telecom has announced the appointment of Simon Taylor as business development manager for its Global Solutions Division, and Al Lugton as the company’s new mobile product manager.

Manx Telecom has plans in the pipeline to recruit more staff in 2016.

‘I honestly don’t think we could have said “yes or no” any sooner.’

That’s what Department of Economic Development chief executive Chris Corlett told a Tynwald scrutiny committee as he was questioned over why

the plug could not have been pulled any earlier on plans to stage a TT world series.

Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly MHK announced in October that the high risk world series plan was being shelved.

The total bill for the doomed project has topped £332,000 but the Minister has insisted it had been a ‘valuable exercise’.

Giving evidence before the economic policy review committee Mr Skelly was questioned over the departmental meeting on September 29 when the decision to scrap the project was made.

Committee chairman Michael Coleman asked: ‘You do not consider that at any time before September 29 you could have made a “no-go” decision?’

DED’s chief exective Chris Corlett said three firms had been shortlisted but one pulled out. The two remaining bidders had put in six figure sums to prepare for their bids.

‘I honestly don’t think we could have said “yes or no” any sooner,’ he said.

Mr Coleman asked if concerns had been raised about continuing the project before that departmental meeting.

Mr Skelly replied that ‘questions were always there’ and one topic had been about ‘dilution’ of the local TT event.

‘We did not want to dilute the product. It was very critical we didn’t take away from the golden goose which is what we’ve got here,’ he said.

For that reason any events in a world series would have taken place in Equatorial or Southern Hemisphere jurisdictions that were far enough away not to impact on the local event.

Mr Skelly was asked what it would take to ‘unshelve’ a TT world series.

He told the committee if the economic and fiscal benefits could be evidenced, and the event was introduced on a staged basis, it could be achieved.

The Minister said: ‘I do believe we made the right decision at that particular time. I feel a TT series still has merits.

‘However, we want to focus solely on local events. I believe there is still significant growth to be obtained.’

Committee chairman Mr Coleman was highly critical that minutes of the meeting of September 29 had not been provided as requested until late the previous afternoon.

‘It could be regarded as discourteous to this committee and Tynwald,’ he said. ‘I actually put it down as “contemptuous”.’

Both Mr Skelly and Mr Corlett apologised. ‘It was simply our failing,’ said the Minister, explaining there had been issues with staff absences.

A new procurement process has begun to find a private sector partner to grow the TT, the Manx Grand Prix and Classic TT.

The two witnesses were questioned over the inclusion of members of DED staff in the original bids.

Mr Corlett said that as part of the aim to slim down government, the tender process involved transferring some specialist staff to the private organisation that won the bid.

A small number of senior officers were involved in the evaluation process and the junior officers who could have been transferred were ‘in no way part of the procurement process,’ he said. The process had been robust, he said. A Chinese wall had been put up and there was ‘no one individual who could have materially changed the outcome.’

One of Curragh Wilflife Park’s most loved residents, Elvis the guanaco, has died at the age of 15.

A favourite with visitors, Elvis passed away after a suspected brain haemorrhage at the Ballaugh park where he was born.

The llama-like animal was named after legendary singer Elvis Presley because of his curled lip.

Click the following link to find astory iomtoday ran in 2011 > Elvis the disabled guanaco may not have a mate and lost an eye, but he’s happy at the Wildlife Park

William Dunlop has won the 2015 Duke Road Race Rankings Championship, emulating his younger brother Michael who took the title in 2013.

The 24-round series, which commenced at Oliver’s Mount in April and concluded at the recent Macau Grand Prix, saw William having a season-long battle with fellow TT ace Ivan Lintin. Lincolnshire rider Lintin, riding for the RC Express team took an early lead in the series after the opening round at Scarborough, remaining in front until the North West 200 when seven-times Duke Rankings winner Ryan Farquhar took charge at the top of the table.

Ian Hutchinson grabbed the helm after claiming a hat-trick of wins at the TT, when William suffered a practice lap crash at Laurel Bank on the Monday of race week that put him out of the rest of the meeting, dropping him to seventh.

He returned to action at the first of the Southern Ireland rounds, Kells, regaining second in the standings after the Skerries 100 Road Races , although he did decide to sit out the more demanding diamond jubilee Southern 100.

Lintin regained the leadership after round nine, the Barry Sheene Race Festival at Oliver’s Mount, a lead he held onto until the Ulster Grand Prix when Tyco BMW man William Dunlop demoted him to second spot.

Dunlop continued to head the rankings as the European rounds were run, and concluded once again at Oliver’s Mount for the International Steve Henshaw Gold Cup in September with a mere 24 points separating the pair after 23 rounds and only Macau remaining.

Making his debut on the 3.8-mile street circuit, Lintin had to finish in the top-six to snatch the championship series away from his Ballymoney rival.

In the event, Lintin had a steady debut ride to come home 18th, leaving him second in the Duke Road Race Rankings Championship.

William Dunlop is only the sixth rider to have his name engraved on the coveted Geoff Duke Trophy since its inauguration in 2002.

The top 15 in the final standing were:

1, William Dunlop 1,822 points; 2, Ivan Lintin 1,798; 3, Dean Harrison 1,716; 4, James Cowton 1,536; 5, Derek McGee 1,445; 6, Lee Johnston 1,247; 7, Michael Dunlop 1,076; 8, Guy Martin 978; 9, Ryan Farquhar 954; 10, Seamus Elliott 931; 11, Jamie Coward 909; 12, Ian Hutchinson 810; 13, Bruce Anstey 731; 14, Michal Dokoupil 635; 15, Derek Sheils 595.

l William Dunlop will ride a specially prepared Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Superstock machine tuned by the renowned MMS squad in the international road races next season, along with the Pirelli National Superstock Championship.

The 30-year-old’s main backer will be Chris Dowds and the CD Racing team.