The fall-out from the removal of a Douglas councillor because he's not on the voters list continues with a further local authority resignation.

Port St Mary commissioner Rebecca Sinfield has been 'advised regretfully' that because she is not on the register of electors she must vacate her seat. Earlier this week, two Ramsey commissioners were forced to quit for the same reason.

It started with the forced resignation of Douglas councillor John Joughin. Asked to take a 'pragmatic' approach to legislation by central government, the local authority published the relevant clause that states that 'A person shall, unless disqualified by virtue of this Act or any other enactment, be qualified to be elected and to be a member of a local authority for any
district if his name is entered on the register of electors for that or any other district..'

Clerk to Port St Mary commissioners, Alastair Hamilton said: 'It would be wrong to allow an individual who was knowingly no longer qualified to be a Commissioner to take part in Commissioners meetings and to vote on important issues. If that occurred any decisions taken or votes made by that person could be open to challenge.

'Port St Mary Commissioners very much regrets the loss of a hard working and wellrespected Commissioner but is conscious that it must comply with the law as determined by Tynwald.'


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