Controversy over report on Kirk Michael school land exchange

There was controversy in Tynwald over the Select Committee report on the Kirk Michael School Land Exchange Agreement this afternoon (Tues)

Chairman of the three man committee, Speaker Steve Rodan, had moved that the report of the committee be received and one recommendation approved.

The committee had been investigating the circumstances surrounding the exchange of land at Kirk Michael School between the Department of Education and Developer Dandara and whether the deal represented value for money.

However, Michael MHK Alf Cannan got to his feet to move for a 3 month adjournment after he said he received an email from a former employee of Dandara, Buster Lewin, which suggested some facts about the swap had been concealed and the committee had been working with misleading or incorrect information.

After a relatively short adjournment debate, Mr Cannan's motion was narrowly defeated with 11 for and 13 against in the Keys and 4 for and 4 against in the Legislative Council.

Mr Cannan then proposed three amendments to Mr Rodan's motion, two of which were supported.