The gulf between public opinion and our elected dictatorship on the User Agreement and its operation by the Steam Packet is staggering. They live in an Andersonopia¹ where a majorityof their out-of-touch selves rarely see a ferry from their first class perch on a plane out of here.

I'm sure, like me most are bloody angry that a foreign owned company have an Isle of Man Government  agreed monopoly that ensures 36% profits² for them and a shoestring service for us with a backup that is not designed to handle Irish Sea winters.  Do they want to change this, do they heck! That might mean real political work.

The most recent illustration is the Department of Infrastructure's invitation to have an invitation (also known as 'Prior Information Notice' or PIN) this invitation was made on the 18th DECEMBER and elapses on 7th JANUARY.

Now, think.

Just suppose you wanted as few ferry operators as possible responding, what would you do?

Got it, let's have an invitation arranged for a minimum period, say three weeks tops, and let's issue it a week before Xmas. That way most senior management will be on holiday and miss it.

If that's not going on, DoI have made sure we are going to think it. It looks like the DoI are playing games with what is absolutely critical and a strategic necessity to everyone on this Island, not just some crusty in DoI.

Following complaints I understand that this deadline will be extended. A shame they didn't have the vision to see this coming before...

Stupidity or arrogance? I have no idea.

Link to User Agreement

In a Andersonopian survey of Nobles consultants, a majority thought things were going swimmingly at Nobles; unfortunately, in a letter from them the opposite was true. They also love the ugliest nativity scene^tm ever displayed. They are now voting with their feet.

Last available figure. For some reason they won't let us see recent figures.

Our first article (11/09) created quite a stir and so here are some further thoughts…...

A. Public Sector Pensions - Future Funding

It may be that the the mounting Public Sector Pension crisis is worse than thought.

In a detailed document published by the *Public Sector Pensions Authority, "IOM Government Unified Scheme 2011, Annual Report and Accounts 2012-2013" there is a gloomy set of notes at page 30 about the PSP funding gap. It is expected to "increase as a larger proportion of the Scheme's membership reaches retirement and that additional funding will be required from the Treasury".

It's worth reading this page in the Report, if nothing else.