Alex McQuarrie - February 2017
Moving into the second
month of my internship in the Clerk of Tynwald’s Office, I have begun to settle
in. School tours have taken a large share of my time as we opened our doors to
students from Onchan, Laxey, and Braddan. I was delighted to lead scripted
tours of the Legislative Buildings for these schools, where the students played
the role of MHKs, and debated pressing issues such as the abolition of
homework, the establishment of an Isle of Man football club, and the termination
of the spring term. Unsurprisingly, each House voted for school to end
immediately! To learn about the tours that we offer please see here.
Aside from school tours, preparation
for the 150th anniversary of the first democratic elections of the
House of Keys has become a major part of my workload. That said, exploring the
history of democratic reform on the Island has not really felt like work, and
it has been fascinating to familiarise myself with some of the key individuals
and events that tell the story of reform. The ongoing research that I have been
undertaking for this will be going on the Tynwald website, where among other
things, you will be able to familiarise yourself with some of the Members of
the House of Keys in 1867, and can also learn about the many reform petitions
that sought to change the House of Keys in the decades leading up to 1867.
Learn about the anniversary here.
I have thoroughly enjoyed
the continued work that I am doing with the three committees of which I am
Assistant Clerk. The SAPRC has been busy on a range of issues of public
importance, including the investigation into personal capability assessments,
the examination of the adequacy of nursery place provision on the Island, and
the scrutiny of the provision of mental ill health on the Island. OOGE are
equally preoccupied with a matter of great public concern, and have recently
been drafting the report of the Committee on the Organization and Operation of
the General Election. Reading the many submissions that have been sent to the
Committee has been particularly eye-opening for me, and it is reassuring to know
that in an age where there seems to be a widespread apathy towards politics and
government, that many people across the Island remain deeply passionate about
the importance of the General Election.