IoM Government to stranded Manx travellers: 'sorry, but we will not help you'

Those stuck abroad feeling 'desperate and abandoned'

Manx travellers who have been left stranded after the Island closed its borders last week, have been told by the government 'we will not help you'.

Emails shared with Manx Radio shows advice from the Cabinet Office is directing those stuck abroad to now contact the UK Foreign Office.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle gave Manx travellers 48 hours notice of the last boat from Heysham on 6am Friday before the Island's borders would be closed to all passengers, regardless of whether they were a resident.

It is now understood that a number of people missed that cut off point and have been locked out of the for the next 21 days.

As a result, the government says in the region of 20 Manx residents have been in contact with them seeking support.

Manx Radio has spoken to residents stuck in India to South East Asia where social restrictions are limiting access to food and medication let alone outbound travel.

Mark in Thailand, who was aware of the Island's border situation had rescheduled a return flight to Heathrow.

Though, with domestic flights grounded in the UK, his plan to drive a hire car up to Heysham for the last sailing were dashed as timings meant he could only get there by Friday night at the very earliest.

It was then that he took the advice of his travel insurance company to stay in Thailand, a country which is under a 7am to 7pm military curfew, as he would in fact be homeless if he got back to the UK.

This is conflicting advice from the Chief Minister’s office, which told him to return to the UK.

So he says, he feels 'abandoned' and 'forgotten' by the Manx government.

There is also concern for a couple in Goa where there are reports of a food shortage which is leading to civil unrest.

UK commercial flights in and out of India have been stopped and aren't set to resume until the middle of April.

'Rescue flights'

The Island’s jurisdiction over its travellers during a time of crisis has always been limited as the real practical and logistical support lies with the UK Foreign Office.

In an announcement yesterday, the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab struck a deal with a number of airlines to go ahead with a package of so-called ‘rescue flights.’

This would involve the repatriation of ‘hundreds of thousands of British people’.

Initially, the Foreign Office will target a number of priority countries where travel restrictions and indeed commercial flights have been stopped leaving a substantial amount of British citizens stranded.

It’s now likely that Manx people with access to a British Embassy will be able to get a seat on those planes back to the UK, if they make themselves known at the earliest opportunity.

However, as the UK is in a state of lockdown, Manx travellers will be returning to a country where all the hotels are shut.

For some, they may have to make the difficult decision then to stay put where they have access to accommodation and like many of us, wait this virus out in isolation.

In light of this announcement, Manx Radio contacted the Isle of Man Government.

A spokesperson said 'that any person coming into the Island is at risk of carrying Covid-19 and therefore presents a serious threat to our population and healthcare system.

'Anyone who is outside of the UK should contact the FCO for relevant advice and support.'