Manx Herald Isle of Man: Trust us says Treasury Minister - Not likely Mr Bell

Trust us says Treasury Minister - Not likely Mr Bell
================================================================================
Herald Editor on 24 February, 2009 04:38:00
 
Treasury Minister Allan Bell took umbrage when Tynwald colleagues laughed when
he asked them to trust him and, it is assumed, the Chief Minister to deal with
“a whole raft of issues - international, Kaupthing, and all the other issues
which are swirling around us at the moment.”
North Douglas MHK, Bill Henderson had been asking Mr Bell to keep Tynwald
Members better briefed, regarding meetings he had held in London and Reykjavik;
to which Mr Bell had replied that he would when he had some “salient examples
of progress being made on all these various issues” as he, and the Chief
Minister had done on a number of occasions.
Mr Bell had gone on to say “I really wish Members would learn to trust and
realise that we” when he was interrupted by interjections and the laughter. It
was at this point he started his rant calling some of the comments from
colleagues “immature”, that they needed to “wake up” to the “stress
and extreme scrutiny” the IOM is currently under from “external threats”;
and appreciate how he, and other government officials, are working to
“protect” the IOM.
He ended by stating that if Members do not have confidence in what they are
doing then “please come forward and let us know”. The Manx Herald may not be
in a position to give Mr Bell our response on the floor of Tynwald but we have
no reservations in telling Mr Bell what it would be if we could; which is:
Go, and go now!
Mr Bell, you have had 8 years as Treasury Minister to “protect” the IOM and
you have failed miserably.
The IOM is facing criticism from more people than probably ever before because
of your ineffectual handling of the KSF (IOM) bank situation, the revised, and
‘non-guaranteed’, depositors’ compensation scheme, the subsequent
‘slow’, and inadequate, ‘Early Payment Scheme’ and now a proposed
‘Scheme of Arrangement’ that lacks credibility. However, had you had in
place a reliable regulatory body (you nominated the members of the Financial
Supervision Commission to Tynwald did you not?) rather than a ‘Failed
Supervision Commission’ then perhaps Treasury, and the IOM, would not be in
the hole it is in now.
It is time to stop digging Mr Bell and call it a day. You said on Sunday’s
Mannin Line - when challenged by the Manx Herald’s editor over your
spectacular failure to achieve anything of real merit during your time in the
Treasury - “I’d be delighted to resign” - so what is stopping you? It
certainly isn’t the Herald.