Perspective - Manx Radio

A climate emergency was declared on the Isle of Man in May. In July, Professor James Curran was brought in to lead a team of around twenty – working towards a climate change action plan for the Island. They were set a six month target to construct and present a report. We get an update from Professor Curran, roughly half way through that period, about the work he and his team are doing. Also, we hear an extended discussion with Dr Miguel Clüsener-Godt, who is one of the senior figures at the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. He speaks about what 'biosphere reserve' accreditation means, and looks at the Isle of Man as a case study. The Island is the only entire nation to have been given the accolade.

In Tynwald on Tuesday, two separate documents are being presented to the court, loosely covering the topic of poverty: Tynwald's Poverty Committee's own report, and the Council of Ministers' Cold, Hunger and Homelessness Action Plan. Jason Moorhouse from the committee and Minister for Policy and Reform Chris Thomas discuss their findings with Manx Radio's Dollin Mercer.

Some years ago, big promises were made when it came to the film industry. The old adage of 'speculate to accumulate' was banded around by some supporters of heavy investment in media here. Critics argued the proposals lacked some depth. To quote an MHK who would go on to become Treasury Minister, "I am pleading with you to cast off that starry-eyed spell that has been waved over you and start appreciating facts: there is no proper due diligence; there is no business plan." It would appear that Mr Cannan was right. The Media Development Fund is thought to have incurred losses of between 26 and 27 million pounds. And in July last year, the leader of Liberal Vannin argued there should be a full-scale inquiry into those losses, spearheaded by a Tynwald committee. If we fast-forward to September 2019, Kate Beecroft was summoned to give evidence to the very committee she had, essentially, laid the foundations for. Tynwald's Public Accounts Committee was tasked with identifying whether further investigation

This week, came what could potentially be some big news for some of the Island's fishing fleet. Specifically, queen scallop fishermen, who are being encouraged to branch out and try to catch some different species. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture is inviting queenie catchers to make grant applications towards diversifying, as part of government's 'future fisheries' vision of what it describes as a "sustainable, thriving and well-managed fishing industry providing high-quality seafood products." Funding is being made available for an eight-week application period, to support diversification into new species, gear types and training. The department says grant applications can be made between 23 September and 18 November 2019, therefore lying between the two main fishing seasons for queen scallops and king scallops. All qualifying vessel owners, which are those licensed to fish locally for queen scallop, were sent an application form. Support of up to 80% towards eligible costs will b

Dollin Mercer is joined by the Governor of the Isle of Man Prison, Bob McColm, Minister of Home Affairs Bill Malarkey and Home Affairs Chief Executive Dan Davies to look back on ‘The Best Little Prison in Britain?’ - the ITV series which focussed on the Isle of Man’s only prison. The series was aired in six parts, on Wednesday evenings on ITV1.

In July, Perspective took a look at what's increasingly becoming one of the biggest talking points on our Island. The ongoing refurbishment works along Douglas promenade are estimated to take around two years, and it's thought to be the first major excavation of the capital's highway in 90 years. However, it's estimated the project is already as much as ten weeks behind schedule. Motorists who use the route may well have experienced delays, parking spaces have been lost or moved, and pedestrians may have struggled to cross in places with the central corridor shut for extended lengths. But those who have felt perhaps the biggest impact are some of the businesses situated along the front, and members of Tynwald's environment and infrastructure policy review committee made it their mission to find out just what effect the works have had on them. The committee's chair, Rob Callister MHK, went from being the interrogator to interrogated this week, as he was one of five representatives of the Department for En

This week, we're taking another look at the work of Tynwald's Social Affairs Policy Review Committee, after a further public evidence session with a senior figure from the health department. If we rewind back to November last year, the standing committee of Tynwald committed to undertake an inquiry into the topic of suicide on the Isle of Man. The move came as part of its report on mental health here. The committee set out to look at: i) The adequacy of preventative measures; ii) The response of public services following instances of suicide; iii) The role and functioning of the Coroner of Inquests; and iv) The support available for those affected by suicide. The panel consists of David Cretney MLC plus MHKs Martyn Perkins and Julie Edge. The trio heard in public from the health department's interim CEO, Angela Murray, on Monday (9 September). We hear that discussion in full, and Dollin Mercer is then joined live in the studio by the committee's chair to reflect on what he'd heard. As well as discu

This week, we're taking a look back on a crucial oral evidence session which took place on Monday (2 September 2019). If we rewind back to November last year, the Social Affairs Policy Review Committee, a standing committee of Tynwald, committed to undertake an inquiry into the topic of suicide. The move came as part of its report on mental health here. The committee set out to look at: i) The adequacy of preventative measures; ii) The response of public services following instances of suicide; iii) The role and functioning of the Coroner of Inquests; and iv) The support available for those affected by suicide. The panel consists of David Cretney MLC plus MHKs Martyn Perkins and Julie Edge. Mr Cretney and Mr Perkins heard in public from the Minister of Health and Social Care David Ashford, and Dr Henrietta Ewart who is Director of Public Health. We hear that discussion in full, and we also listen to previous conversations on the topic, with Bill Henderson MLC and also with the then-Director of Commu

On #MRPerspective, Dollin Mercer and William King were joined by three figureheads of the trade union movement on the Isle of Man. Live in the studio, we heard from Mick Hewer of Prospect union, and Debbie Halsall of Unite. During the programme, we also heard extracts from an interview with former union head Bernard Moffatt. You can listen to that conversation, in full, here.

Dollin Mercer and William King are joined by three figureheads of the trade union movement on the Isle of Man. Live in the studio, we hear from Mick Hewer of Prospect union, and Debbie Halsall of Unite. We also hear extracts from an interview with former union head Bernard Moffatt.

We hear from students, parents, teachers and officials at the Department of Education, Sport and Culture reflecting on A Level and GCSE results days.

For the past two years in particular, discussions over the potential development of a cruise ship tourism industry have blossomed. Last week, Ellis Brown architects proposed plans for a new deep water cruise berth in Douglas. Earlier this year, Cruise Isle of Man announced a new passenger record for 2019, topping last year's total. Is it time for a fresh debate on cruise tourism on the Island? We look at the discussion that has already taken place on the topic, hearing from Visit Isle of Man, Ellis Brown architects and a cruise ship captain, then we speak to the man in charge - Rob Callister, who is the member of the Department for Enterprise with responsibility for tourism.

In March 2018, a panel was formed to review the effectiveness of government's current whistleblowing policy, and any relevant legislation. Whistleblowing is the act of drawing public attention, or the attention of a figure in authority, towards perceived wrongdoing, misconduct, or unethical activity within an organisation. Onchan MHK Julie Edge was appointed to chair this committee, joined by MLCs Kerry Sharpe and Jane Poole-Wilson. To begin with, they heard from several representatives from within government - senior figures from the Financial Services Authority, Health Department, HR and Industrial Relations, for example. But, this summer, the committee decided to give members of the public the chance to submit evidence, extending the invite to anyone with any experience of, or views relating to, the Island's whistleblowing process. What followed was a public meeting with a Mr Rob Sutton. He received a record-breaking six-figure payout at a recent employment tribunal, following his dismissal from Cree

We've seen a summer of success for many sports men and women from across the British Isles, and increased coverage and exposure for many women's sports in particular - which prompted us to take a look at Women in Sport from a Manx perspective. Included in that summer of success, there have been excellent results for many of the people and teams representing the Isle of Man in various disciplines. The Manx football team won at Ynys Mon, our netballers won at the Netball Europe Open Challenge event - the first ever international netball competition hosted on the Island - and of course we saw a huge array of successes at the Island Games in Gibraltar, to name just a few examples. Joining us in the studio, we had: Jane Ryder-Clague, a Netball player and P.E. teacher; Lauren Ellison, a Rugby and Basketball player and teacher; Becky Dunne, a Basketball player and P.E. teacher; Hannah Riley, an Athlete and the Island's Athletics Development Officer; plus Rhian Evans, a Netball player and Multimedia Journalist at

We've heard lots over the past few days, weeks and months about Douglas promenade. The ongoing refurbishment works there are estimated to take around two years, and it's thought to be the first major excavation of the capital's highway in 90 years. However, Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer says the project is already something like eight or ten weeks behind schedule. Motorists who use the route may well have experienced delays, parking spaces have been lost or moved, and pedestrians may have struggled to cross in places with the central corridor shut for extended lengths. But those who have felt perhaps the biggest impact are some of the businesses situated along the front, and members of Tynwald's environment and infrastructure policy review committee made it their mission to find out just what effect the works have had on them. Having heard from infrastructure bosses, chairman Rob Callister MHK, Chris Robertshaw and Clare Bettison heard from representatives of five businesses - Nigel Fogg, Managing D

Year 12 students from five of the Island’s secondary schools took part in the initiative - a mock Tynwald sitting which included question time and two motions. The questions asked focused on a range of topics, including on the refugee crisis, environmental issues and mental health. The two schools which moved motions were Ballakermeen High School and Castle Rushen High School. Not only did students take the positions of politicians, but some chose to be journalists working with Manx Radio and Isle of Man Newspapers.

The 'flourishing' drug trade, lack of police presence at Manx borders, mental health, the prospective gay pardon and much more is discussed in this police special.

Over 3000 respondents took part in the consultation into the medicinal use of the drug with 95% supporting the introduction of cultivation and processing of cannabis on the Island, subject to suitable regulation. Meanwhile, 97% of those who responded to a consultation into the industrial use of the crop, supported the creation of a regulatory framework within which hemp could be produced on the Isle of Man. We hear from the director of public health, Dr Henrietta Ewart and self-styled cannabis consultant Jeff Ditchfield, asking the questions about legalising the use of cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes.

Following DEFA imposing new restrictions on queen scallop fishing in Manx waters, we hear from fishermen, the Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot, scientists from the university of Bangor and expert Dr David Beard.

Dollin Mercer is joined by: Steve Rodan OBE MLC, President of Tynwald; the Clerk of Tynwald, Roger Phillips; Weather forecaster Neil Young; Culture Vannin; Alex Brindley and Captain Jonathan Palmer-Tomkinson, The 2nd Captain, The Queen’s Company of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards who will be the military presence on Tynwald Day. Tynwald Day takes place on Friday 5th July.