The petition to reinstate the Senior Race Day bank holiday has been backed by the Liberal Vannin Party.

Created by Max Byrne, the petition has been gathering support on the website Change.org since the cancelling of the bank holiday was announced on Thursday and has been signed by over 4,000 people.

The decision to drop the bank holiday, following the cancellation of the TT, was listed on a Tynwald order paper for the May 19 sitting. Chief Minister Howard Quayle then later confirmed the decision to scrap it had been made during Thursday’s press briefing.

Chairman of the Liberal Vannin Party Michael Josem described the axing by the Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan as a ’mean and sneaky move’.

Mr Josem added: ’The 2020 Senior Race Day Bank Holiday should be immediately reinstated, and further, dedicated this year in recognition of the exceptional efforts of key workers in the Isle of Man.

’This public holiday does not belong to Mr Cannan, it belongs to the people of the Isle of Man. His inexplicable decision to abolish this public holiday is a mean and sneaky move.

’People all over the Island are struggling through this coronavirus crisis and are sacrificing so much for the good of our community. The absolute least that Government can do is let them try to enjoy a public holiday as much as they can during these difficult times.

’This decision to strip people of a public holiday is unneeded and completely unwarranted.’

He called on Mr Cannan to put the case for scrapping the bank holiday to Tynwald, which he is under no obligation to do..

In launching his petition, Mr Byrne said: ’I believe this amendment should be revoked. Just because we have cancelled the Tourist Trophy due to very real health concerns raised by Covid-19 doesn’t mean that the national holiday also associated with event should also be cancelled.’

’When the Tourist Trophy was similarly cancelled in 2001 due to concerns over Foot and Mouth disease, the national holiday was still honoured.

’Further more, take for example Good Friday, Easter Monday and Christmas, many people on the island are not religious but still observe these religious holidays for the sake of tradition.

’Despite cancelling the event this year for the sake of tradition Senior Race Day should remain a public holiday in the same way as these other public holidays.’

Last night, Speaker Juan Watterson said: ’To remove the senior race day bank holiday with no consultation seems mean spirited at a time when we should be looking forward to as many uplifting experience as we can.

’Just to be clear - Tynwald does not get to vote on this cancellation, it is a decision made by Alf Cannan in Treasury.’

As of 8.35am on Friday, the petition had gained 4,105 signatures.

The petition can be found at: www.change.org/p/isle-of-man-government-reinstatement-of-senior-race-day-2020-as-a-public-bank-holiday?