Dog fouling and litter were hot manifesto topics in the run-up to a mock election at Ramsey Town Hall held by year six pupils from Bunscoill Rhumsaa.
Held in advance of local elections on April 28, the event, the third of its kind, was hosted by Ramsey Town Commissioners.
The school’s year six children had been tasked with giving their views on how the town might be improved; six were subsequently selected to act as candidates and present their manifestos ahead of the mock election for a Bunscoill Rhumsaa town commissioner.
The six pupils were Leah Bibby, Abbie Dixon, Daniel Jenner, Emily Slevin, Mia Dunwell, Lexi Forbes, who faced questions from the floor, media exposure from Manx Radio’s Alex Bell and the camera lens of Sue Jones of Andrew Barton Photographer.
A ballot was then held with Emily Slevin emerging the successful candidate.
Ramsey Town Commissioners’ chairman Richard Radcliffe said: ‘The event was arranged to provide some of the town’s future generation of voters – and perhaps even commissioners – an insight into election proceedings against the background of both the local and general elections taking place this year.
‘The exercise proved to be enlightening as much for the adults as it was for the children, who articulated their views with great conviction and enthusiasm. It was particularly interesting to hear that there are some community issues, such as dog fouling and litter, which clearly concern young people as much as they do the rest of us.
‘Given the calibre of debate and insight shown by these six candidates, were they to go on to become commissioners it would seem that Ramsey’s future would be in very safe hands.’
Ramsey will not go to the polls on April 28. A bye-election will, however, be held in May.
Pictured left right are Bunscoill Rhumsaa candidates Leah Bibby 10, Abbie Dixon 10, Daniel Jenner 10, Emily Slevin 10, Mia Dunwell 10 and Lexi Forbes 11, with Manx Radio’s Alex Bell Manx, Sue Jones of Andrew Barton Photographer and Ramsey Town Commissioners’ chairman Richard Radcliffe.
