The South PacificBoard

The race for Minister of Regional Affairs is the exception that proves the rule. This race was never going to involve an overtly defender candidate because that’s not what we look for in MoRA. What we look for in a MoRA is someone who is going to promote and bolster our culture, promote a free press, and provide the resources necessary for the roleplay community to be as strong as possible. All of these things are vital to our long-term health as a region and we had strong competition for the position, which made it one of the liveliest campaigns in a few cycles. While we may not have wanted someone as passionate as a Defender advocate as we did for the other positions, this role is, however, just as important for our leadership in the Defender sphere. No region has ever become a leader in this game without first having a strong culture at home. I am excited to see what Seraph (Erinor) brings to the Ministry as he returns to the corner office where he got his start in government.

When Phoenix (Fihami) declared for Minister of Military Affairs, I was not surprised. Anyone who knows Phoenix knows they are ambitious to serve TSP and they have become a well-known name all around the Defender community. They update like no one else and, while she still searches for that elusive zero-second chase, she is as active as ever with members of the SPSF. If the Assembly was looking for a rising star in the Defender world, they have found it. Between her intimate knowledge of gameplay mechanics and her friendliness to the rest of the Defender community, I have no doubt that Phoenix will be a transformational MoMA. I also have a hunch we won’t be the only ones remembering her name for years to come.

Roavin finally got his wish. Not only is he free to post whatever he likes to the gameplay servers, but he also got his dream Prime Minister. No one is better suited for the task than Nakari (Nakarisaune). She has a proven record of experience and leadership in TSP, while also being a key player in the Defender world. She has been an exceptional Cabinet member and advisor and, having worked with her in FA myself, no one will better represent our government to the public. If we want a dedicated government that will ensure we are leading the world, Nakari is the right person to lead that government. It goes without saying that the PM campaign was exciting and it was great to see every office contested, and I know I am not alone when saying that all the candidates who ran will hold a bright future in this region. When the Assembly made it clear they wanted a defender, however, they got the right one for the job.

It is no secret that Jay (Qvait) and I get along and I had the pleasure to work with him through the transition. The Minister of Foreign Affairs campaign was anything but ordinary but again, the Assembly wanted someone who would guide our diplomacy to be that of a pioneer in the defending community. Jay is already kicking off this work at a breakneck pace and I know I speak for all of us in the MoFA when we say we are excited to work with him. Jay has indicated he will work diligently to cultivate a strong ambassadorial staff, a key to any effort of ours diplomatically. He ought to be proud of what has been accomplished in his first week and the Assembly out to be delighted they have such an exceptional representative of their foreign policy. Make no mistake, I was in a celebratory mood handing off the keys to my former office, as I knew we had such an exceptional person taking over.

This election has given us a strong team to lead us forward. I know each of them will put us on a path towards international leadership with distinction and poise and I look forward in four months to celebrating the fruits of their labors. Until then, let us all rededicate ourselves to the service of our region so we might aid this visionary cabinet in the pursuit of glory for TSP.