Episodes
A Tynwald committee has set out to gather evidence about how the Island's tourism sector might look - or could look - in the future.
Spearheaded by former hotelier Chris Robertshaw MHK, it's looking to bring a report to the November sitting of Tynwald, which will lead to a general debate about how the industry should proceed in years to come.
His committee has been speaking to those at the forefront of the industry this week.
Alongside fellow Tynwald members Jason Moorhouse and Kerry Sharpe, Mr Robertshaw interviewed the leaders of the Department for Enterprise, and also a consulta...
At the July sitting of Tynwald, Policy and Reform Minister Ray Harmer promised to have the terms of a new regulatory agreement with Manx Gas ready by the time politicians come back from their summer break.
The previous agreement expired at the beginning of this year.
So how did we get here? What will we see in October? And above all, what does all of this mean for gas customers on the Isle of Man?
Dollin Mercer was joined live in the studio by three people with an active interest in this saga.
Barry Murphy has led a public campaign for a better deal for gas consumers on the Isle...
On the programme this week, Dollin Mercer was joined in the studio by the Isle of Man's two newest members of the House of Keys.
Voters in Douglas South headed to the polling stations on Thursday, to elect not one, but two new representatives for the constituency.
Polls opened at eight o'clock in the morning for a unique by-election which was called following the passing of Bill Malarkey in February and the resignation of Kate Costain.
There were ten candidates for those two spots - eight independents, one from Liberal Vannin and one from the Isle of Man Green Party.
Turnout was...
On the programme this week, we listen back to coverage of the ‘major incident’ in the village last October.
“It’s not going to be swept under the carpet. We will be tackling this head on to make sure that a) it doesn’t happen again and b) lessons are learnt” - Chief Minister Howard Quayle.
But have lessons been learnt?
Overnight on Wednesday, 12 August and Thursday 13, some residents in the Glen Road area were hit by more damage, following a heavy downpour which saw more than 40mm of rainfall in under two hours.
It came in the same week work got underway on replacing a culvert s...
For an island of less than 600 square kilometres, getting from A to B is a regular source of frustration for many.
But what are politicians doing to change how we travel?
And especially in a post-lockdown world, what could be done differently? Or should be done differently, for that matter?
Dollin Mercer is joined in the studio by Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker and Middle MHK Bill Shimmins to talk about how we get around.
The topics covered include active travel, public transport, heritage railways and driving.
Some comments from listeners:
"We commute to Douglas via th...
This week, it was announced the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh is 'going mainstream'.
From September, it’ll be a ‘fully maintained’ government school, for the first time in its 19-year history.
In this programme, we hear all about the truly unique place of learning – its past, and its future.
Dollin Mercer speaks to Education Minister Dr Alex Allinson about the school's transition.
But first, he's joined in the studio by two people who have been instrumental in the life of the school to date.
Annie Kissack has been a teacher at the Bunscoill since the beginning.
Phil Gawne is the Fin...
In the July sitting, Tynwald failed to agree on a move to change the speed limit policy on the Island’s roads.
Politicians weren’t discussing a national speed limit on this occasion, though, but specifically what the maximum should be on particular types of roadway.
The topic will return to parliament in October.
We then heard a motorist was recorded going through St Mark’s at 90mph – three times the limit there.
So what should the speed limit be? What roads should it apply to? How do we enforce it? What difference does it make? And above all... how do we improve road safety?
...
It's been a big week for the Isle of Man, as Treasury Minister Alf Cannan told us how he thinks the Island is faring in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The July interim budget update paints a picture of our national, financial health.
Up to £100-million-worth of public money is going to be taken from reserves to help the Manx economy bounce back.
Dollin Mercer was joined in the studio by two chartered accountants - two auditors - from the House of Keys: Mr Speaker, Juan Watterson, and Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper, to get their assessment of the week that was.
Dollin Mercer was joined, live in the studio, by Paul Moulton of Isle of Man TV, Jess Ward of Isle of Man Newspapers and Josh Stokes of ITV Granada Reports: Isle of Man to reflect on what it's been like for the media to 'cover' the Covid-19 pandemic on the Isle of Man.
It was a big day for the Legislative Council on Thursday, as nine candidates were whittled down to four new members of Tynwald's upper chamber.
Two were returning members, voted back in to serve another five-year term, and two were new faces.
Kerry Sharpe, Bill Henderson, Peter Greenhill and Rob Mercer were the successful nominees, now set to serve until February 2025.
In this episode, we learn a little more about the people that got in - and a bit about some of those that didn't.
On Monday evening, there was a rare opportunity for the general public to put their questions to th...
It's been a difficult week for the Isle of Man.
A high profile departure has left many of us feeling like we live on an Island more than ever.
In this week's episode of Perspective, we take a look back at all the reaction to Flybe going into administration.
The news was confirmed, finally, in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The airline operated around half of the flights to and from the Isle of Man.
Since the news broke, passengers on the Island and elsewhere have been scrambling to rearrange travel plans, with all of the airline's flights cancelled - quite literally, ov...
This week on Perspective, we’re taking a look at all things Fairtrade.
Sunday (1 March) is the half-way point of Fairtrade Fortnight.
Wendy Shimmin and Phil Craine of the One World Centre join Dollin Mercer to talk about what that involves.
They also speak about the Isle of Man’s Fairtrade Island status, the recent primary schools Fairtrade Conference, as well as giving a bit of history behind the Fairtrade concept and all that comes with it.
Dollin is also joined in the studio by John and Katherine Corkish who used to live in Garstang – the UK's first Fairtrade town.
They dr...
Following Tuesday's budget, Dollin speaks to Treasury Minister Alf Cannan MHK, Debbie Halsall of Unite the Union and Devon Watson of the Fare Free Campaign and Climate Change Coalition to reflect on the 2020 Pink Book.
This week, bosses at the Financial Services Authority were under the spotlight as they gave evidence, in public, to Tynwald's Economic Policy Review Committee.
That panel is tasked with scrutinising the work of Cabinet Office, Treasury and the Department for Enterprise, as well as some other organisations - including the FSA.
Karen Badgerow and Lillian Boyle – CEO and Chair respectively – spoke about the authority's last year of work to MHKs Chris Robertshaw, Tim Baker and Jason Moorhouse.
As a regulator, the FSA is responsible for reducing financial crime in the Isle of Man, among...
Since the beginning of the year, a village in the south of the Island has been mobilised over the uncertain future of its post office branch.
After the sub-postmaster in Ballasalla announced his intention to step down at the end of March, the Isle of Man Post Office Board launched a public consultation about what the future of the branch should be.
The plan was to convert the facility into a kiosk - similar to the plans in St John's and Pulrose - instead of the traditional counter service model we associate with post office branches across the Island and elsewhere.
Those proposals ...
The idea of an Auditor General on the Isle of Man is not a new one by any means, but it’s a topic that resurfaced this week after a hearing of a Tynwald committee.
The Public Accounts Committee took oral evidence in public from Adrian Jenner, Director of Parliamentary Relations in the UK, and Linda Mills, the Parliamentary Relations Manager with the UK’s National Audit Office.
The aim of the evidence session, the committee says, was “to increase awareness and understanding of the role of a Supreme Audit Institution.”
“This is a function the Isle of Man has made provision for in the...
This week, an important piece of work was presented to Tynwald.
The annual report of the Children's Champion provides careful scrutiny of a range of issues relating to looked after children, children with complex needs and young carers.
Tim Baker MHK is currently in the role, having taken it on in May 2018.
Few would disagree that the Isle of Man has a difficult history when it comes to looked after children, and children in care.
There have been a series of events, both in living memory and before, which taint the Island’s reputation – but, more importantly, had enormous reperc...
This week, Perspective revisits a topic which, behind all of the political activity of the present day, continues to bubble away in the background.
Some years ago, big promises were made when it came to the film industry.
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."
Alf Cannan was speaking about the Media Development Fund – which incurred losses of between 26 and 27 million pounds.
In O...
This week, we're taking another look at a debate an MHK recently described as "probably the most important debate we've had for decades."
Talking to the BBC at the annual Illiam Dhone commemoration ceremony at Hango Hill this month, Ralph Peake said Tynwald had the opportunity to "show some real leadership" in tackling climate change.
He was speaking as one of the members of a Climate Emergency Consultative Transformation Team, appointed by the Manx Government in July.
That team was made up of representatives from government departments, climate change specialists, as well as two p...
Talking to the BBC at the annual Illiam Dhone commemoration ceremony at Hango Hill on Thursday, 2 January 2020, Ralph Peake MHK said Tynwald had the opportunity to "show some real leadership" in tackling climate change.
The topic dominated this year's event, with speeches in English from Devon Watson of the Climate Change Coalition and Fare Free Campaign, followed by the author of the Isle of Man Population Atlas, Paul Craine, who is also the Isle of Man leader of the Climate Reality Project.
Mr Peake attended the event, having been one of the members of a Climate Emergency Consultati...
This week, Perspective took a look at what some might argue is proving to be one of the most divisive topics of the Quayle administration.
It’s a talking point that always garners an enormous amount of comment and debate on social media, on the airwaves, in the pub – and one that sparks strong opinions on both sides.
In the December sitting of Tynwald, Garff MHK Daphne Caine tried again to launch a feasibility study, about the prospect of resettling Syrian refugees here, following a petition from Ballakermeen students.
It was essentially a carbon copy of a debate from November 2018...
It's hoped the Isle of Man will have a state-of-the-art, dedicated cuesports facility by February next year.
Plans have been approved to construct 'The Cue Zone IOM' in the old sorting office on the Ronaldsway Industrial Estate, which is now beginning to take shape.
It'll house five or six top-of-the-range snooker tables, plus an 8-Ball Pool room and lounge area.
Twenty-three-year-old ex-professional snooker player and former world number 75 Darryl Hill, who is behind the project, has a grand vision for the venue.
He came up to Broadcasting House on Douglas Head to speak to Doll...
We chose to dedicate Perspective this week to the launch of a very important book.
In January this year, the Isle of Man lost a cornerstone of Manx culture, a catalyst in the ongoing revival of the Manx language, a crucial servant of Manx Radio over many many years, and someone not lightly described as a genuine polymath.
Dr Brian Stowell had an illustrious career in nuclear physics, held in the highest regard by his peers at the forefront of scientific advancements in the field.
Having worked as a lecturer in Physics in Liverpool, Dr Stowell would later become the Manx Language Of...
On this week's episode, we’re taking a look ahead to one of the items on the agenda for the House of Keys on Tuesday, which could see a crucial piece of legislation on the Isle of Man pass another significant hurdle.
In March last year, local charity 'Safe Strong Secure' started a petition calling for reform of the Island's domestic abuse legislation.
The move came in light of what the charity felt was "a very disappointing sentence," following a well-publicised court case.
The next month, the Department of Home Affairs responded, as it began drafting a new bill to address the issu...
This week was an important one for the Island's Attorney General, who was thrust under the spotlight of a Tynwald committee - in public.
Currently in that role is John Quinn QC.
The Constitutional and Legal Affairs and Justice Committee is looking at a range of topics relating to Her Majesty's Attorney General - including the relationship he has between the Government, Governor and Tynwald.
The work forms part of the committee's scrutiny remit, also focusing on issues which affect the Island relating to the administration of justice, legal services and constitutional issues.
Jan...
This week, we dedicated the programme to one of the Isle of Man's best-known and most respected broadcasters.
It was announced on Thursday (7 Nov) that Roger Watterson had passed away, at the age of 77.
Roger's involvement with Manx Radio began in 1974, when he co-authored a report into the station.
He was elected to the House of Keys in 1976, and appointed to the Broadcasting Commission and the Manx Radio Management Committee.
He served one term, in Middle, between 1976 and 1981.
On-air, he will be best remembered as the voice of Sunday Opinion and the Mannin Line on Manx Ra...
This week's Perspective; William King, sitting in for Dollin Mercer, was joined by representatives of four podcasts made on the Isle of Man to discuss the audio they make.
We hear from Ged Power who makes tourism and golf podcasts, Neil and Neil at the Manx theatre podcast, Jess Ward from the Isle of Man Newspapers Podcast and Sian Cowper from the motorsport podcast 3 legs 4 wheels.
William also speaks to George Butler from Radiocentre, the industry body for commercial radio in the UK and Chris Sully and Alex Brindley from Manx Radio to learn about the dynamic between podcasting and r...
Describing itself as “an environmental initiative that would improve the lives of working and middle class families on the Isle of Man,” we hear all about the ‘Fare Free Campaign’ on this week's episode of Perspective, which is calling for public transport on the Island to be made free for all.
Devon Watson, the spokesperson for the campaign, joins Dollin Mercer in the studio.
But first, we remind ourselves of previous discussions about this issue.
Back in May, Daphne Caine MHK asked the infrastructure minister a question in Tynwald about the impact of free bus travel on the Island...
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' accr...
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.