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I am both bewildered and disgusted ...

1) ‘Bewildered’ by the government for deciding to close the outer road at the airport so forcing motorists into the pay park.

Assuming that it is a reaction to the horrific incident in Manchester last week then it makes no sense whatsoever as the bomb was detonated in a public area so why close the through road when any would-be coward could quite easily carry whatever they want from the car park into the public areas of the airport building?

2) ‘Disgusted’ by the sheer greed of some traders once the TT starts.

Our travel operators upping their prices at this peak time come straight to mind but there are others doing the same.

For example at the Billown races on Saturday we heard of visitors who had come over earlier in the week and had gone to the same café for breakfast but then, lo and behold, on Saturday morning the price had risen by £2.

A take-away fish and chips meal now £7 - disgraceful.

Finally, we have Isle of Man Breweries who have once again upped their drinks prices (adding 6p) which is at least their third price increase since Christmas.

Thankfully I steer clear of this company’s pubs and instead enjoy a much cheaper pint in private pubs such as the Sidings and the Market.

How true is the rumour that when Wetherspoons wanted to open a pub in the island the brewery directors put (Masonic?) pressure on the government to stop the venture?

Please do not tell me to jump on the next boat as I am Manx to the hills.

Offsider

I was absolutely appalled to hear of a small-minded, small number of Lonan folk who have now complained about what I believe is a beautiful and unique memorial to the late Katherine Crowe.

If someone had voiced their concerns at the time of Kath’s internment that’s one thing, but after three years, I don’t think they’ve any right at all to complain.

I didn’t know Kath well, but I do remember her as a lovely person, a brave patient, highly talented singer-songwriter and a super mum to her kids.

Kath should be left in peace and the people who complained should mind their own business. I cannot see what they have to complain about in the first place.

L.Boakes

Sandygate

I refer to the headline in Friday’s Courier: ‘We’re worse for drugs deaths than England’.

This is surely one of the most alarming headlines for many months particularly as the island prides itself on its harsh penalties for drug possession and supply, supposedly a deterrent.

Kate Beecroft is clearly right to say the number of deaths per 100,000 (8.5 on the Isle of Man compared to 3.9 in England) is ‘significantly higher’, but to suggest after focusing, perhaps understandably on the NorthWest of England where the figure is given as 5.6 per 100,000 is ‘statistically similar’ suggests statistics is not her specialist subject.

Equally her argument that the rise in opiod overdose is ‘believed to be linked, in part, to increasing purity of supply and something which has been observed elsewhere in the British Isles’, is nonsense. Since 2013 from her own figures the number of deaths here has increased fourfold. It hasn’t in the UK.

I draw the following conclusions.

1) England has the highest rate of drug deaths since records began – that the stats here on the Isle of Man are worse is quite shocking and demonstrates the need for change.

2) Every one of those deaths was someone’s son, brother, sister, daughter or other relative. our drug policies are failing young people. They are all Anyone’s Child, a charity I am proud to represent.

3) It’s time for the Isle of Man to look at reforming our drug policies and learn from other countries such as Switzerland and Portugal.

4) Decriminalisation and legal regulation will save lives.

I have repeatedly said that I don’t want other families to experience the drug-related deaths of their loved ones as I have.

That there are so many people here that have already had that experience is tragic.

That this number will grow without change is inevitable, unforgiveable and avoidable.

I also note that after a question from David Ashcroft (Douglas North) revealed that no data concerning emergency admissions at Noble’s Hospital for drug and alcohol related incidents are being recorded.

This is disgraceful.

It begs the question Why?

Either former Ministers were ignorant or failed to inform the public of the true situation. They must have had some information to introduce the home naloxone programme, a great initiative that should save some lives but depends totally on the circumstances surrounding the opiod overdose to be effectively utilised.

It will be interesting to see the what reply Kate Beecroft gets regarding the number of deaths relating to prescription drugs.

In the meantime we can rest assured that there are no drugs problems here on the Isle of Man and the current legislation and approach to drug taking is working.

Ray Lakeman

Beach Road

Port St Mary

In every issue of our local papers there is mention of drugs, supplying or otherwise.

Last week it featured the number of deaths related to drug taking.

The use of drugs is becoming a game of Russian Roulette: the longer you play, the chances of survival become less.

I was first introduced to drugs in the Second World War.

I served with the 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment.

The day before we flew to the Battle of Arnhem we were lectured by gentlemen in white coats who had been working on a drug which they wanted us to try out under battle conditions.

Every man was given a small tin which contained six or eight capsules filled with a white powder.

We were assured that if we were nervous before jumping that two of these capsules would remove our anxiety: the same in the ensuing battle, these capsules would steady our nerves.

Unfortunately the action which was to last for two days stretched into 10. We were driven into a small area which our German friends nicknamed ‘The Cauldron’.

We had no sleep, food or water for days, just horrendous carnage.

With all this terror I did not know of one man who resorted to the capsules.

We were not as well informed as modern youth but we knew that young people are capable of doing stupid things without the help of drugs.

A few years ago I asked a young lady why they found it necessary to take drugs.

Her answer was simple:‘so we can dance all night’.

Elderly though I am I can recall in my youth we had to work (hard manual work) for a 12 hour day but we still had the energy to dance all night!

Have we become such a nation of softies that young people have to buy expensive and too often deadly stimulants merely to achieve what their grandparents did within the normal process of growing up?

Bob Quayle

Little Mill Road

Onchan

The riders are eagerly waiting, they've loaded the bikes with their gear

They've packed their cases for the TT Races

For the best fourteen days of the year

They're stung by the Steam Packet price hike, but consider it money well spent

They've really mucked up, the hotels are booked up

So they're spending two weeks in a tent

They take a trip up to the grandstand, to chat with McGuinness and Dunlop

And as they pass by, have a cuppa with Guy

And a good rummage round in his workshop

You can see that the girls are excited, at the sight of the men dressed in leather

These ladies are tameless and utterly shameless

And strain to keep their legs together

A lass takes a trip to the beer tent, she'll find true romance in there maybe

But soon she conceives and the lad ups and leaves

And she's left with her own TT baby

The rides at the fair are quite costly, they need to approach them with caution

They'll have to think twice when they tell them the price

It's a definite form of extortion

The roads are increasingly busy, when travelling to work every day

Then some continental who's totally mental

Is riding his bike the wrong way

They set off from work in the evening they all leave the office at five

They do tend to whine when they get home at nine

'Cos it's usually a five-minute drive

For the sake of the riders and tourists, we hope that the weather is sunny

And that those who attend are quite happy to spend

To ensure that we make lots of money

It's the best time of year on the island, the cynics had better take warning

If they want to complain, there's no need to remain

There's an overpriced boat in the morning!

Carol Ellis

Maughold