The future of state-provided services in the Isle of Man is under the spotlight like never before.
In this week’s Isle of Man Examiner, the Minister for Policy and Reform, Chris Robertshaw MHK, outlines why there needs to be a ‘Big Debate’ about the issue.
His explanation is in his own words inside the paper.
But the news about the ‘Big Debate’ is the basis of the lead story in today’s paper too.
People will be invited to a series of meetings throughout the island and have the chance to vote using an electronic gadget.
Also in this week’s paper, we have been invited to see the railway station with trains boss Ian Longworth.
Two weeks ago, the Isle of Man Examiner revealed that the station could be knocked down if work wasn’t done on it.
In spite of the fact that the information came as a written statement from his own department, the minister, Phil Gawne, described it as a ‘throwaway comment’.
So what is the situation and how bad is it?
A petitioner at Tynwald called for the Isle of Man to allow assisted suicide. We hear what she has to say and ask if the bishop agrees.
There’s a page devoted to that.
We also join the last horse tram of the season. It’s the last for some time because of the work that’s planned on the promenade.
The paper also looks back at the Film Festival and there’s the second part of our feature on the island’s involvement in the slave trade. {http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/isle-of-man-s-role-in-18th-century-slave-trade-1-6833224|Part one is here to whet your appetite.}
Our sports pages include a review of the rally, while our 12-page business coverage reveals why the island has made history with digital currencies.
With our lively letters page, a page of news reports written by readers, Terry Cringle’s nostalgia column and details of the latest property sales, the Isle of Man Examiner is an indispensible part of the Manx week.
It’s in the shops now.