Work to make Castle Rushen ready for the inauguration of the island’s next Lieutenant Governor should be finished by the end of March.

Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly provided to update on behalf of Manx National Heritage in this weeks’s written Tynwald questions.

Mr Skelly was asked by Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) when the work to prepare the castle would be completed. A governor to replace Sir Richard Gozney is due to start next year.

The Minister said: ’Manx National Heritage has informed the department that the works are intended to commence in January 2021 and to be substantially complete by March 31 2021.

’It is anticipated that the documentation will be available to submit competitive prices from November 2020.’

Traditionally, the island’s governors are all sworn in by the First Deemster at Castle Rushen, the island’s ancient capital. However, when Sir Richard was sworn in, the decision was made to use Douglas Courthouse.

At the time, a government spokesman said: ’The ceremony has previously been held at the court room in Castle Rushen, which is no longer in use and would require significant expenditure to be made ready for the occasion.’

However, the decision to move from Castletown to Douglas has long been a point of contention for Mr Moorhouse and in 2018, Mr Skelly confirmed that work would be undertaken to allow the Lieutenant Governor is officially appointed by the Lord of Mann, the Queen. As well as Government House, the role comes with a £100,000 a year tax-free salary.