Four students from Ballakermeen High School have submitted a petition aimed at reopening the Syrian refugee debate.

The petition, officially led by Joseph Locke and Alex Kissack, both 16 and from Douglas, was presented to Garff MHK Daphne Caine and other Tynwald members yesterday,

A previous attempt to convince the government to explore the issue of welcoming Syrian refugees to the island was rebuffed by the Council of Ministers with Chief Minister Howard Quayle saying the island can do more good by giving money to charities which support refugees.

In their petition, the students recognised this but said ’a greater investigation should be conducted’ into the feasibility of welcoming refugees.

Miss Kissack added: ’There was an assembly at school in which was run by Mr Pagan and the sixth-formers that were part of the Isle of Man Youth for Syria Movement and we were all just really inspired so we joined.

’Eventually our year took over as the sixth-formers did their A-levels.’

The students presented their petition to Mrs Caine, Ramsey MHKs Dr Alex Allinson and Lawrie Hooper, South Douglas MHK Clare Barber and MLCs Jayne Poole-Wilson and Marlene Maska.

Mr Locke said: ’They’ve given money but money doesn’t give people the roof over their head that provides safety and security which is what these people need.

’And as it’s through the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme, so these people are the ones who need help, they need homes and they need something like the NHS and education because these people have their education sacrificed by a war they never started.’

The Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme is a UK government scheme to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees from refugee camps between September 2015 and May 2020.

Mrs Caine said: ’I was pleased to accept the petition from Ballakermeen students and will table a motion in December seeking to do as they request and establish a select committee to look at the feasibility of the island accepting Syrian refugees.

’I first discussed the issue with them when I was asked to meet with members of their debating Voltaire society. In fact I shared one of the anonymous letters I received opposing the thought of the island investigating the possibility of accepting Syrian refugees.

’I am impressed by the students’ perseverance, their knowledge and compassion in bringing forward this petition and I look forward to Tynwald members discussing it next month.’

Mrs Caine’s previous attempt to have a select committee explore the issue was blocked with the help of the CoMin block vote. Her motion received unanimous support in Legislative Council but was defeated 11-10 in the Keys.

Of the 11, eight were the members of CoMin in attendance, with David Ashford, Geoffrey Boot, Alfred Cannan, Graham Cregeen, Ray Harmer, Howard Quayle, Laurence Skelly and Chris Thomas voting against.