Isle of man ministers to hold roadshow to gather public views
Government ministers are set to face the public in a series of regional meetings starting next month.Four events, featuring members of the Isle of Man Council of Ministers, will be held at state-run secondary schools in Ramsey, Castletown, Douglas and Peel from 30 June to 3 July.The Listening to You roadshow follows a series of similar workshops held in April 2024.Chief Minister Alfred Cannan said it was "crucial" for ministers to "meet and engage with the public on issues that impact everyday lives".
He said there was "real value in making sure politicians are accessible to the public" and the conversations meant ministers could understand any "concerns and priorities at first hand".The meetings would help government ministers make "informed decisions" that reflect the needs of the population, he said.
The meetings are set to include a welcome and speech by the chief minister, followed by time for one-to-one conversations with ministers before politicians answer questions from the audience.Cannan said it was "crucial" for politicians to listen to the public but was "equally important for the public to meet ministers to ask questions and receive a reply in the moment, in person". He said the sessions were designed to "foster transparency and trust in government" and would allow government's wider aims to be shared "to ensure that policies are aligned with the interests of people in the Isle of Man".
'Meaningful conversations'
Encouraged young people to join the events he said: "By participating, you can be part of meaningful conversations and help to influence the decisions that shape our community."The meetings will be held on consecutive nights starting at Ramsey Grammar School in Ramsey on 30 June, followed by Ballakermeen High School in Douglas, Castle Rushen High School in Castletown and ending at Queen Elizabeth II High School in Peel on 3 July.
Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Isle of Man TT: Sign language interpreter makes event 'inclusive'
Providing a British Sign Language interpreter for some Isle of Man TT races makes the event "inclusive", those behind the service have "Deaf TT", the service sees live captions for radio commentary provided on the event's website as well as British Sign Language interpreted coverage at a section of the grandstand during the final two days of racing. Launched in 2016 by the Manx Deaf Society, the initiative aims to make the event more accessible for those who cannot follow live spoken commentary. Chief executive Lucy Buxton said it enabled those with a hearing impairment to be on the "same playing field" as they were given the information as it happened. "If you have to rely on someone else to get that information you sometimes feel as though you are an afterthought," she the past, those who could not follow live coverage would rely on a summary of the race released in the evening, or would need to be told what had Buxton said as the TT was "so fast", as soon as someone explains what had just happened "they have missed the next thing".The service provided the "same access possibility, whether people choose to follow it or not", and meant that the TT "becomes quite an inclusive event", she continued. Ms Buxton said the idea came about following a trip to see a Formula One race in Italy with her husband when a lack of English commentary demonstrated what it was like not to be able to follow what was being service was developed after similar frustrations werE raised by the society's members in relation to the government now provides nine free seats at the Grandstand on both Friday and Saturday of race week, as well as organising the captions for commentary on the TT signed commentary is provided by a visiting British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter UK organisation place names and people's names were finger spelt in BSL, organisers had to create their own vocabulary for brevity due the fast-paced included Cronk y Voddy becoming "road jump jump" and May Hill in Ramsey turning into "house of the vampires" due to a gothic looking house on the corner, Ms Buxton said. Similarly signs were created for the riders who were often mentioned in commentary, such as John McGuinness who is now the sign for a interpretor for the event Carol Kyle said it was a "privilege to make the races accessible to those who live on the island or visit" for the said as the TT was a time trial, it could be "extremely challenging" explaining the person ahead on the road was not necessarily the person winning."But the enthusiasm of the commentators is very infectious, and hopefully I translate that enthusiasm, anticipation and speed so people get that feeling of the TT," she added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
18 hours ago
- BBC News
Isle of Man TT: Norwegian fans charter ship to visit races
Two motorcycle fans from Norway, who hatched a "crazy idea after a couple of beers", have charted a ship for 145 fans to visit the Isle of Man MS Nordstjernen arrived in Manx waters on Monday after setting off from Bergen on Friday with enthusiasts from across the country Skaar, from the Bergen Motorcycle Club, said: "Every motorcyclist has heard about the TT, you just have to do it."His friend Erling Thomas Pettersen said every morning at breakfast he had been surrounded by his fellow enthusiasts "sitting there smiling" because they were at the "Mecca of racing". Tens of thousands of visitors travel to the island for the two-week event, which sees riders compete on 37.7-miles (61km) of closed public two friends, who decided they were keen to visit the 2025 event, had the idea to find a boat to hire "after a couple of beers", Mr Skaar led to them organising to charter the vessel, which was built in 1956 and usually visits ports around the north of Europe, three days later. Mr Petterson said he found it was "no problem" to encourage fans sign up for the trip, and ended up with a waiting list of enthusiasts who wanted to join members of the Bergen Motorcycle Club club were given "first right to join" before other fans from across the country were recruited to take the trip, he saidDespite some rough seas on the journey to the island, he said those on the trip were "so happy" because "everyone on Isle of Man is so friendly and helpful".Mr Petterson said the duo were already planning to organise the charter again for the 2026 festival and into the future, with about half of those onboard interested in returning."The TT is fantastic, we think we can do it for longer than the Vikings were standing here," he said."You have to do it at least once in your life." Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Isle of Man TT fans from Florida marshal after being 'recruited' on ferry
A couple on a "bucket list" trip to the Isle of Man TT from their home in the United States said they ended up marshalling at the event after being "recruited" while on the ferry and Cindy Wilkerson, from Florida, said they could not pass up the opportunity after speaking other volunteers on the crossing from as the orange army, a minimum of 563 volunteers are needed around the 37.7mile (61km) course before any practice or race session can go Wilkerson said: "They were recruiting for marshals and they signed us up, and now we've done five sessions and we're really enjoying it." "You do get a front row to the action but it's also being helpful."Mr Wilkerson said he first heard about the TT about a decade ago watching videos of 23-time TT winner John McGuinness on YouTube and had been keen to see it in person."We've just been watching and watching and watching, so this year here we are," he pair marshalled on the Sulby Straight for their second session, where riders can reach speeds of up to 200mph (321km/h)."It was insane speed. They go by so fast I couldn't even see the numbers on the bikes."The pair, who have been married for more than 30 years, also planned to renew their wedding vows during their Wilkerson said they bought a new ring in Peel and planned to exchange vows at Castle Rushen in Castletown before the end of their stay. But the American couple are not the only motorcycle enthusiasts who have travelled a significant distance to be part of the event. Craig Johnston from Sydney first came to the TT in 2007 for the event's centenary year as a witnessing the action first hand he said he knew he had "to come back and be a marshal".He said he had since made "some great friends" who he had "only met through marshalling". A former motorbike competitor in his homeland himself, he said the Isle of Man TT was "so unique"."The community welcomes you and appreciates you, the racing itself is spectacular," he added. Wolfgang Dohnalek, from Herford in Germany, is on the island marshalling for the third time. He said: "It's so amazing, you meet a lot of friends and we have a good time over here, so I must come back every year."The TT fan said he felt compelled to marshal at the event that gave him "so much", so that he could "give a little bit back"."To be a part of this great family, they call it the orange army, I do it with heart," he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
