Nobody is selling anyone out, it's just a reflection of the diverse variety of opinion. Language is important. My brother in Laxey certainly has his concerns about the absence of an exit strategy. It is not sensible to base everything on the availability of an effective vaccine any time soon. Given that European countries went into lockdown, look at ther situation now. The IoM will one day face the same situation with a virus naive population and very limited hospital resources so what's the plan and what is the maximum tolerable commercial loss?

Some of you talk about the abscence of an exit strategy. The next step has already been defined.

https://gefthemongoose.com/blog/iomg...y?rq=Infection

:= And what's wrong with that fella. That's how everything works over here. :ok:

And you think BoJo and Co. have a carefully thought out plan?

My reason for checking in on the EGNS thread was actually that I'd heard murmurings of LS looking to operate there next year as they are with EGJJ. It appears that has been answered with the borders discussion

Jenny fella-ess, Fort Knox would be a walk-in compared to here.

I simply post that I’m surprised airlines keep putting dates back and and why they are not just simply removing all from sale due to the border ‘dispute’ we will call it based on what I’ve seen. Next someone will suggest that the Isle of Man will leave the U.K. just to put icing on the cake

Cannot leave what you are not part of

I should have stated ‘fully’ leave the U.K. and become solely independent.

I could not agree with you more. ''A more rigorous testing regime'' has been wholly absent here in the Isle of Man. The brilliant Rachel Glover is the expert in molecular ecology, bio-surveillance, bioinformatics and genomics who found some old disused testing equipment at Noble's and got it back up-and-working thereby providing the locally based testing facilities which have been of such very great benefit to the island. She is seriously furious at the IOMG's hugely inadequate scope of its testing regime. She has gone on record now with some of her anger and at yesterday's IOMG Press Conference the Health Minister tried to address her complaints but it sounded as if he really failed to do that. You can see some of Rachel's views on this here (see her posts on 8 & 13 October 2020): https://twitter.com/rachomics?lang=en

I am going to be away from more than occasional very limited online access for the next couple of days so I shall just wish everyone a very good weekend. Stay well.

With respect, discussions and critique about what the Isle of Man are doing (or not doing) is not calling for them to sell out. I'm sure there are people both on and off the island who would like some clarity about what the next steps are. I could give you some examples about how my extended family have been impacted so far because of the border situation and what's on the line next year, but I won't.

Timescales, even if they are loaded with conditions, would help a lot of people plan for the future.

I noted that a while ago, hence my comment criticising the government for making it up as they go along because I don't recall that figure being quoted when they first announced the stages. On current form, it will be many months before infection rates are at the point where, by their own measures, they will consider easing things further.

We were due to be over there this Christmas, however I'm already working to the assumption it's not going to happen and not even booked any travel. It took me over 6 weeks to get a refund from easyJet for a cancelled trip back in May and only within the last fortnight we received a refund from Virgin Holidays for a cancelled US trip in September. I'm currently very reluctant to part with my cash to travel anywhere whilst there's no guarantees it will happen and for as long as the goalposts on quarantine rules for arrivals into the UK continue to be changed at short notice.

It looks like you and I may be more aligned on our thoughts about all this than I initially gave you credit for.

My take is if the testing regime was more comprehensive, the island will be much better prepared if/when COVID transmission in the community returns. From afar, I do get the impression there's an element of complacency due to the borders being practically closed and a near-normal summer being possible thanks to social distancing protocols being binned back 4 months ago. Additionally, if similar islands such as Jersey can implement testing schemes to allow some sort of normality of movement on/off the island. then it's surely not beyond the Isle of Man's capabilities to implement something similar if they really wanted. Many places elsewhere are learning to live with the virus until it either burns out or a vaccine comes along. It's in the Isle of Man's interests to be able to do likewise. Dr Glover is right when she tweeted that the island can't completely keep it out (see events over the last 6 weeks), but it can be managed, as well as making the point that instead of using data from the UK the government can make decisions using their own data.

Sorry Tinwald, but you are wrong on both counts. And I am very busy so not interested in taking up the suggestion to 'pop into the Albie' nor any other pub!

You will see above and below that the discussion in which I have partly participated has moved along to focus more now on the specific topic of testing regimes or rather the lack thereof.

I hope that you approve of what 116D and I are saying.

Thank you and well said. I totally agree with all that you say in the para above.

Thank you for your unsolicited advice Tony but as we do not live in a tyrannical country I shall continue to exercise my uninterrupted lifetime habit of taking my opinions to anywhere that I choose to take them - entirely uninfluenced by your own views on where I should take them!

I belive they have already been given. When the UK infection levels drop to 1 in 5000 people.

I've said it before and I'll say it again to anyone: a policy based on the UK is destined for long term pains here.

It is not the only place we do business with or where residents have families. There needs to be a strategy for opening up to other jurisdictions and supporting the respective travel links.

Thanks JSCL.

And Mr Miller, you sound as pompous, arrogant and patronizing in your last post as you did in your first.

And you don't?