Latest news with #AlfredCannan
BBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Isle of Man joins mounting calls for humanitarian aid in Gaza
The Isle of Man has added its voice to mounting calls from the UK and United Nations for humanitarian intervention in Gaza. The Chief Minister Alfred Cannan wrote to Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood following discussions with the Council of Ministers. In the letter, Cannan explained that Tynwald debated and "voted to endorse the stated positions of the United Kingdom and the United Nations regarding the current situation in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza".He said: "The human impact of the escalating conflict on the population of Gaza is being viewed with mounting concern by many in the Isle of Man." It comes after the UK and 28 other countries have called for an immediate end to the war. 'Add our voices' More than 100 international aid organisations and human rights groups are warning of mass starvation in Gaza and pressing for governments to take action.Médecins Sans Frontières, Save the Children and Oxfam are among the signatories of a joint statement that says their colleagues and the people they serve are "wasting away".After further talks with ministers, Cannan said: "The deprivation of humanitarian assistance is unacceptable under the obligations of international humanitarian law."He said: "We consider it an imperative for medical and food aid to be delivered and distributed safely. "We support the United Kingdom's call that humanitarian relief must get through urgently to the civilian population and a ceasefire agreed."We respectfully add our voices to the many calls for influence and the imperative for action in order to bring about an end to the tragic suffering amongst the population of Gaza."The Israeli government has said it acts in accordance with international law and facilitates the entry of aid while ensuring it does not reach has acknowledged recently that there has been a significant drop in supplies reaching Palestinians but has blamed UN agencies for the decline. 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.
ITV News
5 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Isle of man chief minister expresses 'mounting concern' over humanitarian crisis in Gaza
The Chief Minister of the Isle of Man has written to the UK Government to express the island's growing concern over the "worsening humanitarian crisis" causing "tragic suffering" in Gaza. In a letter to MP Shabana Mahmood, Chief Minister Alfred Cannan MHK said that the "deprivation of humanitarian assistance is unacceptable under the obligations of international humanitarian law." He said many residents who live on the island are watching the Israel-Hamas conflict with growing alarm for the Palestinian people and called for urgent relief and a ceasefire. Tynwald says it fully supports a joint statement from 29 countries, including the UK, which calls for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and states the Israeli government's aid delivery "deprives Gazans of human dignity". In the letter, the Chief Minister said: "I wish to convey that the human impact of the escalating conflict on the population of Gaza is being viewed with mounting concern by many in the Isle of Man who uphold a commitment to both our national values and a longstanding commitment to international humanitarian principles." He added: "Respecting fully our constitutional relationship and the complexities of the situation across the Middle East, we consider it an imperative for medical and food aid to be delivered and distributed safely. "We support the United Kingdom's call that humanitarian relief must get through urgently to the civilian population and a ceasefire agreed. "We respectfully add our voices to the many calls for influence and the imperative for action in order to bring about an end to the tragic suffering amongst the population of Gaza." The letter comes as the head of the UN's relief agency Unwra said parents in Gaza are "too hungry to care for their children" and families are struggling to survive. In a statement issued on Thursday, Unwra Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini said a colleague had told him on Thursday morning: 'People in Gaza are neither dead nor alive, they are walking corpses'. Lazzarini said Unwra's latest findings showed one in five children in Gaza City is now malnourished and cases are increasing every day.
ITV News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Chief Minister 'not distracted' by upcoming election as Isle of Man administration enters final year
Chief Minister Alfred Cannan 'focused on delivering for people' as administration enters final year Chief Minister Alfred Cannan says "there'll be no talk of elections" in his government as the administration enters its final year. Mr Cannan has been addressing islanders at four public roadshow events giving people the opportunity to question the government on their decisions. The leader of the Isle of Man Government dismissed claims of a "focus shift" towards the election, while listing a number of challenges faced by ministers. These included discussions around artificial intelligence (AI), delivering the housing agenda, and security at the island's ports. Mr Cannan would not confirm, at this stage, whether he intends to stand in the Isle of Man General Election taking place in September next year. Mr Cannan addressed why a 'low number' of people turned out to the government roadshows Ministers from the Isle of Man Government have spent the week addressing members of the public in four "roadshow" events, taking questions from a live audience. Led by Chief Minister Alfred Cannan, the government travelled to Ramsey, Douglas, Castletown and Peel to hear from residents about their concerns as the island heads into the final year of Cannan's administration. Despite the opportunity to question Cannan's government, a total of just 281 people attended across all four events, with Castletown claiming the largest crowd of 97. With a population of 85,000, some questioned how valuable the roadshow events were in engaging with the population, if the majority were unable to attend. Mr Cannan said: "I accept you don't always get great turnouts at these types of events. "A lot of people are very busy in their lives, it's not ideal during the week, people are coming home from work, they might have young families. He continued: "Even as a small representation, I'm sure that we will have got from those 300 people many of the core issues and questions that thousands of others will be having on our island." Mr Cannan said 'we'll walk away wiser' following engagement with the public When asked whether the Chief Minister thought he was in line with the people of the Isle of Man, he said: "I am not for one minute going to pretend this is easy. "There are so many different aspects of challenge and concern, but there's also a huge need for us to get facts and information out to the public to overcome what can be huge misconceptions or misleading statements or rumours." Alfred Cannan concluded by saying he hoped people felt 'more informed' by attending the roadshows.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Manx ministers' roadshow a 'chance to hear public views'
A series of public meetings featuring the Council of Minister will allow the government to "recognise where we have room for improvement", the chief minister has first of four regional Listening to You events takes place in Ramsey later, with sessions in Castletown, Douglas and Peel to launched last year, the roadshow give the public the chance to listen to government policies and give ministers feedback on Cannan said the 2024 events, allowed the government to "reflect" on people's experiences and what actions needed to be taken. Taking place at Ramsey Grammar School, Ballakermeen High School in Douglas, Castle Rushen High School in Castletown, Queen Elizabeth II High School in Peel on consecutive days between 17:30 until 20:00 session will begin with a speech from Cannan, followed by the chance to ask questions and one-to-one time with ministers. 'Thought-provoking' The chief minister said key themes from last year's events included the tax rise, the cost of public services, travel on and off the island, healthcare and mental health said he hoped to use the latest series to explain the progress made on those matters he did not want to "prejudge" what matters would be raised, he said he was expecting the economy, the cost of immigration and security as well as more questions about healthcare to be raised by the he said there were "always questions that we perhaps aren't anticipating, which can often be revealing and thought-provoking".He said the events also enabled people to "highlight where negative impacts were taking place", which "provided an opportunity to reflect on that".The sessions, which saw about 400 people attend overall last year, were also an "opportunity" for ministers to go out to different parts of the island to "engage with people they would not ordinarily see and hear the challenges they face". 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
17-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Isle of Man TT schedule unlikely to change despite disruption
A review of the 2025 Isle of Man TT is underway but changes to the schedule are unlikely in 2026 despite weather disruption leading to the Senior race being cancelled, the enterprise minister has qualifying and racing at the meeting were severely disrupted by rain and fog, with most races run on a reduced number of laps. Gusty conditions on the final day of the event also saw the blue riband showpiece of the event, the Senior TT, Johnston said while TT 2025 had been "challenging", the fortnight had seen "some amazing racing" despite "the best efforts of weather to cause chaos". Tens of thousands of visitors travelled to the island for the event between 26 May until 7 June, which saw racing take place on 37.7-miles (61km) of closed public Glover MHK asked whether the schedule, introduced in 2023, would be tweaked to give "more certainty" to the running of the Senior race, which was the last in the schedule, next explained that debriefs "at all levels" with "all key stakeholders" were taking place, with the results expected in the coming weeks. But he said any changes would require discussions to "assess whether that was necessary". 'Opportunity missed' Meanwhile, the chief minister said ways of creating a "more prominent visual welcome" to Isle of Man from senior politicians for TT visitors would be considered ahead of next year's Cannan was challenged over there being no visible message from Manx politicians among the safety reminders, event updates and public health guidance issued during the said the lack of a "safe travels" campaign was a "PR opportunity missed" by central conceded it was a "valid point" and but said any future government messaging needed to remain "meaningful" to TT said the current schedule had been implemented following consultation with race organisers, competitors, teams, and medics. Cannan told members there had been a "coordinated" effort across government to "deliver clear practical information" during the said figures such as former TT winner Milky Quayle had been chosen for their "strong connection to the audience", which recognised the important role the right people could can play in promoting the island said there was "absolutely a role to play" for politicians in promoting the island and welcoming that would "need to be put in context with what is meaningful to our visitors", 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.
