| A word
from the new Chairman
In accepting the post of chairman
of Mec
Vannin I have asked myself, "What is the role of the nationalist
organisation
in modem Mann?"
Mec Vannin's main objectives are
clearly
laid out in its Policy Summary, but until there is either a change in
the
electoral system to accept proportional representation, or widespread
discontent,
neither of which seems imminent, then a voice on the floor of Tynwald
seems
unlikely in the short term.
However, political influence can
be exerted
very effectively from outside of the centres of power. It is in this
respect
that Mec Vannin has proved so successful over its many years of
existence.
Mec Vannin will continue to fight
the nationalist
corner with a faith that Manx values can be appreciated at all levels!
Gregory Joughin,
Chairman, Mec Vannin.
Our
gullible
government.
The protocols and etiquette of
what has
become known as the "Edwards Enquiry" have already been well chewed
over,
but the obvious was still missed: the Lieutenant Governor was privy to
information of national importance and the Chief Minister was not.
There
were no oversights. There was no lapse of protocol. The UK Home Office
is administered by the same civil servants now as under the Tory
government
and they advise the Ministers, new to the job or not, on correct
procedures.
The revelation to the L.G. of the
intended
inquiry claimed to be during an "informal" meeting, yet he was sworn to
secrecy: hardly informal. Those who claim a need for a retention of the
L.G. as a liaison with the U.K. have had the rug truly pulled from
under
them on this one. The L.G. is as much a colonial overseer as he ever
was,
keeping an eye on the natives and reporting back to his superiors.
Predictably, Donald Gelling
excelled himself
in his now familiar role of Chief Apologist for the UK in Mannin, but
eventually
plucked up the courage to stop apologising once the leaders in a tiny
group
of rocks somewhere to the south of England told the UK that it was out
of order. So, we can forget waiting to see what the UK does in every
minor
domestic matter and start following sheep-like on the Channel Islands.
Should we advocate scrapping Tynwald and just have a single
representative
in the Jersey States? It could save a lot of money and we could stop
apologising
all the time.
M K
NO
SHODDY
OUTFITS HERE!
For many years Mec Vannin has
urged successive
governments to increase the diversity of our economy. Our fears about
such
over-dependence on the finance sector and our qualms over being the
beneficiaries
of money laundering have been oft repeated. In that context, the
relatively
new venture of attracting film companies to use the Island, is a small
but welcome alternative.
Whilst the financial incentives
are the
main reason that they come, there are other advantages such as quiet
locations,
clear skylines. ease of closing roads and so on.
A government Manx Film Commission
has been
set up to ensure that companies abide by the legal requirements. If
they
are to qualify for the financial benefits. companies must employ a
certain
amount of Manx workers and have sound financial backing and the film
commission
has the final say whether the subject matter is acceptable.
Unfortunately, the commission has
not been
sufficiently vigilant. In at least one instance a company fled, leaving
debts to local tradesmen and unpaid wages to Manx workers. There is
also
evidence that another film company has employed Manx workers and
craftsmen
on the cheap (in any case they usually pay less than the going rate
that
would be expected off Island). In this particular case, the workers
concerned
approached the Manx Film Commission to report that they were being
offered
considerably less than was originally agreed. The message came back
loud
and clear that the Commission would do nothing, for fear of rocking the
boat and frightening the customers away. The workers concerned stood
their
ground and the company took other people on, presumably on the cheap.
If this new industry is to
survive, the
Commission and companies must win the goodwill of workers and
craftsmen.
They must be offered fair wages. The Film Commission must be vigilant
to
ensure that shoddy outfits are not able to enjoy the financial benefits
and at the same time make further savings at the expense of Manx
workers.
CJK
Implications
for Pensions
The UK Labour government has a
plan to
abolish tax relief on pension funds paid out of UK held funds to non-UK
residents. Whereas that may be fine for weeding out the tax-dodger
element
over here, it has serious implications for Manx people who have
personal
pensions held in a UK fund. They will be subject to UK taxes on their
pensions
primarily because of the abuse of the tax-haven economies of the Isle
of
Man and the Channel Islands. Will our government care?
Mark Kermode
Cultural
Identity and Apple Pie!
It is almost becoming fashionable
now to
stand up for a strong Manx cultural identity. Money and resources are
being
made available by Government to a limited extent though there's still a
long way to go. Being a member of a Manx cultural group is respectable
and going to Ceilis; Gienses and Manx nights is no longer viewed as the
dark and sinister past times of disreputable and undesirable
nationalists
(though they do appear from time to time I have to admit).
This is a good news for the Manx
culture
in that we have to a large extent overcome the negative view in which
our
culture has been viewed for over a century. We must be careful,
however,
while we are all out 'giensing' and immersing ourselves in nouveau
Manxness,
that we do not lose control of our cultural destiny nor ignore the
other
majority and minority cultures which are currently emerging in Mann.
Corree Rennell
Euro-cash
- the blind following the uncertain.
The Manx Treasury has already
declared
its intention to do exactly whatever the UK does in relation to
European
Monetary Union, for better or worse. In this age of "plastic" and
virtual
transactions, however. the old arguments concerning currency exchange
become
less valid with each passing day. This country is free to adopt
whatever
currency it chooses and the businesses and individuals herein are
further
free to accept whatever currencies at whatever rates they choose. It is
difficult to see what essential benefit has been obtained from linking
ourselves to Sterling when we still have to change all our money for a
simple day trip to Liverpool - we may as well be dealing in Yen!
The
Legislative
Council
The farce that was the recent
elections
to the Legislative Council has once again brought this body's existence
into question. Mec Vannin does not believe in indirectly elected
government,
and so we cannot support the status quo. Eventually, the successful
candidates
were not chosen by dint of their political acumen or efficacy, but
because
they were unlikely to rock any boats.
In the arguments concerning
candidates
from outside the Keys, it appears to have been forgotten that it was
not
long ago that a sitting member of the Keys could not stand for the
Legislature
and with very good reason: It prevented it from becoming a retirement
home
for elderly or publicly unpopular MHKs. If we require a second chamber,
and there are strong arguments for it, then it must comprise people who
are accountable to the people, standing and elected on publicly
declared
manifestos.
Mark Kermode
Arrane
Ashoonagh Vannin
C'red ta shiuish coontey jeh'n
chummey
noa ta Chalse Guard er chur er yn Arrane Ashoonagh Vannin? Ta sleih dy
liooar gaccan nagh vel eh kiart er chor erbee - "Cha nel eh
tradishoonagh"
"T'eh sacraleid" "Cha dod eh er ve scruit ec Manninagh dooie" "Lhisagh
Chalse ve lhiggit!"
S'treih lhiam gra nagh voddym
jannoo Ihieusyn
ta noi. Va'n cummey va currit er'n Arrane Ashoonagh mie dy liooar mysh
keead blein er dy henney tra ve jeant ec Mnr Gill. Yiarrin dy vel eh
kiart
dy liooar nish, agh er lhiam pene nagh vel eh chammah's ta
"Mylecharaine's
March" (yn carr ren Gill ymmyd jeh dy chroo yn Arrane Ashoonagh).
Bwooise da jee nagh row noidyn yn
cummey
noa cummal 'syn Ellan keead blein er dy henney, er y fa dy beagh 'Ellan
Vannin' liorish ny Bee Jeeyn yn Arrane Ashoonagh noa ain. (Cha nel mee
er chlashtyn eh foast!)
Corree Rennell
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