News from Marown

In late October 2006, the Captain of the Parish was provided with a signed “ requisition” from 12 parishioners asking him to call a Public Meeting to hear from the candidates in the November General Election.

The Meeting was held at Marown Primary School on Tuesday 7th November at which the three candidates, Mrs Kate Beecroft, Mr Martyn Quayle and Mr Andrew Jessup were all present. The Meeting was chaired by Charles Fargher CP. Approximately 100 persons attended, most of whom were Marown parishioners, together with a number of parishioners from Braddan ( Braddan being part of the same parliamentary constituency of Middle as is Marown). There were a number of visitors from other areas of the island who were embarking on a tour of requisition meetings over the island.

After introductory statements from the candidates, a question and answer session lasting for 2 hours provided an insight into the “burning “questions from the floor and a taste of policies from the candidates.

The dominant questions concerned immigration, the perceived ineffectiveness of the former House of Keys and law and order.

Unfortunately, none of the candidates had at that time prepared a manifesto so there was little indication as to what their policies were prior to the meeting. The absence of such did not allow the audience an opportunity to test the candidates. When asked as to why their manifesto was not available, all candidates indicated that they wanted to know what the public saw as the “ big “ issues and that they would then draw up their  manifesto and presumably their policy accordingly!

Whilst all candidates answered the questions (The Chairman had to bring certain candidates back to the point at times), the meeting was lack lustre and was generally perceived as disappointing. Many persons present  felt that there was a lack of passion both from the floor and the platform, possibly occasioned by general apathy due to the fact that life is comfortable for the majority at present and that things are therefore “OK”.

An alternative view expressed was that the meeting was too early in the run up to the election and that the hall was too large, thereby taking away from the “cosiness “of the church or chapel hall.  Both these matters will be looked at for 2011.

Nevertheless, whilst the 2006 Meeting was probably not one to be remembered for long (unlike the 2001 meeting which was widely viewed as one of the best in living memory), the fact is that the parishioners of Marown  used their ancient right to requisition the Captain of the Parish and that the brave candidates presented themselves for scrutiny in front of their electorate.