A delegation from Tynwald has attended the 53^rd British Islands and Mediterranean (BIMR) conference.

Pictured: Speaker Cyril Gunnell is presented with an IOM Post Office stamp set marking the connection between St Helena and the Isle of Man, depicting Colonel Mark Wilks, former Governor of St Helena and Speaker of the House of Keys

The Speaker of the House of Keys, the Hon Juan Watterson SHK, Hon Daphne Caine MHK and John Wannenburgh MHK, supported by the Clerk of Tynwald Jonathan King, joined delegates from 10 parliaments and legislatures from across the region for the week-long conference, which concluded on Saturday, May 25.

The conference, the first of its kind to have been held in St Helena, took for its theme ‘Addressing Challenges to Sustainable Development in Times of Global Uncertainty’.  Topics included:

• Digital reforms and artificial intelligence;
• Decentralised finance;
• Climate emergency;
• Tourism development;
• Green energy solutions;
• Improving agriculture productivity and
• Benefits of a youth parliament.

The programme also included the BIMR AGM and a Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentarians (CWP) session and provided an opportunity for delegates to participate in the St Helena Day celebrations on May 21.

Mr Speaker said: ‘This was the first time St Helena had hosted this conference, which had previously been impossible due to the absence of air links. The pride that the “Saints” show in their island was clearly on display as they were keen to not just put on a first-rate conference, but took a day in the programme to show us the highlights of St Helena.

‘It was a special moment to celebrate the connection between our two island communities by presenting a copy of the commemorative stamp issue featuring Colonel Mark Wilks that was issued by the Isle of Man Post Office in 1981. Colonel Mark Wilks was Governor of St Helena 1813-16, and was in charge when Napoleon arrived. On his return to the Isle of Man, he became an MHK, then Speaker 1826-1831. He brought back his servant, a “Saint”, who is buried in Braddan Cemetery. Colonel Wilks’ portrait hangs on the wall at the Governor’s residence in St Helena. Almost 200 years later, it feels appropriate to reaffirm that affection for each other’s communities. Thanks also to Maxine Cannon and those others involved at Isle of Man Post Office for their support in this endeavour.’

Costs will be published in due course on the Tynwald website.

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For further information contact:

Joann Corkish
Deputy Clerk of Tynwald
Legislative Buildings
Douglas
IM1 3PW
Tel: 01624 685511
j.corkish@tynwald.org.im