The South Pacific (NS Canada Old Forum)

Title: The South Pacific

Judith Gap - December 8, 2005 09:13 PM (GMT)

I'm starting a new post on the on-going issues to move discussion to a more appropriate forum. The previous discussion can be found here.

As the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have been viewing the threads in The South Pacific regarding the recent revelation that a minister, Miss Tessmacher, had been holding a minister's position in two regions simultaneously. The major issue has been that she failed to disclose to the region her conflict of interest. The TSP law (see appendix A) is fairly clear that conflict of interest disclosures are waived in cases relating to intelligence missions. Through discussion, it is clear that the cabinet of TSP was aware of the situation, and though uneasy, approved of the covert action.

Since this issue has been pointed out to me, the issue has consumed much of my time and energies. I've been in touch with Caer Realis, the Delegate, who has assured me that The South Pacific has no intelligence agent planted in the cabinet of Canada. I have been in touch with PunkD, who declined to comment on the situation because he feared any comment would be used to destabilize the region. Mavenu, the Minister of External Affairs, has not been available for comment yet; although I'm sure he'll post as soon as he has something to share with the region. J Delight and I have also been communicating. I'm unwilling to ask her too much because she is our ambassador, Mav is her boss, and Caer is his boss (really, all three have the region as their boss).

These more or less are what I've been able to gather about the situation that had developed.

Now for the part of the post I'm going to regret.

I was approached early in the unfolding of this issue by two members of this forum who clearly expected me to be outraged and react swiftly in dealing with this injustice; members who have in the past encouraged me to react swiftly against regions where other situations have occurred. I have learned that I need to be secure that I have the correct story, that I am not a pawn in some larger power struggle, and that I not act until I see the facts and which direction events seem to head in the region of their own volition. Consequently, I have not moved swiftly to reassess our diplomatic relationship with TSP because I wanted to see what the region was doing to address the situation.

The region began discussing the incident, during which accusations against a number of people were flung by a number of people. Emotions clearly were running high. In subsequent actions (a justice investigation) and continued forum discussion and debate, this issue continues to be both examined and commented on.

Here is what conclusions I think I can see. The South Pacific appointed the minister against its best instincts and is attempting to what is right to rectify their previous mistake. I have confidence in the region (cabinet and forum members both) that this incident will lead to cahnge in the region and that the debate, if members can be civil and reasonable will lead to stronger democratic processes in The South Pacific.

This is only my perspective as a minister who is not taking sides, who is trying to give the benefit of the doubt to all parties involved. If you feel that I am misserving Canada, I would encourage you to begin a recall motion of me, Judith Gap.

The cabinet of Canada is not attempting to hide anything. I am not aware that we have any conflicts of interest either because of our intelligence or because of other regions' intelligence.

Appendix A: Conflict of Interest Guidelines

QUOTE

Seeing as it is the duty of the Delegate and Cabinet to protect and preserve our region as their primary interest, the following guidelines shall regulate and mitigate any possible conflicts of interest within governmental duty.

1. All electoral candidates and members of the government of the South Pacific, elected, appointed or otherwise, including undersecretaries and ambassadors, shall forthwith inform the citizens of the South Pacific of all governmental positions that they hold in regions outside of the South Pacific. Such disclosure shall be made in the forum entitled "Public Disclosure" and shall consist of stating the regional government(s) of which the member of government or candidate is a member.

2. Where a government member of the South Pacific assumes governmental responsibilities in a region outside of the South Pacific midway through their term of office as a government official of the South Pacific, such government member shall disclose their new outside governmental responsibilities in the forum entitled "Public Disclosure" within 24 hours of assuming their new non-South Pacific government position.

3. Where an electoral candidate assumes governmental responsibilities in a region outside of the South Pacific midway midway through their candidacy, such candidate shall disclose their new outside governmental responsibilities in the forum entitled "Public Disclosure" within 24 hours of assuming their new non-South Pacific government position.

4. Where a member of the South Pacific Government is sent on an approved intelligence mission to another region and assumes a government position in the other region with the approval of Cabinet, then the requirements for public disclosure shall be waived.

5. Where a member or candidate has failed to properly disclose an outside governmental interest as mandated in section 1, 2 or 3, such member or candidate shall be suspended from holding a government position in the South Pacific for a period of not less than 60 days. In addition, if the person in question is a government member, the said person shall be immediately relieved of his or her government duties. If the person in question is a candidate in an election, such person shall be immediately stricken from the ballot.

6. For greater certainty, a Government Position in a region outside of the South Pacific shall be defined as any position of influence within a governing structure of a region outside the South Pacific.

7. Without limitation, it is acknowledged that where a Government Official or Candidate of the South Pacific controls a non-South Pacific nation, commonly known as a "puppet", and by virtue of its control of the puppet gains a government position outside the South Pacific, such a situation would trigger the disclosure provisions of sections 1-3.

Jack_Tarr - December 8, 2005 10:08 PM (GMT)

I for one give you my vote of confidence JG!

king_girl - December 8, 2005 10:10 PM (GMT)

I am thankful for a MoFA with such a cool head. The whole world would be at war if we didn't stay cool long enough to get the facts. Nice work.

Ess - December 8, 2005 10:12 PM (GMT)

What they ^ said! ^_^

Parrrrtay - December 8, 2005 10:22 PM (GMT)

DITTO! :hail:

j delight - December 8, 2005 11:24 PM (GMT)

Thank you, JG.

canada6 - December 9, 2005 05:10 PM (GMT)

Judith Gap, you have my full support as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Carbanousa - December 9, 2005 05:43 PM (GMT)

QUOTE (canada6 @ Dec 9 2005, 05:10 PM)

Judith Gap, you have my full support as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Always.

(Canada6 just put it better ;))

Judith Gap - December 9, 2005 06:12 PM (GMT)

I'm more concerned that we understand what has gone on in TSP, what actions I am taking as MoFA, and that we move on.

Miss Tessmacher and Punk D have made public apologies and I think both are trying now to advance the stability of the region. In terms of our region, I assure you that we will attempt to address the conflict of interest guidelines this term, or perhaps during the next term.

j delight - December 15, 2005 06:48 AM (GMT)

Minister JG -

Can I just say, for a bit of clarity, technically the Delegate of The South Pacific is a figurehead and is not the boss of anyone in any elected capacity.

Thanks again for being willing to listen to everyone and do a bit of research before taking any steps. :D

J Delight

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