The President of Tynwald has written to the new President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Noel Cringle has congratulated him on his inauguration and expressed his desire that the USA and the Isle of Man will be able to build on what has always been a good working relationship.

On yesterday's Sunday Opinion programme, East Douglas MHK Brenda Cannell (pictured) said the Island had be to be pro-active to any criticisms of it being a so called tax haven.

Having been to several Commonwealth Parliamentary Association meetings, attended by observers from the USA, she says the lack of confidence in them was obvious.

However, she believes Mr Obama may be able to get it back.

On Sunday Opinion Mrs Cannell said:

"They were always heavily criticised from countries within the Commonwealth for their lack of regard for environmental issues, the lack of regard for certain humanitarian issues, in terms of access to NHS and many things. They used to absorb all of this and take it back to President Bush.

"Every quarter I've visited in my parliamentary life in the last 15 years they've always been criticised, so I think the first thing he has got to do is get confidence going again, and I think that's where he can make a huge difference.

"I think the policies will flow after that, but the confidence thing is the boost."