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**Seraph** · 12-20-2019, 05:57 PM

PRESS RELEASE

A New Prime Minister

Friday 20th December 2019

Fellow South Pacificans,

I am writing this, having finally found a moment to do so in the midst of what has been a busy and surprising week. Had someone told me last week that I would be writing this, I would have been rather confused indeed, for, as many of you will know, I have long said that Prime Minister is a job that I would not, should not do and, with Amerion safely in charge and no elections looming, the question of whether or not that remained true was completely put out of mind.

Things change, however, and when the probability of Amerion's resignation was expressed in the cabinet office, to which I had access as then deputy to the Minister of Regional Affairs, and with various issues standing in the way of an easy selection for Amerion's successor, I tentatively volunteered. Why did I do such a thing, given my previous opposition to, and utmost belief in my unsuitability for, ever being Prime Minister?

The first reason is that I was given something of a confidence boost by those who spoke so strongly in my favour during the last cabinet elections. They gave me pause and left me wondering if my adamant refusal to stand for the role was all that sound. Secondly, there was the knowledge that I would only be in the role for a month and a half, completing a term with much going on in it already and no campaign platform to follow. How much damage could I do, realistically? The third reason, however, is probably the most significant and it ties in with my motivations for every role I have ever run for, been elected or appointed to: I was available and I wanted to serve.

Those familiar with my career in NS will also be familiar with my regular campaining position that any leader in the South Pacific must, ultimately, be a servant. I hold this position thanks, in large part, to my Christian faith and the model of Jesus, the master, who washed his disciples feet. I am, of course, a very imperfect servant with imperfect motivations and, just occasionally, an ego too big for my time, abilities and energy, but I do genuinely wish to serve this community which means so much to me and so here I am: your servant Prime Minister.

As already stated, there isn't much time left this term and, in many respects, my role here is as a caretaker, ensuring that the balls already in the air keep moving gracefully through it. I will do my best to ensure that the ministries continue the good work they have been doing so far this term and I will encourage and nurture any new initiatives that may occur during its twilight. I will represent the region as its head of government with as much grace, calm and poise as I can muster and I pray that I will not let you down; you who have so graciously accepted my appointment. I do not plan to seek election in the February cycle, though, if this portion of term allotted to me goes well, I may come back to it in the future.

Until my appointed time in this role is over, then, I will do my best to ensure transparency, communication and approachability and, with that, I open this thread up to any and all questions from the region. I may not know the answers, but I hope that, in asking them, you might spur on any changes you wish to see in the region, the cabinet, or the role of the Prime Minister itself and help me to continue the on-the-job learning that so characterises the first term of any newly elected official in NS.

Help me to serve you all better,

Faithfully yours,

The Prime Minister