FOCKLE AYNS DTY CHLEAYSH

Constitutional Independence not
Economic Isolation

There has been much talk recently about the constitutional arrangement between the Isle of Man, the UK and Europe. There are indeed many justifiable concerns over the medium term future of the Isle of Man particularly in relation to proposed changes in European tax laws. However, there are many people, including the Chief Minister, who see the calls for independence made over the past few months as nothing more than political opportunism.

Of course nationalists have long called for independent Government for the Isle of Man, seeing the influence of the UK in Manx Government policy making as detrimental to our future well-being. However, the constitutional independence called for by nationalists does not as I understand it include complete separation from the UK or in other words economic isolation.

If anything Mec Vannin and the Celtic League call for much closer ties with Scotland, Ireland and Wales in a kind of Celtic mini-version of the European Union. While the nationalist/pan-Celticist motivation for a confederation of independent Celtic states is based on romantic idealism, it is worthy of further consideration when bearing in mind geographical and political realities.

The Isle of Man is geographically at the centre of the 'Celtic' world and like the other Celtic countries its position on the western fringe of Europe makes trade with mainland European countries difficult and relatively expensive.

Politically we have more in common with the smaller countries on the Celtic fringes than the giant economically dominant country of England. Even in England itself you often hear complaints that Government policy is made to fit the needs and demands of the south east.

Whatever your views on the rights and wrongs of the constitutional upheaval in the UK, the European question and indeed constitutional independence for the Isle of Man, there are considerable political dangers to be faced in the coming years. However, there is tremendous potential for forward thinking and talented politicians and business leaders to find new economic opportunities.

At the formative stages of a new system of relationships between the countries of western Europe and particularly the British Isles, we can develop an innovative role for the Isle of Man within the newly emerging economic and political structures. The qualities which have enabled the Isle of Man to be governed with a large degree of autonomy for over a thousand years, are the qualities which will ensure our future survival!

Seyrsnys Bunraghtoil Gyn
Farrys-Cheerey Fadaneagh

Ta palchey dy lieh er ve boirrey mychione yn reaghys vunraghtoil eddyr Mannin, yn Reeriaght Unnaneysit (RU) as yn Oarpey.Dy jarroo ta boiraghyn feer as cairagh dy liooar ayn oddagh jannoo assee mooar da Mannin ayns blein ny ghaa bentyn rish polaseeyn noa keeshyn Oarpagh er lheh. Agh ta ymmodee sleih, yn Ard-Shirveishagh ny mast-oc, ta smooinaghtyn nagh vel adsyn t'er ve loayrt dy jeean son seyrsnys car ny meeghyn shoh chaie agh caaoileyderyn politickagh.

Son shickyrys ta ashooneyryn er ve shirrey reiltys seyr son Mannin rish tammylt foddey, as adsyn shickyr dy beagh traa ry-heet Mannin foddey ny share nagh row yn reiltys ain fo smaght yn RU. Ta ashooneyryn shirrey seyrsnys vunraghtoil agh er lhiam nagh vel ad shirrey Mannin scoltit dy bollagh veih'n RU ny farrys-cheerey fadaneagh my ta.

Dy jarroo ta Mec Vannin as yn Commeeys Celtiagh geearree croo kianglaghyn lajer eddyr Mannin, Nalbin, Bretin as Nerin myr cummey beg Celtiagh jeh'n Unnaneys Oarpagh. Ta bun yn keeayl ec ny ashooneyryn as pan-Cheltee son cochiangle dy steatyn seyr Celtiagh cheet veih ardsmooinaght ashlinagh, agh s'feeu cur sursmooinaght er, goaill stiagh yn rieughid cheer-oaylleeagh as politickagh.

Ta Mannin cree yn theihll Celtiagh as myr ta ny cheeraghyn Celtiagh elley er'n oirr heear hwoaie jeh'n Oarpey t'ee ayns boayl neuchooie son dellal rish ny cheeraghyn neuellanagh mooarey Oarpagh.

Ta politickaght Vannin ny sniessey da ny cheeraghyn beggey er ny oirryn Celtiagh na'n cheer foawragh ta jannoo kioneys er ny cooishyn farrys-cheerey ayns ny ellanyn shoh, as shen Sostyn. Eer ayns Sostyn hene ta mraane as deiney dy liooar gaccan dy vel polaseeyn reiltys yn RU jeant son cooilleeney yeearreeyn as aggyrtysyn ny cummaltee shiar ass gyn scansh da ny Sostynee elley.

Cre erbee t'ou smooinaghtyn er y vusthaa bunraghtoil mooar ayns yn RU, caghlaaghyn vees cheet veih'n Oarpey ny eer seyrsnys bunraghtoil son Mannin, hig gaueyn politickagh mooarey orrin ayns ny bleeantyn shoh cheet. Agh ec yn traa cheddin, hig caaghyn yindyssagh da politickeyryn as fir toshee dellalys ta foddey-oayllagh as schleioil dy eddyn margaghyn cooilleenagh noa oddagh Mannin, myr ashoon beg, goaill foays mooar er lheh ass.

Ec yn traa bunneydagh jeh reaghys noa eddyr ny cheeraghyn ayns ny ellanyn shoh er lheh as yn Oarpey myrgeddin, fodmayd ayns Mannin lhiasaghey paart ymmydoil da Mannin ayns y chrauelagh politickagh as tarmaynagh noa vees cheet dy gerrid. Ta'n ashoon Vannin foast er mayrn kyndagh rish dooghyssyn ardghooghyssagh ny Manninee, as yn naboo ain nane jeh ny cheeraghyn s'niartal 'sy theihll. She ny dooghyssyn shoh vees shickyraghey traa ry-heet Mannin er son dy bragh!
Phil Gawne 834844