Canadian Karen Badgerow, chief executive of the Financial Services Authority, has vowed to do all she can to protect Isle of Man residents who invest their money with companies in the island.

The 56-year old, who has been at the helm of the newly formed unified financial services regulator for one month, says she is ready for the challenges ahead helping do her bit to maintain the island’s reputation in the global business world.

She speaks of her commitment to ‘critical stakeholders.

‘When you talk about stakeholders you are talking about the depositors, the policy holders, the pension plan members, the people who entrust their funds to licence holders. They are critical stakeholders and they are very important .’

In her first interview with Business News she told how:

l She has never forgotten her working class roots having been the daughter of a nickel miner.

l Despite coming from one of the world’s largest countries she says there are some similarities in the way business is conducted in Douglas and Ottowa.

l She wants to play a full part in island life and is renting a home in Peel with her partner Brian and her pet mountain dog, flown in from Canada in the last few days.

l Revealed she encountered Mark Carney, the Canadian who now heads the Bank of England, when he was governor of the Bank of Canada.

She has more than 30 years’ experience in financial services regulation.

She spent the last two years as senior vice president (insurance and risk assessment) at the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC), a Federal Crown Corporation created by the Canadian Parliament with responsibility for insuring eligible deposits made at banks and other financial institutions.

She has years of experience in the regulation of deposit-taking, insurance and pensions business and prior to her role at the CDIC she held senior leadership positions at the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, Canada’s unified financial services regulator.

She stresses she has already found there is a ‘sound system of regulation’ in the island.

‘It’s really important for me as a regulator that we have a good level of stakeholder engagement so that we fully understand the issues and I think that is something the industry is looking for more of in terms of how we consult with them, how we provide our views back to them. So I think those are things we will be focused on as well.

‘And I think as well as being a regulatory system transparency is really important. How you supervise, how you make your decisions and how you intervene.

‘And those are important elements in a regulatory programme that I think all our stakeholders would be interested in.

‘Any regulator and anyone coming into organisations always says: ‘‘What can we do a bit different?’’, that’s a natural inclination. But there are a lot of very good things going on here which the island should be very proud of’.

Karen told of an incident in Canada that she often thinks of which she says puts things into perspective and helped her to understand the feelings of others.

‘Pensions were governed by the federal regulator and I headed up that pensions supervision area for the federal government. We had a particularly difficult case where we had a major stakeholder who was having financial challenges and owed a lot of money to the pension plan of members.

‘In fact it was a very public case and in the papers at the time. The [Canadian] government called a parliamentary hearing because they were very concerned about the potential loss. I remember going up to the House of Commons, the parliament in Canada, and I remember this elderly gentleman came over to me and he was dressed in what we call worker greens and he said to me: ‘‘please whatever you do don’t lose my pension.’’

‘That stuck with me because this guy, that was his ‘livelihood. And I realised that was my job at the end of the day. He was a stakeholder and we had a duty to protect him.

‘So through all the stuff you have to remember who your stakeholders are.

‘It’s a simple story but it has stuck with me. This gentleman had cut to the chase. Our job was to broker the best deal we could in the light of the circumstances.

‘That case really brought it home to me’.

Karen says she is happy to be quoted by her first name and not her official title of Ms Badgerow for this article.

She took up the post on November 1, the day the new Financial Services Authority replaced two bodies, the Financial Supervision Commission and the Insurance and Pensions Authority.

She has been getting to know her staff with one-to-ones.

‘I do love the challenge and the opportunity to work with a team to take them through a significant change. Bringing two cultures together, what an opportunity for us and for myself and for the new organisation.

‘My partner Brian Parkin’s father is from Liverpool and he had an aunt, who was a Shimmin, in the Isle of Man. So Brian had been here before in his youth’. Karen and Brian, 58, are enjoying the island and are happy with their home in Peel. They also love the outdoors.

Karen is also delighted to have been reunited with her dog, a mountain dog, Great Pyrenees, called Lamont.

She said that although she has come from one of the largest nations on earth there are similarities with the Isle of Man. ‘The land mass in Canada is massive but there are things that are similar. People are very accessible here [in Douglas] in terms of the people you want to talk to, people from government, the [financial] industry and in Ottowa it was very similar. All the heads of the major agencies involved in financial services regulation, work within three blocks of each other. Similar to here.’

She said the scale may be different but many of the issues faced by regulators were the same [as in Canada].

She said one of the challenges and issues is trying to find the right balance of regulation after the global financial crisis.

Then another challenge is looking at the jurisdiction and deciding what is right for the environment. International standards were ‘extremely important’ along with a sound regulatory system.

‘I love the breadth of things that will cross our organisation and things we will have to consider on a regular basis, it’s quite fascinating. Financial services regulation has a huge impact on economies and we recognise the importance of that for the island.

Karen knows another notable Canadian in the financial world, Mark Carney who is governor of the Bank of England. She said she met him numerous times when he was Governor of the Bank of Canada. ‘As I say Ottowa is small so we all worked together’.

‘He [Carney] is extremely bright and very engaged with the issues. It was a pleasure to watch him in the process of decision making.’

Asked what sort of regulator she is she said: ‘I like to think of myself as being fair and open.

‘It is making sure that we fully understand the issues. Making sure that we give the opportunity to be heard and give full consideration to the issues. And it is important we make decisions.’

Karen said she enjoyed meeting the chief minister Allan Bell. ‘It was really helpful to hear first hand his views and vision for the economy.

Asked about her style of doing business Karen revealed: ‘Someone once told me early in my career: ‘‘You are not a suit.’’

‘I suppose it’s true, I’m not the classic ‘‘suit’’ I guess in terms of personal style.

Karen told Business News she is proud of her working class roots. She said she grew up in a mining town. Her dad’s now 87 and he was a mechanic for the nickel mines.

She said her first taste of work was as a tour guide in the mines taking visitors as far as a mile underground in a cage.

This was in a place called Sudbury, Ontario, the ‘nickel capital of the world’.

She said that experience helped finance her studies at university.

She earned a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Carleton University in Ottawa.

Karen said Brian’s daughter Denia, 19, is in Toronto at university.

‘My youngest son Carson is 22 and he’s in the construction industry and my eldest son Dylan, is 26 and he is a budding entrepreneur [in Canada] I would say’.

She is looking forward to them coming over to the island soon. And what’s for certain is that Karen Badgerow certainly means business.

Police have released CCTV footage of two males in connection with an attempted robbery at Strang Stores in November.

It follows the arrest of one man.

The short clip shows two males inside the store on November 2.

And police believe the still image shows the same two people outside.

Officers are asking members of the public to look at the image to see whether they recognise the people or the clothing worn, in particular the hooded jumper worn by the male on the left of the still image.

Detective Constable Emily Butler said: ‘While this offence was some four weeks ago enquiries are continuing and we would like to reassure local businesses and residents that such offences are taken seriously and urged anyone with information to get in touch directly with the police on 631212 or by contacting the free Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.’

A top politician is urging people to stand for election for local authorities.

There have been a number of examples recently of no elections being called because only one candidate stood and even no candidates standing.

This comes as the government is trying to devolve more responsibilities to the island’s 24 local authorities.

Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK hopes the changes achieved over the past 12 months will stimulate greater public engagement in local politics.

He said: ‘Local people know their communities better than anyone and I would urge everyone to get involved in the issues that directly affect their daily lives.

‘The local authority elections in April next year are a perfect opportunity for people to make their feelings known. Let’s seize this chance to achieve real change and to put an end to uncontested elections and poor voter turnouts.’

This year has seen the transfer of a range of highway maintenance functions from central to local government. Local authorities are likely to have more responsibility in waste management and public housing.

Mr Gawne said: ‘I am passionate about the basic principle of providing local services at a local level. I see this approach as a way to encourage people to take an active interest in their communities and also to bridge the current disconnect between people and politics.’

Chris Thomas MHK, Infrastructure department member whose responsibilities include local authorities and a former councillor in Douglas, added: ‘Those elected to local authorities next spring are likely to have even more responsibility than current commissioners.’

Candidates must be on the electoral register at April 1 to stand in local authority elections. The register is revised every three months, with updates effective from January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1. The cut-off point for inclusion is two weeks before the effective date, so people will need to be registered by March 18 to stand in the local authority elections.

Further information from the Electoral Registration Unit, Crown and Elections, Cabinet Office, Government Office, Buck’s Road, Douglas, IM1 3PN, email voters@gov.im or call 685754.

Samaritans Isle of Man is asking whether you could give the greatest gift this Christmas; your time to listen to someone who needs to talk.

Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope or who needs to talk, and the charity relies on volunteers to answer phones, emails and texts 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

In the run-up to Christmas, there will be an opportunity to find out more about what volunteering involves at an information session on Tuesday, December 15.

Tracey Fuller, director of Samaritans Isle of Man, said: ‘Many people are aware of what Samaritans does, but perhaps don’t know that they could be supporting our work by giving up just a few hours of their time.

‘Volunteering with Samaritans is both rewarding and challenging, and our volunteers are ordinary people who have made the choice to do something special. The simple act of listening can be life-changing for the volunteer and the caller, and a small amount of your time really could be the greatest gift this Christmas.’

Samaritans Isle of Man hosts regular information sessions at its centre, 5 Victoria Place in Douglas.

They are an informal opportunity to find out more about volunteering, meet current volunteers and ask questions. If you would like to volunteer, you’ll be invited to a selection session to find out more about you and how you could get involved.

Tracey added: ‘People can be put off volunteering for a variety of reasons, and the information sessions are an opportunity to address those concerns and answer any other questions people might have.

‘It’s also a great chance to meet other volunteers and find out that they come from all walks of life.

‘There’s no commitment when you pop in to meet us, just a chance to discover how you could make a real difference.’

She continued: ‘Samaritans offers the only emotional support which is confidential, non-judgmental and available 24 hours a day, and we rely on volunteers to maintain this essential service. If you think you might be interested but are not sure it’s right for you, we’d love the opportunity to chat with you so please come along to meet us.’

The next information session takes place from 6-8pm on Tuesday, December 15, at Samaritans Isle of Man, 5 Victoria Place, Douglas. There’s no need to make an appointment, you can just drop in and leave when you choose.

If you can’t make that date, there will be another information session on January 26 at Keyll Darree near Noble’s Hospital. For more information about the sessions or about volunteering, email samaritans@manx.net

Puffins, turtle doves and pochard (a duck) are among 11 bird species which have been classified as vulnerable by the world’s leading international conservation organisation.

Inclusion in the ‘red list’ produced by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a sign that a species is heading towards extinction.

‘Survey work undertaken by Manx BirdLife and other wildlife charities, in addition to birdwatchers’ reported sightings, is crucial in highlighting declines in order for conservation action to be taken,’ said Manx BirdLife chief operating officer Dora Querido.

‘The data people submit through our Garden Birdwatch scheme and general sightings hold importance in the long term at a higher level, for which we are very grateful.

‘The other eight bird species relevant to the Isle of Man that are also causing concern are redwing and bar-tailed godwit which winter on the island, knot, a passage migrant, plus eider, razorbill, oystercatcher, lapwing and meadow pipit all of which are breeding species regularly recorded on yearly surveys.

‘Puffins, turtle doves and pochard have been up listed from least concern to vulnerable, jumping the near-threatened category, showing how severe the decline in the European population has been in recent years.’

The UK Birds of Conservation Concern list, which includes the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, has been updated. However, this list doesn’t reflect the Manx reality for some species.

For instance, buzzard is a species that has recovered well in UK and been classified as green (low concern) but is still a rare bird in the Isle of Man. However, redwing that winter in considerable numbers (500 to 1,500 individuals) is classified as red (vulnerable) on the UK and Isle of Man list.

Turtle dove has not been seen on the island for the last six years and there have only been 48 records of this species on passage between 1998 and 2009.

Manx BirdLife took the initiative to submit a Manx Bird Conservation List to DEFA in 2011 but so far it has not been officially adopted.

‘One positive story has come out of the changing of status designations, the velvet scoter, has been downgraded from endangered to vulnerable. Conservation efforts have seen its European populations increase,’ Ms Querido said.

Atlantic puffins on the other hand are a regular breeding species in the island with the latest count finding 85 pairs mainly nesting around Peel and the cliffs at Maughold Head.

During the winter these birds can occasionally be sighted in Manx waters with a maximum of 10 birds wintering.

The main reason for the upgrade of the puffin’s status is significant population declines in Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland, a trend which has also been noted on the east coast of the UK in places such as the Farne Islands.

Pochard, an attractively marked grey duck with an orange-red head, are more common during late autumn and winter. They are seen on Manx reservoirs and other small bodies of fresh water.

The species does not breed on the island but around 80 birds winter here, migrating to avoid the bitter cold in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Sightings of these and other species can be reported via Manx BirdLife website {http://manxbirdlife.im/info/your-observations2|here}

A whole host of cuddly toy penguins will be taking over Ramsey in the run-up to Christmas.

A Penguin Nativity Hunt and Penguin Nativity and Fun Day will take place in the town, organised by Ramsey Baptist Church.

The penguins will be hidden in 28 shop windows where entry forms can also be picked up and the hunt will finish on December 18.

On December 19, from 10am to 4pm, the fun day will take place in the Town Hall. The free fun day will feature a children’s art display, make your own nativity picture, arts and crafts, balloon modelling, carol-singing, story-telling, free hot chocolate and more.

For more details contact the church on 316013, email messy@ramseybaptist.org or visit Ramsey Baptist Church, Isle of Man on Facebook.

Firefighters at Kirk Michael Fire Station held their annual charity car wash on Sunday, where they cleaned a steady stream of vehicles throughout the day, including a horse!

A total of £576.23 was raised for the Firefighters’ Charity and other local causes.

The winner of the Christmas hamper was James Bennett.

Station officer John Cashin thanked everyone who came out on a cold day to support the event.

The views of Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK on a private member’s bill on localism proposed by MHK Graham Cregeen are ‘unwise, ill-considered and substantially incorrect’, according to the Ballasalla and District Residents’ Association (Badra).

The bill proposes giving communities a greater say in planning policy.

Mr Cregeen claims people want more input into what their communities look like, and that the bill would allow a’ shared vision for their neighbourhood’ to be developed.

However, it was branded a ‘Nimbys’ charter’ by Mr Bell, who added it was ‘one of the most dangerous pieces of legislation the Keys have discussed in a long time’.

But a statement from Badra said: ‘Mr Cregeen’s proposed bill is anything but a “Nimbys’ charter”. Its purpose is to seek to rein in poor and undemocratic planning practices and to devolve statutory and democratic rights to those people who have an interest in the areas in which they live.

‘Rather than condemning Mr Cregeen’s efforts, he should be congratulated for being able to win the vote 12 to 10 in the House of Keys, overcoming a concerted effort by members of the government to scupper his democratic goals.’

The association added more community input would cut costs.

It said: ‘The costs of the planning procedure are enormous and out of all proportion. Most could be avoided and massive savings made in planning fees, appeals, independent inspectors, litigation costs and time wasted by delays. Developers and contractors would welcome this clarity.

‘Planners will not be able to impose their narrow and opinionated criteria. Communities that wish will be able to influence development, such as the density and type of housing, landscaping and open spaces, roads, pavements and street lighting; and, as communities grow, ensure the provision of greatly improved and commensurate services and amenities, such as schools, doctors and shops.

‘There is no proposal to allow local authorities to take over the duties of the planning department, and the proposed bill will embody the island’s character.

‘It is a winning formula for all, successfully tried and tested in other jurisdictions.’

Mr Bell said government had developed an economic strategy to stimulate economic growth and cut red tape. Part of that growth was developing new housing for an economically active population. He feared the proposed bill would inhibit the ability to develop new housing.

eGaming round table report by business editor Duncan Foulkes.

Around the table were:

Mark Robson, head of eGaming, IoM Government

Chris Hall, chairman of the eGaming strategic advisory board

Jennifer Houghton, managing director, Annexio Ltd

Joerg Hofmann, president of the International Masters of Gaming Law and senior partner at Melchers, Heidelberg, Germany

Bill Mummery, executive director, Celton Manx

Archie Watt, head of eGaming, KPMG

Paul Davis, CEO, Counting House (IoM) Ltd

Russell Kelly, Director, KPMG

eGaming is a success story in the Isle of Man.

A lively round table discussion was held at KPMG’s Athol Street base the day after the company’s sixth eGaming summit was held at the Villa Marina, Douglas.

Mark Robson, head of eGaming at the island’s government announced at the gathering that the industry now represents 16.7 per cent of the island’s economy with £168m worth of growth in just one year - a rise of 32 per cent. He said there was no sign of the ‘fantastic’ growth abating.

The round table discussion touched upon a whole range of subjects associated with eGaming including the island’s skill shortage, the Isle of Man’s excellent reputation with player protection and issues surrounding the social nature of gambling.

But the gathering, with eight important business figures, including one from Germany, kicked off with a look to an area that could be big in the future - so-called eSports and fantasy games. KPMG’s Archie Watt said it was a subject that had raised its head at the previous day’s summit and he wanted to know more.

He asked Mark Robson: ‘Do we consider this to be the next [big thing] in eGaming?’

Mr Robson replied: ‘It’s a difficult one, depending on people’s motivations. Are sports betters going to become people who bet on digital games?

‘Within the industry, participants are known as digital athletes.

‘Are they going to turn into gamblers? ... doubtful

‘Is it good for a jurisdiction to be at the forefront of that sector ? . . .Absolutely.’

Mr Robson said tournament organisers had reported up to 140 million views online just this year.

‘And they get an average of 30,000 participants at each of their events, with many multiples of this number streaming events to their devices.

‘So obviously the audience figures are staggering. The lifetime of the players is incredible, we are talking years, decades. And this is because the games reinvent themselves.

‘At a world championships in Germany a few weeks ago an arena was packed out. [with people attending a live fantasy games event].’

Mr Robson, who took over as the government’s eGaming supremo earlier this year after years working in the private sector, said the players’ games evolve over time as new weapons and new maps are released along with new lands, new superpowers, characters and so on.

As people mature and get better at the games they are always being improved and the games improve with the people.

‘So you grow with the games’.

But Bill Mummery of Celton Manx said he thought it was a ‘very interesting’ concept but still at an early stage.

‘We as a jurisdiction need to do, as it were, an audit, first of all to understand the demographics of these people and we also need to look to see if there are any social responsibility issues’.

Mr Mummery raised the question of age verification. He suggested this would be high on the list of issues.

‘If we were aiding the development of the processes as a jurisdiction, whilst we were not responsible for people’s behaviour there is an argument [over]the amount of time people devote to playing these games and there’s an issue about isolation, and the social issues.’

Mr Robson replied that eSports are essentially about people participating in sports online. Team games with people competing in fantasy worlds to capture someone else’s castle, for instance.

He likened it to ‘paintball online. Capturing land and that sort of thing. People immerse themselves in fantasy worlds and outwit others to capture land and so on’.

Chris Hall, chairman of the eGaming Strategic Advisory Board said it is ‘a very interesting market segment where the island has a good proposition.’

Mr Robson: ‘It’s grown virally. Things like ease of access has boosted popularity.’ He said the main games revolved around Lord of the Rings style games, league of legends and so on.

Russell Kelly, director, audit and advisory, KPMG, asked the gathering: ‘How can the Isle of Man benefit from this?’

Mr Robson replied that he used to be a semi-professional internet poker player. This sector has experienced controversy, and in certain competitor jurisdictions, ‘there were all kinds of issues.’

He said: ‘I want to make sure that when it comes in [eSports and fantasy games] it comes in in the best way it can. Both for the benefits of eSports and for the benefit of the gaming industry.

‘A lot of it is unlicensable activity.’ Before eSports it was called network gaming.

Mr Robson said the Isle of Man has a ‘fantastic reputation’ from a player protection & KYC [know your customer] perspective.

He said that it would have to be a ‘belt and braces’ job to ensure things were done properly.

Bill Mummery said: ‘My concern is that people make their own business decisions

‘We are all legitimate stake holders in jurisdictional reputational risk.

‘It’s not about whether it’s

right or wrong as a product, we are legitimate stakeholders - it’s the same as with bitcoin which I’m agnostic about.

‘Perception and accusation that it is a channel being used to groom the next generation of betters. I can see this as a perception that would jump out.’

Mr Robson replied: ‘eSports do have age verification on their sites. And the average age of players at tournaments are in their 30s.’

Mr Mummery: ‘Someone signs on - how does one know that it’s not a whiz kid 14-year-old driving the controls?’

Mr Robson answered back: ‘This applies to all products within eGaming and for an online betting site, it is imperative you have your own kyc and age verification.’

Mr Mummery asked: ‘What’s the conclusion’?

Mr Robson replied: ‘That’s something the GSC [Gambling Supervision Commission] are looking very closely at the moment. As far as they are concerned anybody that signs up to anything is going to have to be 18 and over.

‘There is a lot of collaboration going on and there is a whole raft of issues we have to overcome’

Mr Mummery pointed out: ‘It’s right that we look at it but we should proceed with caution’

Mr Robson agreed with this.

Paul Davis of Counting House Ltd pointed out that daily fantasy games are becoming popular in the USA.

Jennifer Houghton of Annexio Ltd said she had recently been to a conference in London where the future of fantasy sports was discussed.

Mr Robson stressed his department was ‘proceeding with caution, with happy anticipation shall we say’.

Joerg Hofmann, from Melchers in Germany, and who was also representing the International Masters of Gaming Law, pointed out that sports betting is regulated and it is important for regulators to define the goals and for there to be best practises.

He said those who love to get involved in fantasy sports enjoy the combination of entertainment and skill - with new players and new trends in the industry.

Paul Davis said there would be ‘opportunities in the offshore world.’

Mr Mummery said potential investors could take some comfort from the fact that we are a jurisdiction that will work with companies through problems.

The discussion then turned to something that was touched upon the previous day at the seminar by Dr Jonathan Parke in a talk entitled ‘Gambling, Leisure and Pleasure: ‘Exploring psychosocial need satisfaction in gambling.’

Mr Kelly asked the group where they see the trends going.

Mr Robson said that every company he had worked for in the sector were all concerned with player habits and activity.

And he said Dr Parke touched upon three reasons why people play: For financial gain, for personal satisfaction/ the euphoria of winning or just to kill some time.

‘One of the things I’ve seen historically is that if one of those pleasures was not satisfied they would feel cheated by that game’.

He added that Dr Parke had talked about how you could ensure maximum pleasure with minimum harm.

Mr Robson added: ‘There is continued development into enhancing the games and there will always be new players entering that gaming market’.

He did not think anybody had the ‘silver bullet on how you can maximise pleasure and minimise harm, but that was something every company was working towards.’

Bill Mummery then raised the aspect of significant cultural differences between punters.

He said his major market in the eGaming world is the Asian market.

He said: ‘Their approach is radically different to gamblers in the West. They operate on much lower margins and can calculate value just like that, they are not going for the life changing experience.

‘They are looking for the two to three per cent edge and their behaviour is totally different [to people in the British Isles]’

He said their style of gambling is so different, they are informed and the way they calculate things, you could not apply the same sort of norms.

Mr Robson said: ‘It does frustrate me when people categorise recreational participants as just gamblers.

‘A poker player could wager hundreds of thousands of pounds every week but never actually spend a single penny because he won the money in a free roll and he is a really good player and he’s building his bankroll and he’s never lost anything in that point of time.

‘Also [look at slot players], a less sophisticated style of gambling. I could spend a pound on a slot machine and think: ‘‘That was a waste of money, I hate it. Someone could spend £100,000 but if they have got £6million in the bank, who are we to say you can’t afford it and that’s a problem. For them that might be like spending a pound.’

Archie Watt said: ‘In discussions I’ve had with the UK gambling regulator I have tried to make that point to them. It’s not the size of the stake that dictates the problem.’

Mr Robson pointed out: ‘Absolutely not’. He said he would raise the question of ‘predatory practises’ - such as in the cashing out procedure for punters. He referred to firms who give a 72 hour pending period before they process the cashing out. ‘And in that period they send emails offering bonuses if you don’t cash out.

‘Is that something a regulator should take an oversight of?,’ he asked. ‘I would say that’s a predatory practise. It’s not a soft hurdle’.

Bill Mummery said: ‘It’s entirely reasonable that the regulator looks at [these] barriers to withdrawal’.

Mr Mummery said it was important for the sports bettor to have trust with the firm he bets with.

And speed of payout when the game has finished was vital.

‘He wants his winnings back in his account. Withholding those winnings after a game is an encumbrance.

‘It creates an unfairness and sometimes the time firms take to settle events and make available the funds to the player are entirely unreasonable. It’s his decision then what he [the punter] wants to do with those.

‘For me it would be obscene for anybody to put that sort of barrier in front of withdrawal.’

Mr Robson referred to ‘smoke and mirrors’ when people talk about mechanisms that have been adopted by unscrupulous operators as a mechanism of delaying payouts. Unfortunately legitimate controls have been known to be used to this end e.g. ‘know your customer’ – KYC

‘That’s indefensible’ replied Mr Mummery.

However Mr Mummery went on to stress one material and important difference between the Isle of Man and other jurisdictions and that was in the level of player protections.

He said: ‘How can you possibly say that a consumer is better protected under a UK licence than an Isle of Man licence when the UK, in my view, did not deal with the issue of player segregated funds. That single item that’s unique to the Isle of Man is a major differential in the level of protection

‘Therefore an operator that has chosen to come to the Isle of Man has got his head around the need to deal with segregated funds.’

He said operators who come here have to realise they have to ring fence player funds and that they cannot use player funds as working capital.

‘Someone who comes here and realises they have to do this are far more receptive. They would be far more receptive to mechanisms that deal with things such as false barriers of cash out. It is the biggest sign of commitment that they have signed out to an agreement to segregate’ [player funds].

Mr Robson said: ‘People do recognise the Isle of Man’s reputation.’

Mr Mummery: ‘We need to be precious about any new opportunity.’

Jennifer Houghton, managing director of online gaming company Annexio, had the day before made a presentation on the multi-jurisdictional licensing process at the summit.

And she told the roundtable that ‘there are misunderstandings even as close to home as the UK over multi-jurisdictional licensing’.

She said the fact the Isle of Man has segregated player funds certified as medium risk, to other jurisdictions, when asked questions about it, they did not know how to classify it .

Mr Robson said there were organisations that ‘we [the IoM government] have refused to take forward to a licence because of the issues that they have with the segregation of player funds.’

‘It’s tough when someone says they will bring 200 people here and they will relocate here, and say they will commit millions but our reputation is worth more than that.

‘You can’t buy a reputation you have to earn it.’

Mr Hofmann: ‘You can lose it [reputation]quite quickly’

Mr Robson: Absolutely.’

‘The thing is that reputation is, a lot of the time not based on fact but on perception. If someone believes something then to them that is the fact.

‘And there are still some people who believe in something called the ‘‘doom switch’’. They think there is a big red button which is used if someone is winning too much.’

Chris Hall: ‘It’s a very tight knit industry. Reputation and relationships are important’.

Joerg Hofmann: ‘It’s also in the interests of the operators themselves to have these systems in place to run a proper know your customer system to care for proper payment processing because nobody wants to lose their players. It’s the same in the land based business.’

He said that in Germany the lack of regulation for licensed online gambling offers reminds him of a ‘ghost ride on the German autobahn as its result is that players often choose to go to firms that do not offer the right sort of protection’.

Mr Mummery pointed out: ‘The relationship here in the island with the licensed operators and the regulator, it’s not something you can put on a poster but I think that across the industry it’s well known and it is part of our USP. [unique selling proposition]

‘People know we are a premier jurisdiction and people know that quite rightly the bar is set high and they also know that if you are licensed here you have a very constructive positive relationship with your regulator which is not always the case in other jurisdictions. I do think that is a significant USP for us.’

Mr Robson referred to the fact that Steve Brennan, chief executive of the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, is due to take over as chairman of an international gaming body. He said this could only enhance the island’s reputation even more.

Jennifer Houghton was asked by Archie Watt about her secondary lottery model with multi-jurisdictional working. ‘Do you find that your model the secondary lottery model, do the other regulators understand what it is you’re delivering and how well governed it is?

Jennifer: ‘Quite frankly no, based on the questions I get asked.’

She said there was a ‘lot of unknown and nervousness about the model of her business which is based around people being able to place bets on the outcome of lotteries around the world.

‘When they realise it is actually in a jurisdiction with full player protection and the controls we have in place here, strictly regulated, then they will back off or they will ask questions and then they will feel comfortable again’.

‘But the initial reaction is that you get a lot of questions that surprise me which suggests to me they don’t quite understand the secondary lottery business at all.’

She said that offering people the chance to place bets on the outcomes of lotteries was a new concept and a popular one.

‘We have been doing this for about five years.’

‘What I like about the Department of Economic Development and the Gambling Supervision Commission is that they are quick to react with answers to questions in less than 24 hours. It is a very open dialogue. If I’m not sure about something, I will pick up the phone and do that comfortably.’

But she said it was part and parcel of being multi-jurisdictional that her business was challenged on a regular basis about the model they worked on.

There was an issue with secondary lottery markets in some countries.

The discussion heard that Germany is a big market for secondary lotteries

Bill Mummery claimed there was ‘a significant social issue with the UK lottery’.

In his opinion he called it a ‘total disconnect’ that allowed 16 year olds to buy scratch cards.

He thought it was ‘fundamentally wrong that a government [the UK] allows the distribution of lottery products to sit completely outside of and in conflict with the way they manage every other form of gambling product.

‘It’s a legitimate social responsibility issue that government should address.’

Paul Davis pointed out: ‘It’s the why! Why does the United States allow pharmacists to sell cigarettes for example. There is no explanation’.

Joerg Hofmann expanded this theme by pointing out how he met with a famous US lawyer a couple of years ago at an event in Amsterdam.

‘He said to me: ‘‘This is totally weird here in the Netherlands. There are prostitutes in windows, you can smoke marijuana in coffee shops, but they do not provide regulation for online gaming.’’

‘This is it - different attitudes in different sectors.

‘It is really weird. The same is true in the US where you cannot drink alcohol until you are 21 but you can carry a weapon at a younger age than that. There are different values.’

Paul Davis said it was his perception that slot games online have changed and advanced so much from the land based casinos

‘Online is a growing thing,’ he said.

Russell Kelly from KPMG said the biggest thing to hit the land based casinos was a cigarette ban. It proved to be a form of cooling off for punters who had to leave their machines to go outside for a cigarette. It was the same with bingo as well.

Mr Robson, who has worked for various gambling companies, pointed out that in Las Vegas there were still places where you could smoke on the casino floor.

He added that the land based makers of slot machine games are trying to make a more immersive experience by building bigger cabinets and enhancing the game graphics and sounds and they are being very successful at this, but he said it still ‘boiled down to a case of hitting the button and being mesmerised by a representation of spinning wheels.’

And online slot manufacturers, the land based ones, have pushed content online.

Chris Hall made the observation that ‘in this industry, things are moving so quickly aren’t they? With the physical [land based] slots, people must have seen this coming. They are a little bit slow to react.

‘So from the island’s point of view it just shows that we have to keep moving all the time. We have to keep innovating ... we are at the cusp of the wave and not following three years behind everybody else because that would be very bad news.’

Archie Watt said a major American manufacturer called TCS John Huxley were definitely trying to bring roulette tables into the digital age.

Mr Robson said: ‘The behemoths have been acting like supertankers and it takes too long to change directions and the more nimble companies have stolen the march’.

Mr Watt: ‘Should people in the Isle of Man be working more closely with the land based operators to try and bring a better solution?’

Paul Davis replied: ‘We should be lining up with those very fleet of foot developers that are doing the best.’

skills shortage

Mr Davis then turned the discussion to the skills shortage in the island.

Mr Robson emphasised that there were more than 100 vacancies in this skill sector alone.

He said: ‘It’s a case of asking how we get people through the door.’

Jennifer Houghton from Annexio said: ‘We spent a lot of time looking for talent abroad because we struggled to find talent locally.

‘Depending on the department, finance, IT , support, they can be found locally.

‘Affiliate marketing, digital marketing is much more difficult and although we have been successful it has not been without a lot of effort. A lot of time and money is spent looking for talent to bring here.

‘We found the talent in America, Romania, Norway, Poland, the UK.

‘Locally on the marketing side there has been very little because you need experience and when you get to a certain size you want to have people that have contacts.

‘So if you’re training from scratch at a junior level there is excellent talent locally but if you are looking for experience in say, digital marketing, anything like that, we have struggled.

‘We advertise in local papers plus recruitment agencies.’ She added: ‘We have 12 different nationalities from 25 staff.’

Paul Davis asked Mr Robson: ‘Where is the responsibility within government over recruiting staff? Is there an outbound effort from within DED?

Mr Robson: ‘Yes there certainly is. There is a group internally that includes the DED, jobcentre and private sector and we are trying to do whatever we can to try and understand how we can facilitate easier recruitment for the private sector.’

He pointed to recent updates to the work permit legislation and efforts to help spouses to get work here

Chris Hall said: ‘This change has been fantastic because there definitely has been a lot of evidence that it’s more difficult for people to settle if your wife or husband cannot get a job.

‘But I think we now have to move to the next step. We have skills shortages in IT and key industries and we have to be creative and find a way to bring partners into this scenario too. If we are really serious about solving the skills crisis I would love to see this change extended to long-term partners.

[Minister for Economic Development Laurence Skelly MHK pointed out recently that the relaxation in the work permit system will give greater certainty to employers and their prospective employees seeking to take up employment in the Isle of Man and reduce the bureaucracy around applications.]

It will be easier for the spouses or civil partners of permit holders or people who are exempt from work permits to work on the island.

Chris Hall claimed: ‘It is harder for partners since there is evidence that some companies prefer not to interview people who have to apply for a work permit.’

Mr Davis said: ‘We have full employment and yet the service sector is looking for people. I’ve not got any evidence of Manx people being put off jobs by immigrants.’

Mr Hall: ‘We need to grow the working population - as called for by the Chamber of Commerce, so we have the right mind-set. Let’s get the facilitators all lined up behind that strategy so we can get it to happen.

‘Otherwise with a global business it is easy to set up business wherever you want and recruit where the skills are.’

Mr Robson said: ‘The industry globally, there is a skills shortage. Relatively speaking, It is still a young industry so to find people with five years’ experience can still be quite difficult.’

Mr Hall said there were some ‘fantastic studies out there as to why people come here to work.

‘A programmer I met recently, he was working in Europe and wanted to work elsewhere. He did research of every single EU country and ranked every relevant factor. The Isle of Man came out top of all the places he looked at. Publicising stories of why people move will help make people aware that the island is a great place to live and work.

‘If we can move this forward it’s win, win, win for everyone, the employers, the economy and for the [eGaming] sector.’

Mr Robson said that because of the nature of the sector ‘we can’t go out into schools to promote eGaming as a career.

‘We have to wait until people are over the legal age for participation before they can be introduced to some of the elements of the online gaming sector’.

But this sparked Archie Watt to declare: ‘I’m sorry I don’t agree with that at all.’

He said there were all sorts of aspects in the sector including software development.

Mr Robson said he appreciated that point, however it would be difficult to promote eGaming in schools without understanding what gambling is, and that is where risks could present themselves.

Mr Watt pointed out that although it was illegal to gamble in India it was still legal to develop software there for the gaming industry. Chris Hall made the point that there was some great technology associated with eGaming.

Mr. Robson acknowledged these points and confirmed that whilst he was based in Vegas, he had responsibility for development teams in India, but also added there were corporate social responsibility guidelines companies implement and abide by.

Chris Hall thought we may need to think of better ways to get more people interested in the industry.

Jennifer Houghton said there were limitations on work experience.

Mr Robson talked of forging links with the north of England.

There were discussions afoot to work with university students to investigate setting up an ‘incubator’ to encourage them to look at coming to the Isle of Man.

Mr Hall said: ‘There is a lot we could do there’.

Alan Bonner will join 2015 Lightweight TT race winner Ivan Lintin at Devitt RC Express Racing for next year’s event.

The Bristol-based team, led by father and son Roy and Ben Constable, have risen through the road racing ranks since their debut mid-way through the 2012 season, firstly with Dean Harrison and more recently with Lintin.

With Lintin already confirmed, Bonner joins the team on the back of a highly successful 2015 TT which saw him become the fastest rider from Southern Ireland to lap the Mountain Course, breaking the late Martin Finnegan’s long-standing mark.

Having made his TT debut in 2014, winning two bronze replicas in the Supersport races, Bonner excelled in his second year of competing in the island, lapping at 127.090mph on his way to finishing in 15th place in the Senior.

That gave him his second silver replica in the process after finishing 18th earlier in the week in the Superstock race. He also finished 16th and won a bronze replica in the opening Superbike race.

The 2010 Irish Senior Road Race Champion took 16th in the solitary Superstock race at this year’s North West 200 while he also took a double race victory at the Kells Road Races in July.

Now fully recovered from injuries sustained in a qualifying accident at the Ulster Grand Prix, the Stamullen rider will campaign a Kawasaki ZX-10R Superstock machine in all of the 1,000cc races at the TT, North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix road races.

Bonner said: ‘I’m delighted to be joining Devitt RC Express Racing. I’ve admired the team for years and have seen the commitment they have to their riders. They have a very professional set-up and some of the best technical people working within their team.

‘I can’t thank them enough or their sponsors for this opportunity especially Mann Camping.’

Ben Constable added: ‘I’m really pleased to have Alan on board for the internationals in 2016.

‘He has shown great pace this year at the TT becoming the fastest Southern Irishman ever to lap the Mountain Course. With more of a team infrastructure behind him we firmly believe there is a lot more to come from him.

‘His first outing on the ZX10R will be in Spain in March and we can’t wait to get going.’

The team took their first podium at the 2014 TT when Harrison claimed second in the Superstock race before going one better a few days later with a superb victory in the Lightweight TT.

Lintin then gave the team further success in 2015 as they regained the Lightweight title.

Remember all those debates that used to be had over the viability of renewables? The argument against them because of their costs are starting to look rather weak, says IoM Friends of the Earth’s Cat Turner

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There was a time when opponents of wind and solar power said they shouldn’t displace fossil-fuelled electricity plants because they weren’t economic.

This would have been hilarious, had it not been such a serious matter.

Only this summer, the IMF produced a report entitled ‘Counting the Cost of Energy Subsidies.’ You can find it at http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2015/new070215a.htm.

As well as reminding readers that fossil fuel subsidies dwarf those given to the renewables industries, it pointed out that worldwide, ‘Eliminating global energy subsidies could reduce deaths related to fossil-fuel emissions by more than 50 per cent and fossil-fuel related carbon emissions by over 20 per cent’.

Those are pretty persuasive arguments, even if you don’t care about human wellbeing - think of the savings to world health and social care systems if we could avoid those unnecessary deaths.

The knock-on costs of the environmental and public health harms caused by fossil fuels are often conveniently ignored, but are significant.

In fact, in the UK itself, the fossil fuel sector received subsidies of over £26bn in 2015.

That’s huge - more than £400 per individual, and the equivalent of 1.4 per cent of UK GDP.

In comparison, the UK only spends a bit more - 2.1 per cent of GDP - on defence, which sets in context just how much its citizens are paying to prop up this last-century, environmentally damaging industry.

Compared to the handout the UK Government gives to fossil fuels, its support for renewables has been laughable. In 2014-15 it was just £3.5 billion, according to figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change itself.

This despite the health savings, new jobs and other benefits that flow from the renewables industry.

This hasn’t stopped the gas-crazed UK government from making a massive song and dance about the need to cut renewables subsidies because: ‘They’re adding to householders’ bills’.

This sends emerging businesses to the wall, with significant job losses, to protect fossil-fuel interests.

But even without government subsidies, wind power is now the cheapest electricity to produce in both the UK and Germany, according to a recent report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

In addition the Netherlands also announced in separate reporting that it had also passed this point as well in 2015.

Falling costs of production and maturing technologies have helped breach this threshold.

And these benefits are likely to grow, because of what’s called the ‘capacity factor’.

That’s the percentage of a power plant’s maximum potential that’s actually achieved over time. Here’s how it works.

If we think about a solar project, it’s obvious that there’s no sun at night, and it can also be variable in daytime - brightness, weather, seasons.

So a project that can produce 100 mWh on a sunny day might produce just 20 per cent on average, over a year. We call that a 20 per cent ‘capacity factor’.

An advantage of fossil fuel power plants is that they can have very high and predictable capacity factors.

A natural gas plant, for example, might produce about 70 per cent of its potential.

The reason it won’t reach 100 per cent is because of things like seasonal demand and time-outs for maintenance.

This is all changing, though, and it matters a lot. Right now, the widespread uptake of renewables is effectively lowering the capacity factor for fossil fuels. Once a wind or solar project is built, the marginal cost of the electricity it produces is almost nothing-free. But fossil fuelled power plants need more fuel for each unit of power produced. If you’re an energy company with a choice, and make rational decisions, you’ll choose the free option every time.

This should prove to be a virtuous cycle as we see more renewables installed around the world, coal and natural gas plants will get used less.

Indeed the lifetime costs attributed to new coal and gas plants over the second half of 2015 have continued to rise.

As less coal and gas is used, the cost of using them for power generation will continue to rise. As the cost of coal and gas power rises, more renewables will be installed regardless of concerns about energy security, environment or human health.

Let’s hope the island catches up soon and starts to explore the huge opportunities in onshore wind and solar so as to secure these energy benefits for its citizens both in terms of energy and price security and the new jobs and economic opportunities we’re missing out on.

I have had a visit from Patrick Barkham, a feature writer with The Guardian based in London. He is researching a book about British islands which will include the Isle of Man and he wanted me to help him.

But I was more interested in what he thought of our island. ‘Too many cars,’ he said promptly. ‘They spoil the place.’ This from a man who lives and works in London.

I agree with my friend Patrick. The Department of Infrastructure says there are more than 70,000 cars and other motor vehicles registered in the little old Isle of Man – and they are getting in the way of each other.

They are not only being actually driven on our roads. They are also to be seen almost permanently parked on our roads, both sides often enough. Meanwhile it is estimated – by me anyway – that by the next population census there will be more cars than people in the Isle of Man.

All these things call for drastic measures and my plan is a simple one. People with big cars should be made to pay a lot more money for their petrol and this money should then be devoted to paying the petrol bills of the owners of small cars.

But which small cars?

Well, let me start by suggesting Mini One convertibles, if you get my four-wheel drift.

THIS tells us more about the export adventures of Castletown Brewery’s Oyster Stout.

It has come in from Eric Corkish of Manx Nostalgia who also has photographs of crates of the stuff being loaded on to an aircraft at Ronaldsway. (Eric says if anybody can offer anything for Manx Nostalgia he can be contacted on 452942).

THIS week’s crossword clue has come in from Sara Goodwins. It was in the Sunday Telegraph prize crossword as follows: ‘Local phrasing I had found west of the Isle of Man (5).’

DOUGLAS Town Councillor Stephen Pitts and Paul Quayle have both found an obituary and funeral announcement published in the Examiner which said: ‘Clothing for anyone attending the service is optional.’

JOHN Garfield has been on about a newspaper article in which the cabin crew of a Thomas Cook Airlines aircraft were described as ‘LGBT friendly.’ This puzzled him. He added: ‘I thought it might something similar to a BLT sandwich.’

This is something which might bite back, John.

THE Daily Telegraph named its 10 best English wines, which included ‘The Henners Brut 2010, a tasty, toasty blanc de noirs made from 56 per cent pinot noir and 54 per cent spicy pinot meunier.’

Somebody had a drop too much by the sound of it.

MY Manx Radio broadcasting colleague Ed Oldham tells me that when he started at Castle Rushen High School 20 years ago his history teacher, a woman, told the class: ‘I am going to teach her-story.’

MY Funnies File offers the information that some years ago every sheet of the toilet paper at Manx Radio bore the printed legend: ‘Not for re-sale.’ Who would have wanted to buy it?

SILLY SIGNS: This one was in a laundromat: ‘Automatic washing machine. Please remove all your clothes when the light goes out.’

Then what happens?

CROSSWORD: Idiom - It’s surprising how many different clues come up with this answer.

I HAVE had my first Christmas card. It’s from my old friend Albert Teare, former groundsman at Noble’s Park. He says he has just been to Noble’s Hospital and had a good MOT – ‘ Not bad for 86.’ Keep going Albert.

This year’s Isle of Man Bank Charity Santa Dash takes place around Douglas town centre next Wednesday lunchtime.

The sprint through the streets of Douglas will begin at 12.30pm from the bank’s Athol Street premises before heading down Prospect Hill, Victoria Street, along Loch Promenade, up Church Road and along Finch Road to a finish at the entrance to the South Douglas Old Friends Association where runners will receive a goody bag at the festive warm down reception.

Prizes up for grabs are £300, £200 and £100 for the leading male and female Santas and will be announced at the SDOFA immediately after the event.

There will also be £100 each for the best Santa/festive outfit for male and female as well as £100 for the best festive team.

Entrants for the event must be at least 18 years of age on the day, running on behalf of a Manx registered charity and wearing a full Santa or Christmas-themed costume.

The closing date for entries in Monday, December 14 and registration opens at 11.15am on the day at the South Douglas Old Friends Association, closing no later than 12.15pm.

Entry forms can be downloaded from the website www.iombank.com and then need to be returned to Jane Howland, Isle of Man Bank, Howard Pearson House, Summerhill Business Park, Victoria Road, Douglas, IM2 4RP.

Kevin Bromley and Ann Lenore Bromley, sold Cherry Tree Lodge, Strang Road, Union Mills, for £625,000, to Jason Douglas Coole and Amy Louise Coole, of 9 Cronk Drine, Union Mills.

Eric Lee Loughran and Beverly Anne Loughran, sold 4 Old School View, Eyreton Road, Crosby, for £485,000, to Stephen James Douglas and Mary Jane Douglas, of 5 Elm Bank, Ballagarey, Glen Vine.

Sylvia Sherbourne sold Willowsmere, Colby Glen Road, Colby, for £410,000, to Elma Leonora Tee and Matthew James William Tee, both of 14 Abbots Drive, Ballasalla.

Ian William Hamilton and Joanne Clair Hamilton sold 10 Windermere Avenue, Onchan, for £385,000, to Jennifer Anne Baggott, of 54 Banks Howe, Onchan.

John Robert Clague and Patricia Marrilynn Clague, of East Bretney Farm, Polly Road, Jurby, sold East Bretney, Jurby, for £345,000, to Gareth James Kinrade and Paula Kinrade, of 14 Ballalough, Andreas.

Helen Vyse, of West Sussex, sold Loughside, Bride, for £300,000, to Lee Anthony Crossley and Nichola Crossley, of 35 Claughbane Drive, Ramsey.

Initial Investments Limited, whose registered office is situated in the Bahamas, sold 27 Ballaterson Fields, Ballaugh, for £265,000, to Matthew Edward Bettridge and Andrina Jane Kennish, both of 33 Sprucewood View, Foxdale.

Timothy Cowin and Aalish Louise Cowin, both of 6 Old School View, Eyreton Lea, Crosby, sold 8 Stonecrop Grove, Abbeyfields, Douglas, for £189,000, to Gregory Nicholas Pye, of The Hague, 8 Governor’s Road, Onchan.

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

The build up to Christmas continues with a bang in Ramsey tomorrow (Friday) with a series of events taking place in the town.

Participants in the lantern parade will congregate in the car park of Ramsey Town Hall from 4.45pm.

They will depart at 5.15pm via West Street and Parliament Street until it reaches Ramsey Courthouse.

Once the parade reaches the Courthouse, carol singing for the whole community will be led by Ramsey Methodist Church Community Choir.

Many shops, businesses, cafes and restaurants will be open until 8pm – and organisers say this offers a great opportunity to do a spot of Christmas shopping and take advantage of the free parking that Ramsey offers.

Father Christmas will also be in attendance, in his grotto in Ramsey Warehouse.

The evening will culminate in a fireworks display at 8.30pm – the best place to view these will be from Queens Promenade.

The fireworks are those which had originally been planned for Ramsey Rocks but which had to be cancelled because of poor weather.

Steven Bevan from Ramsey Town Commissioners and Ramsey Chamber of Commerce said: ‘Following the success of our Christmas Light Switch On and Santa Trail which attracted hundreds of visitors we look forward to welcoming people to Ramsey on Friday afternoon and evening.

‘Ramsey has a strong independent retail community and benefits from ample free parking.

‘The timing of the events will allow parents with children attending the Bunscoill Rhumsaa disco to take part in all activities and come back into town during the disco!’

Further information and any updates can be obtained from facebook.com/whatsonramsey

A thief stole tools from a van in Andreas earlier this week.

The crime took place between 9.30pm on Tuesday and 7.55am the next day.

A Ford Connect van owned by Gough Electrical was targeted on the main Bride Road opposite the entrance to Croft Park.

A number of power tools were stolen including: DeWalt XR4AMP 18V rechargeable hammer drill; Milwaukee Percussion 18v rechargeable Drill; DeWalt 110v power drill; Milwaukee 18v rechargeable hand held torch; JCB wheeled tool box full of tools.

Investigating officer Steve Grainger said: ‘The items stolen during this crime are identifiable. I urge anyone who may have been offered such items to report it to the police.’

Police are also investigating the theft of tooks from a building site on Circular Road, Douglas, last weekend.

Officers say a ‘significant quantity’ of power tools were stolen and they are likely to be sold, or passed onwards.

Constable Mason, based at Lord Street Police Station, is appealing for information from the public as part of his investigations.

A partially-sighted Ramsey woman is gearing up for the festive period by creating hand-made Christmas cards.

Sarah Butler, aged 29, started making her own greetings cards as a hobby and turned her passion into a business in October last year.

Originally from Cumbria, Sarah moved to the island in 2011 and started the business after she had difficulties finding a job.

‘As time went on I was getting more and more frustrated at not being able to get a job. I started volunteering with the Manx Blind Welfare Society and it was then suggested that I should start my own card business,’ Sarah said.

‘I thought I would give it a go and I have never really looked back!’

Working from her home in Ramsey Sarah has a wide range of cards available for this Christmas with designs including Christmas trees, Nativity scenes and snowflakes.

‘It is surprising where you get ideas from. I get them from talking to people, the weather, the time of the year as well as certain occasions like Christmas and Easter - all sorts of things really.’

‘I like to have some sort of tactile element to [the cards] so they are accessible to people who can’t see quite as well.’

Sarah uses a variety of different elements such as wooden buttons, foam shapes and pieces of Laxey tartan in her card designs and cards can also be specially personalised.

To create the cards Sarah uses special dye cutting presses which cut different shapes out. ‘In my whole collection I have about 800 different cutters I can use. Depending on designs and how complicated they are I can make 50 cards a day.’

Sarah’s hand-made cards are available in a number of shops around the island including Celtic Gold in Peel and Mostly Manx in Douglas. As well as this, she attends craft fairs on the weekend which she said allows her to promote and explain the business to the public.

‘It’s getting to the stage where it’s quite nice that people know the cards. In the first couple of months it was very slow but now I have regular customers – it’s nice that I’m getting recognition and hopefully that will continue.

‘My goal is just to try to expand and get into more shops. At the moment only two of the shops buy the cards outright so my next goal is to try and increase this.’

For more information or if you would like to purchase some of Sarah’s cards visit Hand-made greetings cards, Isle of Man on Facebook, call 418210 or email sarahmbutler@hotmail.co.uk

Engineers at the site of Laxey’s collapsed bridge hope the remains of the structure can be demolished either today (Thursday) or tomorrow.

The bus which ended up in the river in the centre of the village after the collapse can then be moved down towards the harbour and boat park where it can be dismantled in situ and removed.

This process is likely to take a number of days to be completed.

Work was continuing yesterday at the site of last week’s incident.

Engineers were ensuring services such as telephone lines were secure and re-routed if necessary before the remains of the bridge are demolished

This is expected to be done by the end of this week if all goes according to plan, according to site construction manager Gary Saunders.

Once the way is clear, the remains of the bus are to be moved downstream towards the harbour boat park, where they can be dismantled and removed.

Mr Saunders said the bridge demolition would also leave a large quantity of rubble needing removal from the site.

A temporary pedestrian foot bridge is to be constructed across the river. Engineers were laying the foundations for this yesterday (Wednesday) and the concrete will take a few days to cure. If all goes smoothly, engineers will then spend two days building the bridge, which should be ready for use either by the end of Tuesday or on Wednesday morning.

The driver of the bus, which had dropped off its passengers, had a lucky escape, getting off the bus just before the bridge collapsed last Thursday, when an unprecedented 48mm of rain fell.

The Isle of Man has signed a tax information exchange agreement with Spain.

It’s part of what the Manx government calls its ‘continuing commitment to meet international standards in tax co-operation and transparency’.

The agreement was signed by Mr José Manuel Gutiérrez Delgado, Financial Counsellor of the Embassy of Spain to the UK, and Eddie Teare MHK, the Isle of Man’s Treasury Minister, at a ceremony held in London.

Mr Teare said: ‘Spain is both a member of the European Union and the OECD and last year, like the Isle of Man, was one of the first countries to commit to sharing information in accordance with the OECD Common Reporting Standard.

‘The signing of this TIEA is another important step in building closer relations between our two countries and will lead to Spain removing the Isle of Man from a “tax haven blacklist” established under Spanish law in 2006. This recognition of our shared values and goals makes the TIEA a very significant addition to the Isle of Man’s network of international tax agreements.’

The text of the agreement can be viewed on the International Agreements page of the Isle of Man Treasury Income Tax Division’s website.

{http://www.gov.im/categories/tax-vat-and-your-money/income-tax-and-national-insurance/international-agreements/|Click here to read that.}

The Manx Netball Association will utilise courts at Ramsey Grammar and Ballakermeen high schools for its league and cup fixtures with the NSC sports hall shut.

Games will also take place at the already used venues of Bemahague and Castle Rushen High School.

A MNA statement explained: ‘Senior league and cup matches will be played on Sunday mornings at St Ninian’s Lower School, Castle Rushen High School, Ramsey Grammar School and Ballakermeen High School.

‘They will commence on Sunday, January 10 and be played until Sunday, April 24, but there will be rest week for Easter on March 27. Cup rounds will be played on February 7, February 14, April 10 with the final on May 1.

‘Matches which were meant to be played at the NSC last Sunday will now be played on April 3 when they are no other senior fixtures scheduled.

The MNA added: ‘Fixtures for the second half of the season have been done but umpires and venues are yet to be allocated.’