A powerful Tynwald body says there should be a public inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As a result, Tynwald will be asked to vote for an independent inquiry covering the period between December 2019 and September 2021.
The Public Accounts Committee made the recommendation in its annual report for 2020-21.
The report states: ’The Covid story did not end at the conclusion of the last lockdown.
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’The impact on public finances, health and our resilience as an island will be themes that echo for a long time to come.
’We believe that a public inquiry is required to review the handling of the pandemic to ensure lessons are identified and instilled into best practice.’
In discussing the emergent themes around Covid-19, the PAC made two key recommendations.
Firstly, that ’a public inquiry should be held on the Isle of Man Government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic; and that it should cover the period December 2019, when the first case of Covid-19 was reported in China, to the end of September 2021, the end of the term of office of the 2016-2021 administration.’
Secondly, that ’Tynwald waives privilege in relation to any evidence relating to the Covid-19 pandemic held by the Public Accounts Committee and Tynwald Policy Review Committees at the date of this resolution; and that such evidence may be provided on terms decided by the relevant committee to a public inquiry if requested.’
Sitting chair Juan Watterson said the pandemic needs to be looked at independently, ’so that all the voices that have been affected can be heard’.
He said: ’Whilst the Public Accounts Committee has really tried to look at so many [issues including] preparedness, testing, genomics, borders, communications, vaccination, mitigation, and government’s decision making process, it’s so important, we think, to have this independent public inquiry given the gravity of the issues, the loss of life [and] the enormous impact across society.’
A similar public inquiry is already on the cards in the UK, promised by the prime minister in May, and planned to be launched in the first half of 2022.
A recently published report by the Health and Social Care Committee and the Science and Technology Committee in the UK, said the late lockdown there in the early stages of the pandemic was ’one of the most important public health failures the United Kingdom has ever experienced’.