Twenty-six men and women from small nations travelled many thousands of miles to bring lots of smiles as they converged on the island.

The finance officers and future leaders were here for a pioneering training programme.

Dophu Dorjim, the delegate from Bhutan in South Asia, perhaps summed up the positive atmosphere best.

Dophu, who works for the central bank in the landlocked Himalayan kingdom, told Business News: ’Our government philosophy is not gross national product (GNP), it is gross national happiness.’

He was wearing the national dress called Gho, which is worn when he is in the office and attending any formal gatherings.

He also wore a badge depicting the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his predecessor.

The king gave constitutional democracy to the nation more than a decade ago.

One of the highlights of the Small Countries Financial Management Programme is the reception with the Lieutenant Governor at Government House.

Everyone was dressed in their finest for the event including Shannon Bedminster who works in the Ministry of Finance in Dominica.

He wore a natty green checked waistcoat and bow tie for the gathering.

Mr Bedminster said he was most looking forward to learning some useful training on negotiation skills as well as other subjects.

Kiatoa Ulika travelled more than 9,000 miles from his homeland in Tuvalu in the South Pacific.

He told Business News the journey involved four air journeys.

Tuvalu to Fiji was a mere two hours or so.

This was followed by a 10- hour flight from Fiji to Hong Kong and then 12 hours from Hong Kong to London.

The final leg of his marathon trek was from London to Ronaldsway. But Mr Ulika, who works for a statutory body in Tuvalu looking after retirement funds, said it was all worth the effort.

The tiny island nation,with a population of just over 11,000, used to be a British colony but is now independent. It still retains close links with the British Isles and Queen Elizabeth is also the monarch of the island.

Ahmed Saruvash, chief financial budget executive in the fiscal affairs department from the finance ministry in the Maldives, was enjoying the course.

The married father-of-two said everyone on the course was getting on well together and were finding the course very useful.

He said: ’We are finding that we all have similar challenges and ideas. It is fascinating to talk to the other delegates.

’We are all linked by one thing with the Isle of Man in that we are all small countries.’

Sir Richard Gozney said he was a ’huge fan’ of the Small Countries Financial Management Programme.

’The only criticism I have is its title. If one of you, before you leave, can think of a zippier name, please let me know.

’Other than that I think it is an exceptionally good programme that brings people like you from small jurisdictions literally across the world.

’You come from the West Indies, you come from Africa, the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.’

He said the budget for the scheme, £300,000 annually from the government, is ’money well spent’.

Sir Richard proposed a toast to ’clean government.’

Mark Shimmin, MBE, has been executive director for five years.

He was previously the government’s chief financialofficer.

He explained this was the 10th anniversary of the Small Countries Financial Management Centre but in fact it was the 11th programme that was taking place.

He told the audience: ’I will leave with you how that happened.

’The centre has received backing from the government since the start for which we are tremendously grateful.’

The centre’s directors, purely in a personal capacity, wanted to present a plate to chief minister Howard Quayle as a gesture of thanks for the government’s support.

Former First Deemster David Doyle, who is a director and supporter of the scheme, made the presentation of the plate ’as an acknowledgement, as a thanks, to the Isle of Man government, for its continuing vital support to this wonderful Manx programme.

’Without that support this programme would not exist.’

Mr Quayle thanked the board of directors for their gift and told the representatives of the small nations:’There are many things that we do in politics and I think this has to be one of the best areas that we invest Isle of Man Government money in. I believe the scheme is truly exemplary.

’I hope you enjoy the course and take away a fondness for the Isle of Man when you return to your home countries.’

Some 24 countries are represented at this year’s event which included training at the Nunnery and Fort Anne in Douglas.

The 16 women and 10 men were picked from more than 50 applicants.

At the end of last week, after a week in the island they travelled on to Oxford for a further week of work and studies, with plenty of information and many memories.