Isle of Man Government News

Carers' Charter

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:25:07 GMT

The Department of Social Care is working in partnership with other Government Departments and Third Sector organisations to develop appropriate support for carers. The partners have drafted a Carers’ Charter which creates a framework for developing appropriate support for carers.

Who is a carer?

A Carer is defined as someone who supports a relative, friend or a neighbour who for any reason needs help with daily living and receives no payment for doing so.

What do carers do?

Carers provide physical and emotional support to vulnerable people. They help the person they support to deal with the issues of daily living, particularly those more specifically associated with a short or long term illness or disability, mental health issues or problems resulting from alcohol or substance misuse.

The type and amount of support provided may vary considerably depending upon individual needs and therefore it is not possible to fully define the role, produce a job description or person specification.

Each situation is different and the role will not be the same for everyone. In addition caring responsibilities usually vary over time and may be difficult to predict from day to day.

Anybody can become a carer at any time, as the result of a sudden event, such as an accident, or through a gradual process when someone’s physical or mental health slowly deteriorates.

We want to hear views from both carers themselves and the general public on the draft charter.

In order to take into account summer holidays the consultation will run until Friday 21 September 2012.

Electronic copies of the consultation and further information about the proposals are available on http://old.gov.im/socialcare/services/adults/carers.xml or www.crossroadsiom.org.

Paper copies of the consultation document can be collected from:

Crossroads Care Isle of Man Carers’ Centre,
35/36 Derby Square,
Douglas,
IM1 3LW

or The Tynwald Library,
Legislative Buildings,
Finch Road,
Douglas,
IM1 3PW

or by ringing Crossroads Care on +44 1624 673103 or the Department of Social Care on +44 1624 686208.

Export Control (Amendment) Order 2012

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:28:22 GMT

The main changes are as follows -

To provide for additional offences, penalties and licensing provisions in relation to new restrictive measures against Syria.
The new restrictions include prohibitions on the trade of certain goods and technology which might be used for internal repression (including restrictions on their export, import, technical and financial assistance and brokering services), and prohibitions in relation to the movement of luxury goods to Syria.
To suspend until 30 April 2013 certain restrictive measures against Burma/Myanmar.

For more information contact the Sanctions Officer.

Department of Health announces plans for addiction services

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:27:01 GMT

The Department of Health is pleased to announce plans to proceed with contracting with one partner agency, the Isle of Man Alcohol Advisory Service, for the provision of open access, support and advice services for addictions.

The Isle of Man Alcohol Advisory Service (IOMAAS) is a well known and respected registered charity which has been working effectively within the field of alcohol misuse on the Island since 1978. The development of this contractual arrangement will further cement IOMAAS’s expansion in the specialist field of addictions work by adding support for adult drug misuse to services already provided for alcohol and gambling.

The Department plans a further announcement in due course concerning the detail of the contractual arrangements and the scope of service provision.

Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK, said:

'The Department, as a result of a review of presenting need, is dlighted to be in a position to develop a robust contractual arrangement with the Alcohol Advisory Service which not only ensures a consistent, effective service for clients, but also value for money for the general public. Developing a partnership arrangement with a single agency such as the IOMAAS has a significant impact on reducing contractual costs whilst allowing greater scope for further development of services.'

Leonard Singer MHK, Member for Mental Health Services

Member for Mental Health Services, Leonard Singer MHK, said:

'The Alcohol Advisory Service has an excellent local reputation and as a single partner agency will provide an efficient and supportive range of confidential services for those clients whose lives are affected by alcohol, drugs and / or gambling.'

Play a part in public life in the Isle of Man

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:26:50 GMT

Community spirited individuals who are interested in playing a part in Island life are being encouraged to consider a range of public service opportunities.

The Appointments Commission is currently seeking a Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson for the Employment Tribunal, along with new members of the Health Services Consultative Committee. Later in the year appointments will be made to two newly constituted bodies - the Legal Aid Committee and the Legal Aid Tribunal.

Positions advertised by the Appointments Commission, which is independent of Government, provide an opportunity to fulfil an important role in public life, as well as develop personal skills and knowledge. People from all backgrounds and walks of life are urged to apply in order to provide ideas and advice from different perspectives.

Mr Francis Masserick, Chairman of the Appointments Commission, said:

‘The contribution made by lay members who serve on these public bodies is greatly valued. They can provide a fresh outlook on important issues and use their ability, experience and commonsense to influence decisions that affect people’s lives. These appointments provide an opportunity to give something back to the local community, and can also be rewarding in terms of personal development and gaining hands-on experience of working in the public service.’

Tribunal members serve for a term of three years and are appointed on merit via an open and transparent recruitment process. As well as high profile organisations such as the Employment Tribunal, there are many others that perform a wide range of important functions, including the Education Council, Mental Health Tribunal, Work Permit Appeal Tribunal and Office of Fair Trading Financial Ombudsman Scheme.

Tribunals comprise a panel of members, chaired by an experienced lawyer. Demands vary according to the post, from attending a few meetings each year to more substantial duties, and appointees are required to give an ongoing commitment in terms of their time, interest and attention. Payment and expenses are paid for each session attended.

Members of the public who feel they possess the necessary attributes to take up a position are encouraged to seek further information via the Appointment Commission’s website. Individuals can apply for one of the current vacancies – or register their interest in any forthcoming opportunities.

The Commission meets monthly and has appointed a total of 445 people since it was first established under the 2006 Tribunals Act – appointing members to 17 different bodies in 2011-12 alone. It looks for a range of skills and experience in prospective lay members, such as the ability to weigh up conflicting opinions, and an understanding of the principles of public service and data protection. Each vacancy has a person specification and details relevant to the tribunal, but formal qualifications are rarely a prerequisite.

Mr Masserick said:

‘The Island needs dedicated and experienced individuals to ensure that our tribunals continue to serve the needs of the people of the Isle of Man. These appointments present an opportunity for people to make a real difference to community life in the Island and I would encourage as many people as possible to apply.’

Update from the Isle of Man Ship Registry

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:26:38 GMT

At 1500 hrs on the 30 August it was confirmed to the Isle of Man Ship Registry by the vessel’s operators that the Manx registered tanker, ‘Energy Centurion’, has been released by its captors and was back under the control of its Master and his crew. The vessel was released in Nigerian waters after being taken hostage off Togo in West Africa on Tuesday 28 August.

The crew of the vessel were released unharmed to take over control of the ship which was drifting off Nigeria. The pirates stole approximately 3,100 Tonnes of gas oil from the tanker’s cargo as well as cash, valuables and items of equipment from the ship. Personal effects and cash were also stolen from the crew.

The Isle of Man Ship Registry, which maintained a close liaison with the operators of the ship during this difficult time, stressed that the most important aspect for all the organisations involved in this incident was to try to ensure the safety of the crew on board.

David Morter, Deputy Director of the Ship Registry said:

'We are relieved that the vessel has now been released and that the crew are physically unharmed, although they will have been through a great deal during their ordeal and our thoughts go out to them and their families.'

Isle of Man funding helping to create a sustainable future for Kenyan farming communities

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:24:54 GMT

AN aid project funded by the Isle of Man Government is using an ancient technology to help hundreds of Kenyan farmers lift themselves out of hunger and poverty.

Sand dams, which have been around since 4BC, are providing rural communities with access to clean drinking water and the ability to grow enough food to eat, store and sell.

In April 2011 the Overseas Aid Committee (OAC) of the Council of Ministers awarded a grant of £67,060 to Excellent Development – a UK charity co-founded by Manxman Simon Maddrell.

The Committee is responsible for funding aid programmes in the world's less developed countries and for providing financial assistance to international emergency and disaster appeals.

The support offered by the Isle of Man seeks to address the United Nations Millennium Development Goals which are to:

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Achieve universal primary education
Promote gender equality and empower women
Reduce child mortality
Improve maternal health
Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Ensure environmental sustainability
Develop a global partnership for development

The financial assistance provided by the OAC to Excellent Development has enabled four sand dams to be built in the Makueni district of Southeast Kenya, an area affected by severe droughts and food shortages.

The dams are central to the charity's efforts to transform the lives of subsistence farming communities through the implementation of soil and water conservation activities.

Terracing land, planting trees, introducing seed banks and organising teaching workshops help local farmers to create sustainable water resources and food supplies – boosting health, income and self-esteem in the process.

The Excellent Development project has supported 106 farmers and their communities, and resulted in 7.2km of terracing being dug, 2,161 trees planted and four seed banks established.

Mr Maddrell, a member of well-known Manx farming family, quit his corporate career to set up the charity with the aim of promoting sand dam technology and environmental conservation.

The charity, which has won a number of prestigious awards, successfully applied for funding via the Overseas Aid Committee's small grant scheme and set about working with local partners Africa Sand Dam Foundation (ASDF) to improve the lives of people in Kenya.

The population of Makueni were facing another difficult year after below-average rainfall during the two rainy seasons led to crop failure and rising food prices.

People had to travel further to collect water, sometimes up to 12 hours a day to find enough water for one meal, with the knock-on effect that livestock and land was being neglected and young children unschooled.

When the rain does fall in this dryland region, usually for just a few weeks a year, it not only disappears into the ground, it also washes away topsoil, creating a vicious cycle of environmental decline.
This makes conserving any rainwater a top priority – and where the simple solution of a sand dam helps to reverse the damage.

A sand dam is a reinforced concrete wall built across a seasonal river bed that captures rainfall and stores the water underground. The sand filters the water clean and protects it from evaporation and parasites.

Each sand dam supported by Excellent Development, a former winner of the 'Third Sector Excellence Award – Small Charity, Big Achiever', supplies water to 1,200 people all year round and makes the surrounding ground moist enough to plant crops.

People are liberated from the need to search for water and can grow food, enabling the cycle of impoverishment to be broken. Each sand dam costs between £8,000 and £14,000 to build, which means fresh water is provided to a community for up to 50 years for approximately £7 a head.

Communities are also taught how to build land terraces to stop rainwater running off the dry terrain, taking seeds and crops with it. Local Self-Help Groups (SHG) do the work themselves under the supervision of skilled craftsmen provided by ASDF.

The results are very impressive. Reducing the time and distance travelled to collect water means that farmers can focus their efforts on tending livestock and crops, while children are freed from water-carrying duties to attend school.

Improved farming and conservation techniques increase food production and enable communities to sell crops to supplement their income.

Ngui Nduta, a local Self-Help Group member, said: 'The sand dams have enabled us as a community to get a reliable water supply compared with our previous sources. The time we spend to fetch water has been reduced immensely.'

Another SHG member, Nicholas Kalunda, added: 'Before the sand dams were constructed we used to walk three hours daily with our livestock. The situation was extremely bad, especially during the dry periods of the year as the livestock would go days without water. To get water we were forced to buy and this was a big strain to already stressed budgets. This affected the quality of the livestock. But now the livestock have plenty of water.'

Excellent Development's vision is that sand dams will transform millions of lives. The charity believes this technology has the potential to become a mainstream water solution in vast areas of the world's drylands – home to 80% of the world's poor, where 44% of the world's food is produced.

The emphasis is on a sustainable approach, with training and support enabling communities to continue to prosper long after the charity has phased out of working in an area.

Alexander Day, Grants and Institutions Manager at Excellent Development said: 'The support provided by the Overseas Aid Committee has made a significant contribution to the communities we work with in Africa.'

Phil Gawne, Chairman of the Overseas Aid Committee commented: 'This project in Kenya is another excellent example of how funding from the Isle of Man Government is making a genuine difference to people's lives. There has been a lot of debate recently about the provision of overseas aid at a time when the Isle of Man is experiencing its own economic challenges. Our challenges are relatively modest compared with the difficulties faced by the 1.4 billion people living on less than £1 a day.'

He added: 'I am a passionate believer in our overseas aid programme and remain committed to playing a part in international efforts to create a more sustainable future for all the world's citizens.'

Financial Sanctions: Liberia

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:28:22 GMT

Following the decisions made on 3, 10 and 20 July 2012 by the United Nations Sanctions Committee on Liberia established pursuant to resolution 1521 (2003), 12 individuals have been removed from the UN list maintained under resolution 1532 (2004).

The individuals listed below are therefore no longer subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources.

DELETIONS

Individuals

ALLEN, Cyril, A

DOB: 26/07/1952

Other Information: Former Chairman, National Patriotic Party

Group ID: 8037

COOPER, Randolph

DOB: 28/10/1950

a.k.a.: COOPER, Randolf

Other Information: Former Managing Director of Robertsfield International Airport

Group ID: 8039

GEORGE, Martin

Other Information: Former Ambassador of Liberia to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Associate of former President Charles Taylor with ongoing ties to him. Alleged to have provided funds to former President Taylor.

Group ID: 8432

GIBSON, Myrtle, Francelle

DOB: 03/11/1952

Other Information: Former Senator, Advisor to former Liberian President Charles Taylor

Group ID: 8041

GOODRIDGE, Reginald, B

DOB: 11/11/1952

a.k.a.: GOODRICH, Reginald, B

Other Information: Reginald B Goodridge/Goodrich Senior. Former Minister for Culture, Information, Tourism

Group ID: 8042

MININ, Leonid, Yukhimovich

DOB:

14/12/1947
18/10/1946

POB: Odessa, USSR (now Ukraine)

a.k.a.:

BRESLAN, Wulf
KERLER, Vladamir, Abramovich
KERLER, Vladimir, Abramovich
OSOLS, Igor
POPELA, Vladimir, Abramovich
POPELO, Vladimir, Abramovich
POPILOVESKI, Vladimir, Abramovich
POPILO-VESKI, Vladimir, Abramovich

Nationality: Israeli

Passport Details:

5280007248D (Forged German) (Minin)
18106739D (Forged German) (Minin)
6019832. Valid 6 Nov 1994 to 5 Nov 1999 (Israeli)
9001689. Valid 23 Jan 1997 to 22 Jan 2002 (Israeli)
90109052. Issued on 26 Nov 1997. (Israeli)
K10861177 (Russian)
65118 (Bolivian)
Greek

Other Information: Owner of Exotic Tropical Timber Enterprises. UN list includes additional DOB of 10 July. Also referred to as Blavstein, Bluvshtein, Blyafshtein, Blyufshtein and Blyuvshtein.

Group ID: 8029

NAYDO, Valeriy

DOB: 10/08/1957

a.k.a.: NAIDO, Valerii

Nationality: Ukraine

Passport Details:

AC251295 (Ukraine)
KC024178 (Ukraine)

Address: c/o CET Aviation, PO Box 932-20C, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.

Other Information: A pilot. One of the directors of Air Pass (Pietersburg Aviation Services and Systems). Chief Executive Officer of CET Aviation.

Group ID: 8748

SHAW, Emmanuel

DOB:

26/07/1956
26/07/1946

Other Information: Emmanuel Shaw II. Director of Lonestar Airways. Associated with Lone Star Communications Cooperation

Group ID: 8045

SNOWE JR, Edwin, Melvin

DOB: 11/02/1970

POB: Mano River, Grand Cape Mount, Liberia

Nationality: Liberian

Passport Details:

OR/0056672-01
D/005072
D-00172 (ECOWAS-DPL). Valid 7 Aug 2008 to 6 July 2010
D005640 (Liberian Diplomatic)

Address: Elwa Road, Monrovia, Liberia

Other Information: Representative, Liberian House of Representatives. Managing Director of the Liberian Petroleum and Refining Corporation (LPRC)

Group ID: 8434

TAYLOR, Agnes, Reeves

DOB: 27/09/1965

a.k.a.: REEVES-TAYLOR, Agnes

Nationality: Liberian

Address: United Kingdom

Other Information: Former wife of former President Charles Taylor with ongoing ties to him. Former Permanent representative of Liberia to the International Maritime Organisation. Former senior member of the Liberian Government. Resident in the UK.

Group ID: 8049

TAYLOR, Jewell, Howard

DOB: 17/01/1963

a.k.a.: HOWARD TAYLOR, Jewell

Passport Details:

D/003835-04. Valid 4 June 2004 to 3 June 2006 (Liberian Diplomatic)
D/00536307

Other Information: Wife of former President Charles Taylor. UN list has alternative spelling of Jewel

Group ID: 8050

TAYLOR, Tupee, Enid

DOB:

17/12/1962
17/12/1960

POB: Harbel, Margibi County, Liberia

Passport Details:

D/002216 (Liberian Diplomatic) Issued 17 Oct 2007. Valid until 17 Oct 2009
L014670 (Liberian). Issued 28 Dec 2009. Valid until 28 Dec 2014

Other Information: Former wife of former Liberian President Charles Taylor

Group ID: 8048

Further details of the sanctions regime related to Liberia and links to the consolidated list of individuals and entities subject to these and other financial sanctions regimes may be found on the Customs and Excise pages of the Isle of Man Government website.

New school wins 'design out crime' accolade

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:26:26 GMT

The new secondary school at Bemahague has become the first government building in the Island to win an award for designing out crime.

The £33.8 million St Ninian’s Lower School opens to pupils on 5 September and will house the whole of Key Stage 3, some 650 pupils in Years 7 to 9.

Designed by architect Savage and Chadwick and built by Auldyn Construction, it’s the first Isle of Man Government project to receive the ‘Secured by Design’(SbD) benchmark.

SbD is an Association of Chief Police Officers’ (ACPO) initiative that encourages those creating buildings to use thoughtful design to minimise opportunities for crime and anti-social behaviour to be committed.

Douglas Corporation has led the way locally, achieving SbD certification for the redevelopment of its houses at Pulrose.

Constable Mike Radcliffe, the Isle of Man Constabulary’s Architectural Liaison Officer, encouraged the Department of Education and Children to seek certification for Bemahague.

‘I saw the school as a flagship project and felt it was an ideal opportunity to learn from experience, which has shown that a range of security issues were inadvertently “built in” to older school buildings,’ he said.

‘It’s not just about physical security measures such as locks on doors and windows but how people use and interact with the buildings and grounds,’ Constable Radcliffe explained. ‘For example, experience shows that, despite the best efforts of staff, bullying can occur within “hidden” spaces and isolated locations in school buildings. The interior of this new school has therefore been laid out so that – as far as is reasonably practical – such spaces have been removed.

‘The key is making individuals aware that they can be seen by others (staff or pupils) wherever they are within the school buildings or grounds, thus reducing the likelihood of them misbehaving.

‘With ACPO’s permission, SbD’s school-specific guidance was adapted to meet local needs,’ Constable Radcliffe explained. ‘The Island has a low crime rate and experience shows that heavy-handed security measures can have a detrimental effect on how people perceive their environment. In this case it could have resulted in the school being seen as being an unwelcoming “fortress”.

‘Instead, security measures have been incorporated into the school’s design so that they are not immediately evident. The school is a valuable resource and should be accessible and welcoming to staff, pupils and members of the wider community such as groups hiring sports facilities and members of the public using the grounds in the evenings and at weekends.

‘Everyone has their role to play in ensuring that the school remains a safe and pleasant place to learn, work or visit.’

Constable Radcliffe today presented the ScB award to Tim Crookall MHK, Minister for Education and Children, Richard Collister, Estates Director, and Andy Fox, Headteacher of St Ninian’s.

The Minister said:

‘In designing a brand new school, we had the opportunity to think about how we could use its physical features to minimise both the occasional incidence of anti-social behaviour in school and damage to the property. The former has a negative effect on young people’s education and the latter costs us dearly, too, in terms of repair bills and having facilities out of use.

‘While, sadly, we will never eliminate bad behaviour entirely from our school grounds, taking this approach will hopefully pay off in terms of reducing it on this site and I thank all those who contributed towards the DEC gaining this award.’

Photo: Constable Mike Radcliffe (second right) presents the Secured by Design award to Tim Crookall MHK (second left), Minister for Education and Children, watched by – from left – Rob Cowley, Head of St Ninian’s Lower School, Andy Fox, Headteacher of St Ninian’s High School, and Richard Collister, Estates Director with the DEC.

Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital takes silver!

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:27:53 GMT

As the world continues with Olympic fever with the closing ceremony of London 2012 and the Paralympics only days away, athletes aren’t the only ones looking to bronze, silver and gold. The management and staff at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital have recently been successful in securing the Silver Award of the Investors in People (IIP) scheme. The receipt of the accolade comes only a year after news that the hospital had achieved the Bronze Award, having first been accredited as meeting the basic IIP standard in 2005. Meeting the Investors in People standard in itself is no mean feat, and Bronze, Silver and Gold are awarded to those who go beyond this baseline standard.

Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK said:

“I was delighted to hear the news that the team at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital have now gone on to achieve the Silver Award of IIP – very well done indeed to the entire team. It shows their ongoing commitment and determination to invest in and engage with staff, which has been proven time and again to be fundamental to building successful teams and organisations. Our people are our most valuable resource and also our most expensive. The Investors in People scheme enables the Department to maximise staff potential and increase employee commitment. This in turn helps to improve customer service and organisational effectiveness, which is good news for the public who use these services.”

IIP is now in its twenty-first year, having been launched in 1991 by the UK Government with the aim of transforming business performance through people. Many organisations in the Isle of Man are signed-up to the scheme, which is championed and administered on-Island by the Department of Economic Development.

Laurence Skelly MHK, Member for Economic Development whose responsibilities include Investors in People said:

“It’s impressive to see the team at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital going on to achieve the Silver Award in such a short space of time. IIP is a hugely positive force not only in the private sector but also the public sector. I hope that the success at RDCH will encourage further uptake not only by local companies, but also Government Departments and Boards where IIP can help to enhance the delivery of public services.”

The IIP standard sees organisations having to meet 39 evidence requirements. Bronze, Silver and Gold were added in recent years to give organisations the chance to differentiate themselves, as many were going far beyond the standard required. Bronze requires an additional 26 evidence requirements and silver an additional 76, meaning that a total of 115 points of specific evidence are required.

Janet Grib, Manager of Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital said:

“I’m proud of the entire team at RDCH for making this possible, but in particular I’d like to thank the dedication of the members of our IIP Steering Group. To move from the Bronze to the Silver Award in a 12 month period shows the hard work and determination of pushing IIP to the max at Ramsey and making sure it’s integrated into everything we do, and not just an optional extra. Out of the 115 evidence points required, we actually scored 139, which is only 26 short of the Gold Award, so that’s very much our next aim.

“I think the most important thing is to remember that IIP is first and foremost about valuing our staff and enabling us to improve the way we work, and that’s with a view of providing the very best possible levels of care for our patients – it’s all about the patients at the end of the day.”

Landlord Registration consultation results

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:25:58 GMT

The Department of Social Care would like to thank all those who took part in the recent consultation on the proposed Landlord Registration Scheme.

A report detailing the results of the consultation is available http://old.gov.im/socialcare/ConsultationDetail.gov?id=300

The Minister for Social Care Hon Chris Robertshaw MHK said:

'Good quality, decent accommodation can make a real difference to people’s lives and it is part of Government’s responsibility to help make this happen. I am totally committed to improving the living standards and tenancy conditions of those living in poor quality private rented accommodation and landlord registration is the first step in this process. My Department received over 100 responses to this consultation, which helps us to ensure we pursue the right policies to meet the needs of our Island. I would like to thank all those who took the trouble to respond to the consultation including many landlords and tenants.'

The next steps will include the introduction of a voluntary Landlord Registration Scheme before the end of the year. This will give landlords the opportunity to join the scheme which will enable them to receive support such as template documents and good practice guides.

The Department will also be consulting on the proposed legislation late in 2012 which will provide a statutory basis for the mandatory registration of private landlords on the Isle of Man.

Weather casts a shroud on July Airport passenger traffic

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:26:34 GMT

The expectation of passenger numbers matching 2011 levels received a slight setback in July as consistent mist and fog during the early part of the month disrupted air travel to and from the Island. The month finished with 61,820 passengers passing through the Airport, 1,700 fewer than in July 2011, giving an overall 2.68% reduction.

The weather affected many of the Island’s air services with over half of the routes from Ronaldsway seeing decreases, but almost half of these only falling by under 2%. However, another key reason for the small overall decrease was the absence of the Southampton link which, in July 2011, generated over 1,850 passengers, together with the substantial cutback in the frequency of flights to Luton causing a 31% fall in passengers on the route – some 1,000 fewer than last year. The Birmingham service also saw a 444 passenger decrease and interestingly, whilst charter traffic was up by 7%, private and club flying was clearly severely affected by weather, and fell by 270 passengers or 36.5%.

On the positive side, the new Isle of Man routes have all performed well. British Airways’ route linking the Island with London City generated 6.3% more passengers in the first complete month of full operation than were carried by the previous operator, Aer Arann, in 2011. Similarly the recently introduced Manx2.com London Oxford service again produced a solid third month of operation with over 700 passengers, nearly 100 more than forecast. Meanwhile Loganair’s weekly summer Norwich route had an outstanding month, carrying 30% more passengers than expected, with 90% of the available seats taken up by passengers eager to sample the new link.

Airport Director, Ann Reynolds, summed up the July outturn.

'We had forecast to be very slightly short of 2011 levels for July, but ended up with some 2.5% fewer passengers than we expected,'

she said.

'Unfortunately, the Island’s weather at this time of the year can be pretty unpredictable and delays and cancellations over just a few days can easily shave a couple of percent from our monthly passenger throughput. Add this one or two technical problems with aircraft and the gap left by the lack of the Southampton route and the 2.7% decrease is not surprising.'

However, Ann also admitted that there are some real positives to be taken from the July figures.

'Our new routes are performing very well – significantly better than was predicted – which is very encouraging,'

she added.

'Indeed, Loganair have just added a further month of weekend departures to their summer Norwich service following the success of the route, and flights will now continue to late October.'

Another encouraging trend has been the continued good performance of all of the North West routes. Having set the pace for growth over the past two years Liverpool, for the second successive month, effectively matched July 2011, whilst the Flybe Manchester and Manx2.com Blackpool routes both saw solid increases. Manchester rose by 7.3% and Blackpool by 12.4%, ensuring that traffic between the Island and the North West rose overall by over 1,000 passengers.

Departmental Member for Ports, David Callister MLC underlined the fact that the underlying trend, despite the background of economic difficulties in the UK and Europe, is that the Island’s air traffic continues to hold up well in 2012.

'A small reduction for July may be disappointing, but let’s put it into perspective,'

he said.

'The UK is in double-dip recession and everyone is feeling the impact of the austerity measures, and yet, taking away the affect of the weather, our July air passenger figures have essentially stayed at 2011 levels. Moreover, we are continuing to add routes to our network and these, too, are proving successful. I would suggest that this is no small achievement!'

Financial Sanctions: Syria

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:27:56 GMT

The Council of the European Union has amended Annex II to Council Regulation (EU) No. 36/2012 ("Regulation 36/2012") with effect from 17 August 2012. Annex II to Regulation 36/2012 lists the persons, entities or bodies subject to the asset freeze.

One entity has been added to Annex II and is therefore subject to the asset freeze imposed by Regulation 36/2012.

ADDITION

Entity

DREX TECHNOLOGIES HOLDING S.A.

Address: 17 rue Beaumont, Luxembourg, L-1219 (Previous address)

Other Information: Registered in Luxembourg under number B77616. Beneficial owner is Rami Makhlouf.

Group ID: 12736

Financial institutions and other persons are requested to check whether they maintain any accounts or otherwise hold funds or economic resources for, or provide financial services to, the designated entity. If so, they must freeze such accounts or other funds and, unless licensed by the Treasury, refrain from dealing with said funds or economic resources, and suspend the provision of any financial services. They must report their findings to the Sanctions Officer at the Customs and Excise Division of the Treasury.

Further details of the sanctions regime related to Syria and links to the Consolidated List of individuals and entities subject to other financial sanctions regimes may be found on the Customs and Excise pages of the Isle of Man Government website.

Second vulnerable adults conference hailed a success

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:27:06 GMT

Following on from the successful Vulnerable Adults Conference held in October 2011, a second conference has been held to raise the awareness of the specific needs vulnerable patients might have when admitted to Noble’s Hospital. The conference was a collaboration between patient representatives and staff, all of whom are passionate about improving the care of vulnerable patients at Noble’s Hospital.

Minster for Health, David Anderson MHK said:

'This conference follows on from previous work when practitioners were asked what difficulties they had experienced when caring for vulnerable adults within the busy environment of an acute hospital setting such as Noble’s Hospital. It became clear to us that there was a gap in understanding the additional and specific needs which vulnerable patients might have, in addition to the problems which brought them into hospital, and we are seeking to address this by providing further training for all staff, which we hope will make a real difference to the care received by our patients.'

Bev Critchlow, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Therapies said:

'This second Vulnerable Adults Conference is a terrific opportunity to expand the understanding of the needs which vulnerable patients have whilst receiving care at Noble’s Hospital. This may include; people with learning disabilities and people with an enduring mental health problem being cared for within an acute hospital setting. Clearly, there is a great need for this type of information to be shared by our staff as the first conference was fully booked within five days of being advertised.'

Speaking after the conference, Cathie Quine, Senior Nurse and Chair of the Vulnerable Adult Conference said:

'We have been really lucky to have a rich diversity of speakers with a wealth of knowledge. The speakers we have heard today are not only Health and Social Care Professionals but Patient and Public Representatives and Carers, who shared with us their personal viewpoint and emphasised how an integrated approach can help deliver the best care. It was evident from the wide range of professionals that were in the audience, that something that we all share in common, is a deep commitment to raising the quality of care for vulnerable adults.'

In addition to organising the second conference, the group has established a ‘Champions Network’ across Noble’s Hospital. The Champions Network is a group of registered nurses and midwives who have taken on additional responsibilities to ensure that vulnerable adults in their wards receive optimum care. The champions have undergone specific training in aspects related to the care of vulnerable adults within an acute hospital setting and have already started sharing their knowledge with their colleagues.

Department issues consultation on proposed fees for Regulated Care Services

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:25:58 GMT

The Department of Social Care has issued a consultation document on the proposed fees for regulating care services on the Island in line with the forthcoming new Regulation of Care Bill. This will result in an increased number of social care and non–NHS care services being regulated and it will require the Department to implement a new fee structure and fee collection process.

Currently fees paid by different care services vary, all of them having been individually decided upon based on historical factors. The new fee structure being proposed will meet a set of agreed principles including fairness, transparency, and an understandable comparison of differences between the care services.

Various options have been considered and the proposed structure has been put forward because it encompasses a set of clear principles, provides a fair framework of fees to all care service providers, and obtains a realistic percentage of cost recovery to support the cost to Government of regulation.

The Minister for Social Care, Chris Robertshaw MHK said:

'I want businesses and individuals to have the opportunity to comment at the earliest opportunity on the proposed fee structure to assess any potential impact to businesses. We are seeking comments to ensure the new fee structure balances the need to support a vibrant care service market whilst obtaining an appropriate percentage of cost recovery to minimise the cost of the regulatory process to the public purse.'

The Department wants to hear views from businesses and the general public. More information about the proposals is available at: www.gov.im/socialcare/consultations.gov

Or you can pick up a hard copy of the consultation document from:

- Tynwald Library, Finch Road, Douglas

- Department of Social Care, Markwell House, Market Street, Douglas

- Registration and Inspections, 3-4 Hill Street

You can submit your views by:

• Completing the online questionnaire online at: Here

• Or emailing: regofcareconsultation@gov.im

Provisional Sixth Form Examination Results, 2012

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:26:28 GMT

The 2012 A level results in the Island’s five secondary schools show a record proportion of passes at higher grades. The overall pass rate, at 96.3%, was slightly lower than in some recent years but the A*-B pass rate was the highest on record as was the percentage of passes at grade A and above. The number of UCAS points per entry was also at a record level.

In the five secondary schools, nearly 370 Year 13 students were entered for over 1260 A levels and more than 230 AS levels in over 40 subjects.

Some of the key details from the data that has been analysed today are as follows:

The breadth of subjects available (over 40 separate titles) was in line with the record numbers of recent years. Subjects entered ranged from Critical Thinking and Classical Civilisations to Chemistry and Further Maths.
The Island’s A level pass rate was 96.3%.
A record 41.4% of entries achieved passes at higher grades A*-B, up on last year’s figure of 38.8%. Passes at A* and A grades were also at a record high.
Using the UCAS tariff system (140 points for grade A*, 120 points for A, 100 for B, 80 for C, 60 for D, 40 for E) the average points score per entry, at 82 points, was the highest on record.
The average points score per student, at 310 was equivalent to higher than three grade Bs.

Across the Island there have been some individual students who have achieved outstanding results with up to 5 grade A passes or 4 grade A* passes and gained entry to top universities (including Oxford and Cambridge). Three passes at grade A or above, a magnificent achievement, has been reached by a significant number of students.

Some Headteachers have made reference to students achieving excellent results despite extremely difficult personal circumstances. Secondary Adviser Paul Craine says:

'As I have talked with the Island’s Headteachers throughout the day they have been hugely proud of students who have achieved against the odds. One student has a remarkable 3 grade A*s at A Level and 2 grade As at AS level despite having to cope with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Others had achieved despite very serious illnesses in their families.'

Media predictions were that students would struggle to get into their first or second choice universities this year if they fell even one grade below the conditional offer. Feedback from schools suggests that this has not happened. The vast majority of students have been placed in their firm or insurance choice universities.

It should be noted that these results for the Isle of Man are not directly comparable with the results that will be published in the UK this week. The initial UK results relate to all entrants and include mature students and students in colleges and independent schools whereas the Isle of Man data relate solely to 18 year olds in the five secondary schools.

Minister for Education and Children, Tim Crookall, said:

‘This is an excellent set of results. I would like to congratulate all of the Island’s A level students as well as their teachers. An average outcome equivalent to more than 3 grade Bs per student has not been achieved without a great deal of hard work on the part of both students and staff, as well as considerable support from parents. Those who have obtained all A* and A grades have done remarkably well. It is a boost for the whole Island when we see our young people being so successful. Whether they are taking up university places or entering the world of work, I would like to wish them every success in the future’.

Energy Award Winners 2012 announced

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:25:58 GMT

The Department of Social Care has received an Energy Award for 2012. This was for best innovation to trial the use of an Air Source Heat Pump for central heating and hot water where very few options were plausible.

The project identified a solution to homes that were still reliant on open coal fires and back boilers for heating and who were not on the gas network or with enough outside space or access for an oil or Liquefied Petroleum Gas tank (LPG).

The pilot project was to trial an Air Source Heat Pump located in the space of the coal bunker. The results from the first year were in line with projections and saw heating bills reduce by over 40%. Even with higher rental points to benefiting householders, who now have central heating for the first time, their outgoings are lower. The householders are no longer reliant on 1-2 bags of 50kg coal per week to heat their homes. Consideration can now be given to rolling this project out to remaining homes in this situation.

Director of Housing Debbie Reeve said:

'I am very pleased the Housing Division has received this award. It recognises the team, who work hard developing pragmatic, sustainable solutions that provide our tenants with good quality homes. The Department will be continuing to investigate similar innovations as technology develops and looks forward to working in partnership with officers across Government to deliver a sustainable future for the Island.'

The Energy Awards are now in their fourth year and the awards ceremony took place during the Energy Expo, which was held on Friday 10th August, at the Royal Manx Agricultural Show. They recognise the achievements of local businesses and public sector organisations in reducing their energy consumption and improving the efficiency of their organisations. Currently there are over 60 trained Energy Champions within local business and 60 within Government Departments.

The judging panel consisted of Dr Ken Milne, Department of Economic Development’s Senior Manager for Energy Policy; Peter Longworth, Government Energy Efficiency Officer, Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture; and Dr Richard Bujko, Director of Strategy and Business Development, Manx Electricity Authority.

Isle of Man Aircraft Registry voted 'best in the world'

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:26:38 GMT

A survey of leading aviation lawyers from around the world, conducted by leading aviation publication ‘Corporate Jet Investor’, has voted the Isle of Man Aircraft Registry the best aircraft registry in the world.

Votes were cast in four categories: speed of service; customer service; value for money; and innovation. The Isle of Man Aircraft Registry appeared as one of the top three registries in all categories, coming out on top for speed of service and innovation.

The general consensus among the lawyers was that the Registry was the most user-friendly and ideal for aircraft not intended to operate commercially. This is the first ever survey to find out the views of leading business jet lawyers towards the various aircraft registries around the world.

The Isle of Man Aircraft Registry has grown substantially since it was launched in May 2007 and there are now over 500 aircraft on the register, making it the fastest growing offshore register in the world. Its client base is global and the success of the Registry means that the Isle of Man is now home to a world-class group of companies who offer support services for owners and operators of corporate and private jets.

Isle of Man Director of Civil Aviation, Hartley Elder, commented:

'This is a tremendous accolade that once again highlights the excellence and hard work shown by all the team in the Aircraft Registry and our surveyors around the world. It is particularly pleasing that this recognition has come from one of the leading aviation titles via a survey of global aviation lawyers. We strive to offer the highest levels of customer service and this recognition from the industry also highlights the excellence of our local aviation businesses.'

Alex Andrews of Corporate Jet Investor said:

'The idea of the survey was to discover what aviation lawyers really think about the aircraft registries they deal with on a daily basis. The success of the Isle of Man in our survey reflects two things: the strength and customer service of the registry itself and also how good the Isle of Man’s service companies are. To accomplish this in just five years is a remarkable achievement.'

The Isle of Man’s political Member with responsibility for the Aircraft Registry, Alex Downie OBE MLC commented:

'This is great news for the Registry, the local aviation services industry and for the Isle of Man as it reinforces the high status that the Island now enjoys within the aviation industry. To have become such a major global player in such a short space of time is testament to the strong relationships between the Registry and the aviation industry. The Isle of Man’s aircraft register is clearly the outstanding choice for corporate and private jet registration.'

For more information about the Isle of Man's aviation sector, visit www.whereyoucan.im.

Launch of Primary Care framework cements future of Island's community based care

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:27:01 GMT

Under the plans which were set out in the ‘Strategy for the Future of Health Services’ the Department of Health has launched a strategic framework for Primary Care, which directly links into the Department’s overarching ten year strategy. The framework has the aim of setting out a vision and guiding plans for the enhanced role that community based care will play in the future delivery of health services in the Isle of Man.

Primary Care is the term used to describe services that are generally a first point of contact between patients and the health service, as well as those services that tend to be community based, located near to the people they serve. The Island’s Primary Health Care services include:

Isle of Man Ambulance Service
Contracted services such as GPs, Opticians, Dentists and Pharmacies
Community Nursing, including school nurses, district nurses, health visitors and family planning
Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital
Podiatry
Speech and Language Therapy
Prison Healthcare

Tony Jones, General Manager for Primary Care said:

'In simple terms, the Island’s healthcare is split between care provided at Noble’s Hospital and care provided outside of Noble’s Hospital in the community. It’s this latter element that’s classed as ‘Primary Care’. It’s the services which are generally the public’s first port of call when they need to access the Island’s health service, whether it’s a GP appointment or a visit from a District Nurse. Even those who dial 999 for a medical emergency will have come via Primary Care as it includes the Island’s Ambulance Service. So although it may not be a term people are very familiar with, it represents a grouping of frontline services that touch the lives of all in our community and provides almost 90% of the healthcare provided by the Health Service.'

As with all of the Island’s health services, Primary Care will continue to come under increasing pressure from rising demand and expectations. The framework will ensure that there is a renewed and clear sense of direction for the future, with key priorities made explicit.

Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK said:

'The Department’s strategy for the next decade, which has been in place since 2010, focuses on increasing the amount of treatment that takes place in the community setting, that is outside of Noble’s Hospital and by Primary Care. Effectively it’s about looking at our services and asking the question ‘does this service need to be delivered from a hospital?’

'Moving services out of Noble’s Hospital - only where appropriate - and continuing to invest in Primary Care will help to ensure that less people find themselves having to attend Noble’s Hospital for treatment, instead being cared for closer to home, at their local GP surgery for example. So it’s more convenient for the patient whilst at the same time ensuring that Noble’s Hospital can properly deploy its resources to focus on critical and acute care for patients - which is first and foremost what hospitals are designed to do - from hip replacements, to those who’ve suffered a stroke, to treating those involved in road traffic collisions.'

The new framework lays out plans for the development of Primary Care services over the next five years. Whilst it sits beneath the Department of Health’s overarching strategy ‘The Future for Health Services’; the framework is a hugely significant element in driving forward the delivery of the ten year strategy; helping the Department to realise its ambitions and vision of improving the Island’s health services and in turn, the health and wellbeing of the population.

Mr Dudley Butt MLC, Member for Health Services said:

'This framework is pivotal to the progression and advancement of Primary Care on the Island. This type of commitment to the improvement of services from the Department goes to show that we are continuously looking into how we can change and adapt our services for the better.'

Dave Kissack, Primary Care Operations Manager said:

'From the outset, we aimed to develop a comprehensive framework which would provide the Isle of Man with a clear vision of what Primary Health is and how it will develop over the next five years. The framework will influence and shape the future of Primary care on the Island as we go on to develop detailed implementation plans for the years ahead.'

A full copy of the Primary Health Care Framework is available online at www.gov.im/health.

Children awarded for their paintings on marine energy conservation

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:26:38 GMT

The Department of Economic Development is pleased to announce the winners of their children’s marine energy conservation painting competition, supported by the Department of Infrastructure and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

The Isle of Man Government is currently working on an Isle of Man Marine Plan to establish how it can use the seas around the Island to create sustainable resources of clean energy and minerals with minimum disturbance to the environment’s habitats and species and the other more traditional uses of the sea.

Schoolchildren were asked to paint a picture, draw, design using IT or give a written description on how they think the sea can be used to help explore these economic opportunities and what they would like to see within our territorial waters. They were also told to illustrate the future use of the sea and seabed which could include the use of new technology, consideration of environmental and important ecological issues, capture and utilisation of resources and more traditional uses, such as fishing, sailing and transport as well as subsea cables and pipelines, and suggest how it will help the economic development of the Island.

The entries were judged by Laura Hanley, Department of Infrastructure; Phil Corlett, Friends of the Earth and George Fincher, the Manx Energy Advice Centre. The winners from a total of 34 entries were:

1st prize: Abbie Edwards, Onchan Primary School
2nd prize: Erin Haswell, Onchan Primary School
3rd prize: Charlotte Babb, Onchan Primary School

The prize presentation, sponsored by Long and Humphrey, took place in the Department of Economic Development’s Energy marquee at the Royal Manx Agricultural Show.

Laurence Skelly MHK, Department of Economic Development Member with responsibility for Energy Policy, said:

'We recognise the importance of getting young people involved in energy saving and this competition was a great way of doing that. We received some very impressive entries from the pupils which made it a very difficult decision for the judges.'

'I hope Abbie, Erin and Charlotte enjoy their prizes and all the children who took part in this initiative have gained a lot of knowledge about energy efficiency and renewable technologies in the process.'

Competition winner Abbie Edwards was delighted with her prize. She said:

'I really enjoyed putting the idea and picture together but I didn’t think I would win so I’m very happy that the judges picked me as the winner.'

Abbie’s father, Tony Edwards said:

'I’m really happy for Abbie as she put a lot of work into this. I think clean energy and energy saving ideas are great topics for the children to focus on. All of us need to be aware of these things, both now and in the future.'

Energy Award Winners 2012 Announced

Tue, 22 May 2018 13:26:37 GMT

The Isle of Man Department of Economic Development is pleased to announce the winners of the Energy Awards 2012. The Energy Awards are now in their fourth year and the awards ceremony took place during the Energy Expo, which was held on Friday 10 August, at the Royal Manx Agricultural Show.

The Energy Awards recognise the achievements of local businesses and public sector organisations in reducing their energy consumption and improving the efficiency of their organisations. Currently there are over 60 trained Energy Champions within local business and 60 within Government Departments.

Awards were presented in three categories for business and Government by Laurence Skelly, MHK. Political Member for the Department of Economic Development with responsibility for Energy. The winners were:

Best Innovation in Business – ManTTX
Best Innovation in Government – Department of Social Care
Best Practice in Business – The Snug
Best Practice in Government – Department of Education and Children
Biggest Saving in Business – Marks and Spencer
Biggest Saving in Government – Department of Health

Isle of Man Creamery was presented with a ‘highly commended’ award for its focussed initiatives to reduce electricity, heating oil and water consumption over a four year period.

Laurence Skelly MHK, Political Member for the Department of Economic Development with responsibility for Energy, explained:

'I wish to congratulate the winners of the Energy Awards and thank all organisations who participated in the Awards. It is obvious that a lot of effort and dedication has been put into all of the entries, also demonstrating the talent and originality within the Industry. I hope the Champions continue with their excellent projects as the Island will hopefully benefit greatly from them for generations to come.'

Mr Skelly added:

'Recently the Department approved the first 0% Green Business loan to assist local businesses to become more energy efficient and we would like to invite more organisations to contact us if they are considering potential energy saving opportunities.'

Dr Ken Milne, Senior Manager for Energy Policy added:

'The Energy Awards illustrate a variety of examples of good practice, in both local business and the Government, and it is pleasing that the good work Energy Champions have achieved is recognised in this way. The Department of Economic Development will continue to support local businesses to become more energy efficient and I hope that these awards will inspire many others to follow their lead to consider potential energy saving opportunities.'

If your organisation would like to nominate an individual to receive energy efficiency training and become and Energy Champion who will be responsible for pursuing and implementing energy saving projects within the organisation please contact the Department on +44 1624 682367.