Perspective - Manx Radio

What does the sale of all Shoprite stores mean for us here on the Isle of Man?  Beth Espey looks back at how the news was announced, and considers the impact on Manx producers.

Following Chris Thomas’s sacking as Infrastructure Minister, his subsequent resignation as Chair of the Housing and Communities Board and a three month hiatus in housing leadership, David Ashford has emerged as the new housing head. So can he deliver on the work already undertaken on housing? MHKs Chris Thomas and David Ashford discuss the pitfalls and opportunities for meaningful improvements to address the Island’s housing issues on Perspective this week. We had a housing crisis at the election two years ago but is government any closer to addressing that crisis?

Government has announced a multimillion give away to developers in an attempt to get brownfield sites developed but will these incentives work? At a time when many businesses in the food and hospitality sector are closing is there a need for some of those millions to be spent helping small and medium sized businesses to keep a float? And what message does mothballing the work permit send to Manx workers? Minister Tim Johnston and MHKs John Wannenburgh and Rob Callister debate all this and more on Perspective. Are your jobs and businesses safe in government’s hands?

The government has set clear targets to decarbonise the Manx economy over the coming decades. Solar power and onshore and offshore wind look like the best available renewable energy generation prospects but are there alternatives? The Chief Minister doesn’t seem convinced but Graham Fox-Hulme tells us that the answer lies beneath our feet and John Sheppard wants draconian measures introduced to help us lead better lives. Are they right? Is geothermal energy really readily available and if so why is it not being explored? Why aren’t we building houses that use a tiny fraction of the energy to heat?

Cabinet Office Minister Kate Lord-Brennan is leading on government’s building and development reform program and is looking to change the Isle of Man’s Strategic Plan. This document pretty much governs how all future development can proceed, identifying areas of housing need and setting policies which dictate what development can take place in the countryside, how biodiversity will be protected, what our communities should look like and much more. Your views really can influence how our beautiful Island will be developed in the coming decades so this one is well worth a listen!

There are times in politics when you think you’d be happy if the earth would just swallow you up and I’m sure Chief Minister Alf Cannan might have thought that at the July sitting of Tynwald. Back now from a refreshing summer break he’s raring to go and keen to deliver on his government’s much discussed plans and strategies. Two years in though does he have any successes to point to? With the Government conference taking place in less than a fortnight find out why you should attend. Minister bashing aside there are some great debates lined up and opportunities to question key government figures - who knows … they might even listen to you!

With all the exam results out now how does Education Minister Julie Edge MHK think Manx students have done? Relations between teachers and the Department have been shakey at best over the past few years. Are there signs of improvement now? And what’s the latest on the QE2 drag queen affair? Were you inspired by your teachers? Is there too much bureaucracy in education these days? So much to talk about, so little time!

Tim Cullen MBE is an Associate Fellow of the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and was, until recently, Director of the Oxford Programme on Negotiation. Tim is best known for his role as the first Executive Director of the Small Countries Financial Management Centre, which he helped establish with the support of the Isle of Man government, the World Bank, and the Commonwealth Secretariat.  Does Government investment in improving financial management in small and developing countries represent good value for tax payers’ money or would we be better spending it on improving our own services.  

Ever pondered on the future of Manx politics? What do our young people think about politics. Well, Junior Tynwald is of the opinion that the transport and communication infrastructure of the Island does not meet the population’s needs.’ And also Junior Tynwald is of the opinion that school meals should be provided to more of the student population including, if possible, to all primary students, in light of the cost-of-living crisis.’ Engaging, tenacious, passionate? A breath of fresh air? No no …. this will never do. Bring back boring old senior Tynwald!

What was government dragging its feet about with the significant delay in releasing documents on the previous administration’s handling of Covid. Was Dr Ranson’s presentation ‘toned down’ or just edited to focus on the core message. Was an hour long enough for Council of Ministers to set aside for consideration of such a weighty issue of how to deal with an unprecedented pandemic? Is IoM TV presenter Paul Moulton right in feeling victimised by government or should he be apologising for besmirching government officers? Perspective this week gives you the chance to decide.

Each year, usually on the Monday before the July sitting of Tynwald in Douglas, representatives of the Island's Secondary schools are invited to try being Members of Tynwald for a morning. Manx Radio recorded this year’s sitting and on Perspective this week you can hear twelve of the questions asked at a very entertaining and interesting Tynwald sitting. Junior Tynwald certainly seems to be giving ‘senior’ Tynwald a run for their money. Perhaps there is hope for the Isle of Man yet?

There were loads of big political announcements in July Tynwald. A review of the Isle of Man’s Heritage Railways ends in just over a week’s time. Should you be concerned over government’s motivation for bringing the review forward? Are we finally going to get a wind farm in the Manx hills? Would this be a big environmental step forward or just a load of unnecessary green washing? We also consider the Biosphere, prison, the Chief Constable’s annual report and the role of the Attorney General. Manx politics finally calmed down enough for us to get back to some other big issues.

How do you catch up on the latest skeet? Via regulated media such as Manx Radio or Isle of Man Newspapers which have a duty to report in a balanced and fair way or through the internet and social media which have much less responsibility to offer truth or impartiality? Is this really what lies at the heart of the recent attempt by government to clip the wings of internet publisher Isle of Man TV or is it a sinister attempt to silence public debate? Perhaps it’s both … or neither? If you care about the truth listen to Perspective. A program very much not to be missed!

They say a week is a long time in politics and what a week we’ve just had. Tynwald members were queuing up to talk to me about everything from internal bullying, lack of confidence in the government and is the Chief Minister the right person to continue to lead the Isle of Man into the sunny future land of promise. July Tynwald always seems to produce fiery debates  and hot heads but add in the sacking of a Minister and political drama is guaranteed. Outgoing Minister Chris Thomas gives his warts and all assessment his turbulent year as infrastructure Minister.   Perspective 23.7.23 -  Chris Thomas gives his warts and all assessment his turbulent year as infrastructure Minister.

Worried about sky high energy prices? Concerned that over reliance on undersea cables and pipelines is a major risk to our energy supplies in these very troubled and uncertain times we live? Well Energy and Sustainability Centre Isle of Man Directors Ralph Peake and Dave Quirk might well have the answers you’re looking for. Are they right in dismissing Crogga gas and thermal energy as at best just wishful thinking? Is renewable energy just the impractical dream of environmental campaigners or does it provide the answer to many of the problems we are currently facing? you’re looking for. Are they right in dismissing Crogga gas and thermal energy as at best just wishful thinking? Is renewable energy just the impractical dream of environmental campaigners or does it provide the answer to many of the problems we are currently facing?

This week we take a trip into the archives to revisit a special programme originally broadcast at the end of 1979 – looking back at a number of the events that took place across the Isle of Man, as we celebrated 1000 years of Tynwald. “A Review of Our Millennium Year” was presented by Ian Cannell.

After a brutal assessment by Manx businesses on the likelihood of Government delivering its ambitious economic strategy Perspective explores the reasons why business has so little faith in government and what needs to be done for Ministers to restore confidence. 93% of respondents to the Chamber of Commerce survey were not convinced that government would deliver on their bold rhethoric, but just over half felt that if government did deliver it would be good for their business. Can Alf Cannan steady the government ship and win back confidence? Or was government’s strategy wishful thinking and doomed from the start?  

Another Tynwald ‘dog’s dinner’ on Perspective this week with a bit of everything thrown in from June Tynwald. Treasury assures us that we don’t have a public finance crisis, the Chief Minister assures us that plans to stimulate the economy are working, government understands your pain when it comes to the airport failures, and good news is just around the corner if you’re a family struggling to make ends meet. Also, commitment is given to get more empty properties back into use. Is Tynwald and government in danger of actually delivering policies to improve our lives?  

Do we have a public finance crisis? You could have been fooled into thinking everything’s fine if you read the Treasury Plan which is going to this week’s Tynwald. Is government’s boldness being hindered by an overly cautious Tynwald? What steps can be taken to bring the over six thousand empty properties back in to use? Should we pay more tax, reduce government services or just keep spending reserves in the hope that something will come up?  

On Perspective this week MHKs Joney Faragher and Daphne Caine ponder the slow pace with which successive governments deliver meaningful change to our lives. Remember the housing crisis on which budding MHKs cut their teeth at the last election? Has there been any meaningful progress or is it warm words and jam tomorrow? And what about the Climate crisis? Is the Climate Change Transformation Board set up to fail? Just another talking shop? Or an opportunity for “virtue signalling”? Is government all talk and no action?