The Speaker of the House of Keys (the democratically elected house of the Manx legislature) has been forced to try and explain his astonishing decision to perform a 'volte-face' in the House earlier this week.
The Speaker initially rejected attempts by the Isle of Man Chief Minister to evade a question about secret payments of large sums of public money later reversing his decision.
The matter is creating much unease on the Island and is stoking fears that government is attempting to cover-up unsound decisions over the allocation of public monies and stifle fiscal accountability.
Speaking on one of the Islands Radio stations the Speaker had to be pressed several times before he gave a clear answer and then he simply restated that the government cover-up culture of failing to clarify the situation will now stand. He did not however clarify what was the catalyst for his astonishing change of heart over the issue, an unanswered question which must create disquiet about the independence of the role of Speaker.
The whole episode leaves the Isle of Man looking increasingly like a sleazy banana republic rather than an accountable democracy.
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
16/03/07
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