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BERMUDA MINISTER REFUTES SATELLITE WAR
THE telecommunications minister for Bermuda Michael Scott has refuted claims that it has lost a satellite war with the Isle of Man.
In a statement to The Royal Gazette in Bermuda, he said that any inference that Bermuda had lost the war between the two Islands for the use of this area of space satellite usage was 'categorically untrue'.
The Isle of Man recently put aside around 500,000 as a 'war chest' to launch legal proceedings against Bermuda who were contesting the Isle of Man's claim to lucrative satellite slots positioned close to Bermuda. Registration of the slots is of crucial importance for the attractiveness of both Islands to satellite operators, such as SES Global, who setup in the Isle of Man last month.
Mr Scott said: 'The assertion that the Isle of Man has won the right to the slot is incorrect, since Bermuda and the company that represents the Isle of Man are currently engaged in coordination discussions.'
Treasury minister Allan Bell said in response to the claims: 'They are just covering their backs and protecting their position. We have rights to the slots, but if we don't use the slots they have the right to pick them up afterwards.'
In his speech to Tynwald on Thursday, Mr Bell said: 'We find ourselves in an increasingly volatile and aggressive race with other jurisdictions to compete for this very lucrative economic sector. We saw this some months ago, when Tynwald voted funds to stop Bermuda from attempting to take one of the Island's orbital satellite filings. I am happy to tell you that we were successful in doing so. In fact the Island's 'speed and sophistication' - the exact words used - in defending our space industry and our decisive victory have had the effect of drawing more companies to the Island.'
Mr Bell confirmed, however, that discussions were still ongoing between ManSat, the Isle of Man's space representative, and Bermuda on satellite-related business.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 7 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light rain
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