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Time to put differences to one side says Chief Minister

by isleofman.com 14th October 2011

THE Island's Chief Minister says government must put its personal and political differences to one side and work together in future.

 

Allan Bell MHK has said it is time to "draw a line in the sand" and put previous disagreements to one side.

 

Earlier today Mr Bell revealed who he had chosen to lead the nine departments of the Isle of Man Government.

 

His line up includes four new faces - with Juan Watterson, Tim Crookall, Chris Robertshaw and Peter Karran taking up ministerial roles.

 

Mr Karran's appointment as Minister for the Department of Education and Children may come as a surprise to many as the Leader of the Liberal Vannin Party is a long-term outspoken critic of the government.

 

His appointment also follows unprecedented scenes in Tynwald at the election of the Chief Minister – where Peter Karran was standing against Allan Bell – on Tuesday.

 

At one point Mr Karran withdrew his nomination for the role after two Liberal Vannin Party members were reprimanded for their conduct while proposing and seconding Mr Karran for the job. It left one Member of Tynwald describing the scenes as "appalling".

 

However Mr Bell says it is time to let go of the past.

 

Speaking at a press conference the Island's Chief Minister said: "We all have baggage from our past political careers – we could argue over this forever. This isn't the time to look backwards now it is vitally important that as a government we lead the Isle of Man into the future not hang on to the past.

 

"I believe strongly that we have to put our past, even our recent past, disagreements to one side. I very much want to draw a line in the sand from today to put past personality clashes and policy disagreements all to one side in the name of the greater good of protecting the Isle of Man.

 

"Mr Karran obviously represents a strand of view politically – his party polled a respectable number of votes in the election – and it is my ambition to bring all strands of political thought in the Island together in this new cabinet.

 

"Mr Karran recognises the seriousness of the challenges facing the Island at the moment and is prepared to join us in search of unity to enable the Isle of Man to, together, come up with solutions to take us further down the road.

 

"The urgency of some of the issues which will confront us is such that we cannot afford these distractions anymore. We have to work together as a team and move forward to tackle these problems."

 

Also see: Allan Bell's Council of Ministers announced

 

What do you think? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below:

 

 

 

Posted by isleofman.com
Friday 14th, October 2011 01:38pm.

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