Hello South Pacificans,

nearly two weeks ago, the Southern Journal released Issue XXIV. One of the articles was a mid-term regional poll including analysis, and quoted several comments by members taking the poll. Today, I want to take time to address some of the recurring comments concerning the cabinet. I won't quote and respond to each individual comment, but rather I'll summarize the various comments into topics and address those.

"What does the Prime Minister actually do? What even is the point of that job?"
My job is multi-faceted; what I'm doing at any one time depends less on what the job description says (which is quite vague), and more on what is needed at any given moment. That includes helping with advice and deeds the individual ministries, talking to foreign dignitaries, coordinating with the Council on Regional Security, addressing individual members of the region, and much more. In many ways, I can be considered the glue between many parts of the region's infrastructure.

To give a specific example of something I've done this term was the process that led to what has now been passed as the Border Control Act. Prompted by foreign nations in our region trying to keep Drugged Monkeys away from the Delegacy, I coordinated with the Council on Regional Security to evaluate the legal options for preventing that from happening. I then drafted an emergency Executive Order, discussed it with the Cabinet and we reached unanimous consent to pass it if necessary (basically, the idea was that it could be posted by any Minister, even if I was asleep, the moment it became necessary to actually do something). With that in place, I drafted the first version of what you now know as the Border Control Act. After a few iterations of discussions with the other cabinet ministers and the members of the Council on Regional Security, I once again ensured that the Cabinet gave unanimous preemptive sign-off (for the same reasons as above), and then posted that Act in the assembly for discussion.

Of course, anybody else could have drafted the executive order and the initial draft of the bill as well, but the point that hopefully shows is that I'm the organizer to ensure that things that need to happen, happen. Given interregional happenings this term, much of my attention has been focused outward so far, though I hope to spend some more time inward now for the rest of this term.

"Why do we have a Prime Minister? Why doesn't the Delegate do that?"
This was a deliberate change last year as part of the Great Council. Before, the WA Delegate position was also the head of the government. Now, the Prime Minister is the Head of Government, dealing with the political day-to-day, while the WA Delegate is a non-political office given to a person we trust to keep the region safe.

"Is the Foreign Affairs department actually doing anything? I just see stuff from the South Pacific Special Forces..."
Yes, it is! The current Game of Thrones festival with the Pacific is one of Escade's brainchildren. Meanwhile, the MoFA team is actively talking to several regions to bolster our foreign affairs profile, and obviously, the entire Lazarus situation required a lot of Foreign Affairs work in various directions. We could be better at communicating this to the region - constructive criticism on how to do that is always appreciated and encouraged!

"Ugh, I get too many telegrams..."
Sorry! Our Regional Communications Act sets limits on the number and kinds of Telegrams that can be sent to the region, and I think across the Delegate, the Local Council, and the Cabinet Ministers, we've used this feature quite sparingly. Still, if you feel annoyed, please tell either us or Drugged Monkeys, who as Delegate is the arbiter of what gets sent to the region and what doesn't get sent.

"It's not dead, but we could use more from the Ministry of Regional Affairs."
I agree - and you may just be the person to help make that happen! As always, the Ministry is looking for people to get involved. No matter what your skillset or interests are, the Ministry has ways you can contribute. Take a look here if interested. If you don't want to or can't get involved, but have ideas for things that the Ministry can do, please do reach out to Spenty, Punchwood, or myself with your ideas.

Thank you, and as always, I check this thread daily longing with great desire for your questions so that I can answer them and feel fulfilled!

-- Roavin