
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 scenetm ever displayed. They are now voting with their feet.
Last available figure. For some reason they won't let us see recent figures.