Saridan

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Interior Minister bans civil rights demonstration, arrests leaders
June 5, 4863

In a move officially motivated by "concern for the maintenance of law and order, and the suppression of criminal intent", the Minister of Internal Affairs, Walter Rakhorst, has banned an upcoming manifestation announced by the National League for Equal Rights, a pro-Iftgoeroon advocacy group, intending to protest what the organizers call "state-sanctioned discrimination in Saridan". In addition, most of the League's leadership has been summarily arrested and held at an undisclosed location since yesterday, with the Prosecutor General having spoken vaguely of "terrorist activity" and "treasonous consorting with foreign Communist powers" as justifications for the sudden imprisonments.

Defying government instructions, several Iftgoeroon groups and civil rights organizations have called for a concerted "day of action" with national protests to denounce the Government's actions.

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Riots erupt as police cracks down on demonstrators
June 9, 4863

Major riots have erupted in the capital Neu-Artanië and a host of other major cities in Saridan as illegal demonstrations held to protest the banning of civil rights marches a few days ago, and the summary arrests of its leaders, were assaulted by riot police firing tear gas, water cannons and, according to some eyewitness reports, live ammunition. Shops were looted, several building blocks torched, public property vandalized, and cars set ablaze as disjointed street fighting raged into the night. Scores of wounded were rushed to hospitals, and hitherto unconfirmed reports suggest multiple fatalities, chiefly caused by gunshot wounds likely inflicted by police and other security forces.

Massive blast rocks Pietersburg
June 10, 4863



A massive explosion has rocked Pietersburg. Thought to emanate from a bomb placed in some vehicle, the blast devastated the busy Hoofdstraat, the main shopping street at the centre of Sint Pieterseiland's second city, killing at least fourteen and wounding a further 200. Believed to be linked to the unrest currently sweeping the nation, Prime Minister Krueger has already stated promised "swift vengeance" against those responsible.

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Minister of Finance, Dr Sabine Benedetti admitted to the Senate Committee on Finance and Economic Development that Saridan's economic recovery would be longer and harder than any other nation on the continent, recognising the fiscal and monetary constraints which hindered the nation's economic growth prior to his appointment as Finance Minister and recent statistical data from the Central Statistical Office, weakness in the manufacturing sector. According to the CSO, the sharp double contractions triggered by the lack of shocks in the global economy has triggered a deep depression within the Saridani economy, thus triggering the Finance Minister to note Saridan's potential "W" shaped recovery. Output, according to the CSO, had been seriously impacted amidst numerous factors such as a lack of diversified export markets, numerous restrictions on foreign direct investment and a general lack of government support in assisting businesses in becoming competitive on the domestic, regional and international markets. Earlier this morning, Dr Stuyvesant announced the government's sweeping budget for the coming year and outlined the numerous strategic objectives aimed at lifting Saridan out of its deep economic depression and placing the nation on a path to economic growth and resilience. In piloting the budget in the House of Representatives, the Finance Minister noted that the government had no intention of holding back or being light-handed as it pertained to the scope/reach of the economic development plan. Speaking to fiscal policy, the Finance Minister explained that the government would employ an expansionary fiscal policy regime. He stated that the government must initiate a regime of deficit spending to allow for increased liquidity and public sector investment. "It has become increasingly clear that the government must now be the pillar responsible for leading the charge on Saridan's economic development. The relative weakness of the private sector and the clear lack of innovation in both the public and private sector must be addressed. We intend on using the government's spending power to create domestic demand and revitalise our national economy." The budget, as outlined by the Minister aims to infuse significant public sector investment into Saridan's digital transformation, infrastructure, skills training and agriculture. It also seeks to allow Saridan to take advantage of emerging industries such as the green economy and the blue economy as these two aforementioned industries represent the economy of the future.

During the budget address, Dr Stuyvesant began with the question of digital transformation. In explaining its relationship to national economic development, Dr Stuyvesant sought to centre the argument around the fact that for Saridan, digital transformation does not mean simply marrying technology with the public sector, but it means transformation the public sector to be as flexible/nimble enough to remain abreast of the numerous technological advances and to ensure that it is competent enough to deliver government services using innovative and modern techniques. He explained that preparing the public service for a digital nation will become an extremely important factor in the success of the government's digital transformation drive. Minister of Public Administration and Digital Transformation Dr Itha Van Schoor noted that in other, more advanced nations, their respective civil/public servants were trained in being adaptive towards emerging technologies. The integration of those technologies into the public service to ensure greater accountability, transparency and serviceability are what differentiated the advanced nations from Saridan. She noted that the question of digital transformation fell squarely on the feet of ease of doing business. She noted that the current businesses processes of the public service were becoming increasingly archaic and were not fit for the future Saridani economy. She explained that in many instances government transactions take hours to complete with information becoming increasingly repetitive as the development/interoperability of government ministries is non-existent. "Although some ministries have begun the process of digitising records and modernising their registers, others have not and thus the digitisation of public records is being conducted in silos with no clear objective of introducing interoperability whereby information can be shared between the various government agencies and ministries. Dr Van Schoor aims at following Keymon's example of digital transformation in pushing the boundary further. Identifying the introduction of unique electronic identifications, the retraining of public servants, the modernisation of existing business processes as key objectives on the development of a "digitally competent public service", demonstrates that the Labour Government is about to undertake a major transformation of the public service.

The Digital Transformation question is not only centred on the public sector but transcends into the private sector. During the budget presentation, Dr Stuyvesant noted that the digital transformation process is a whole-of-society initiative. In aiming to retrain the public service in utilising emerging technologies to ensure greater serviceability, the general public must become primed in utilising these technologies. The advent of e-commerce, online banking and electronic payment schemes have allowed for greater inclusion for persons who may not trust the established financial institutions. State Secretary for Financial Markets and Inclusion, Thys Joubert noted that e-commerce solutions span numerous interactions such as business to customer (B2C), Business to Business (B2B) and Customer to Customer (C2C). As the institution responsible for developing policy as it pertains to e-commerce and electronic payments, the Saridan Monetary Authority has announced its intention to formally begin the process of consultations on reforms the existing Electronic Transactions Act to allow for greater use of e-commerce solutions and electronic payments in both the private and public sector. In contemplating Saridan's eventual federalisation, Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Willem Theunissen stated that regulations on e-commerce and electronic payments would be federally mandated, meaning that its enforcement and monitoring will not be left up to the provincial governments but would be left up to the federal government. Consultations are underway with the local councils of the various cities and towns as the government moves to determine whether the provincial governments should have the ability to make laws on e-commerce and electronic payments. As the question of e-commerce and electronic payments emerges so does the discussion on cybersecurity. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, e-commerce solutions and electronic payments must be guided by some form of legislation aimed at ensuring individuals' data are properly and securely stored and that it is guarded against cybernetic attack. According to Minister of Home Affairs, Tinus Van Heerdens, the ministry had already begun the process of working with the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs in crafting legislation on data protection and cybersecurity.

In-line with the government's expansionary fiscal policy regime, infrastructure was a major part of the Finance Minister's address. During the presentation, he noted that a relatively lacklustre approach to infrastructure development in Saridan, owing to the lack of oversight and accountability. Minister Stuyvesant announced that the government would be aiming to approve a series of infrastructure development projects such as highway infrastructure, municipal road infrastructure, railway, housing, drainage, bridges, inter-island transport and much more. Dr Stuyvesant noted that infrastructure development would allow for Saridan to formally begin the process of stabilising the economy amidst the growth which comes out of the construction sector. He noted that the construction sector was connected to numerous other sectors including manufacturing, retail, technology and others. He noted that in instances where nations underwent broad infrastructure development programmes, it was found that these nations saw development and growth through increased activity in the domestic market. Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Adiel Botes noted that the government would be overhauling much of Saridan's infrastructure to allow for greater mobility and connectivity. He stated that the concept of multimodal transport was being considered by the Ministry. It is expected that these infrastructure programmes will be underway once the government begins the process to federalise Saridan. The Finance Minister also spoke to numerous provisions involving agriculture which noted that the government would be aiming to support local farmers in expanding their operations and discovering new markets for export. On the topic of skills training, it is expected that the Ministry of Education and Culture will supervise the complete transformation/modernisation of Saridan's education system from primary to tertiary education. The aim, according to Education and Culture Minister Dr Marchelle Bakkes, was to ensure that Saridan's younger population were prepared to grasp the opportunities of the future economy.

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Amidst decades, if not centuries of stagnation, mismanagement and neglect, the Saridan Defence Force is about to undergo a major reformation phase aimed at ensuring it is prepared for the future combat environment. In a press conference alongside the newly appointed Chief of the Defence Staff, General Johan Meyer (SA), recently appointed Federal Minister of Defence Adonis Becker announced that the government had approved the Federal Ministry of Defence’s largest budget since the reconstruction of the existing constitution. The $60 Billion dollar budget, places a strategic emphasis on a relatively small, but extremely well-trained and technologically superior defence force. The emphasis comes at the heels of a sweeping audit into both the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Saridan Defence Force which found that a considerable amount of its equipment had become useless due to neglect. A new regime has been introduced in the form of the Defence Material Agency (Agentskap vir Verdedigingsmateriaal - AVM), which will be responsible for procuring equipment for the Saridan Defence Force. Defence Minister Becker’s reforms to the Defence Force alongside General Meyer is primarily based on the defence white paper released to the general public days prior to his appointment to office. Coined “Voorwaartse” or “Forward”, the document outlines the future objectives of the Saridan Defence Force: (1) humanitarian support operations (2) peacekeeping operations and (3) the defence of Saridan. The three aforementioned pillars, according to the white paper are documented underneath the doctrine of “Tuisverdediging” or “Home Defence.” The Home Defence doctrine notes that Saridan’s military should remain within its economic exclusion zone. In recognition of both its size and range, Home Defence notes that the concept of a blue water navy or expeditionary ground forces should be avoided as Saridan’s interests are best defendable at home.

Seeking to integrate newer pieces of equipment and revamping the training regime of the Saridan Defence Force, “Forward” aims to ensure that Saridan can achieve victory on the battlefield in the shortest space of time. As mentioned prior, both Defence Minister Becker and General Meyer are envisioning a small and nimble Saridan Defence Force. It is their belief that a larger Saridan Defence Force would be more difficult to “maintain” in terms of equipment, personnel and training. General Meyers argues that with a small to moderate-sized defence force, there is a greater possibility of mobilising units at a faster pace should conflict come to Saridan’s doors. “Forward” aims to hold true to this school of thought of a small, easily mobilisable defence force albeit with technological advancements. Due to the fact that Saridan’s Defence Force, will not be as numerous as the armed forces of the other nations on the Seleyan continent, there is a need to ensure that should the nation find itself in a situation of conflict that it could deliver a serious blow to invading forces. With conscription off of the table due to the socioeconomic debate developing among Saridan’s younger population, “Forward” would see to ensure that although Saridan remains relatively small in terms of numbers, it will be a hard-hitter in term of strategy, tactics and equipment. In guiding the implementation of the “Forward” plan, General Meyer has formally appointed the “General Staff”. According to officials from the Federal Ministry of Defence, General Meyer has appointed Lt. General Aitan Pienaar as Chief of the Army, Lt. General Heinrich Smit as Chief of the Air Force and Vice-Admiral Jannie Van Dyk as Chief of the Navy.

Some of the changes to come to the Saridan Defence Force immediately are the general organisation of the units. According to General Meyer, as it pertained to the Saridani Army, there would be a deviation from its traditional infantry division towards a blend of mechanised and light infantry units. It is being stated that the Saridani Paratrooper Corps is set to return with training from the Hutorian Armed Forces. Lt. General Pienaar explained that in order for the Saridan Defence Force and to a much larger extent, the Saridani Army, to be faster as it pertained to its general mobilisation units had to become significantly lighter and mobile. He noted that paratroopers are generally deployed with only bare necessities and that mechanised units can rely upon the relative speed of their respective vehicles. The Saridani Army’s uniform is expected to undergo a major transformation programme to reflect Saridan’s environment and those of the nations which surround it. From new firearms to new armoured vehicles, the Saridani Army is expected to receive the most from the “Forward” plan. As it pertains to the Saridani Air Force, a doctrinal shift would have to be introduced. According to General Meyer, the Saridani Air Force has been primarily relegated to playing a minor transport role, with there being a serious lack of combat aircraft in the SAF’s arsenal, the Defence Material Agency has noted that a request for proposals has been issued on finding Saridan’s future combat aircraft. It is expected that Saridani pilots will be trained on numerous disciplines including air superiority, air interdiction, close air support and others as a means of ensuring it remains extremely flexible and capable of meeting any task.

As it pertained to the Navy, General Meyer noted that the Navy would remain a green-water navy, as he stated that he had no intentions of contradicting the Home Defence Doctrine. Vice-Admiral Van Dyk has stated that the reforms coming to the Saridani Navy are to ensure that it is capable of defending the nation’s economic exclusion zone from numerous threats including submarines, surface vessels and minor littoral vessels. It is expected that the special forces units of the various branches will be brought underneath a singular roof to be known as the Special Services Regiment (SSR), this would include the Saridani Navy’s Special Boat Group which were primarily deployed on direct action missions to protect Saridani at-sea platform infrastructure. It is expected that this responsibility would be handed down to the “to-be formed” Saridan Border Police. General Meyer lamented that the reforms to come to the Saridan Defence Force are sweeping in their nature and scope, but noted that the transformation of the defence force from its current structure to the structure envisioned in the white paper would transcend numerous months and years.

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Zardic News Network: Secretary Fotido announces "World Tour 4904" including Saridan, Dolgavia, Kalistan and Hobrazia. (May, 4904)

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With the intention of presenting the new, social democratic image of Saridan to the wider international community, State President Ruben Van Ryneveld has embarked on a tour of potential economic, diplomatic and military allies. Beginning the tour in Yingdala, the State President is hoping to shore up support both at home and in Yingdala for a comprehensive trade agreement with the largest economy in Seleya as well as pry open untapped financing opportunities from the Yingdalan backed Eastern Development Organisation. Despite domestic pushback against the State President initiating formal diplomatic and economic relations with the Yingdalan Government, State President Van Ryneveld argues that the Federal Republic needs Yingdalan capital to drive the nation's economic recovery and development. Heinrich Kruger, President of the National Policy Institute, the conservative think-tank, argues that the very concept of the Saridani Republic engaging with the Yingdalan Government presents an extremely dangerous sentiment recognising the nation's track record in the Dovanian continent. He cited the numerous instances of Yingdalan "imperialism" against the third world nations. It is Kruger's belief that the government should centre its attention on reeling investment and accessing financing from "like-minded" nations such as Hutori and Dorvik. During his visit, the State President is expected to meet with Yingdalan Foreign Minister Ah Hui Tu and will exchange formal greetings with the Yingdalan Emperor. President Van Ryneveld believes that by forming a closer relationship with Seleya's largest economy, Saridan could potential have preferential access to the Yingdalan markets to boost exports and gain access to much-needed funding for development projects. During his budget statement, Finance Minister Dr Adriaan Stuyvesant announced that the government would be undertaking an expansionary fiscal policy regime and would be seeking loans from international lending organisations as a means of shoring up finances for the numerous development projects announced during the budget statement, specifically those pertaining to infrastructure (i.e housing, road infrastructure, energy). The President will be accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Anneline Blok who is expected to conduct a series of meetings alongside her Yingdalan counterpart in developing meaningful agreements between Saridan and Yingdala which are expected to be formally agreed upon during a future visit to the nation. According to the Cabinet Office, the President will have a "behind closed doors" meeting with the incumbent Chairman of the Eastern Development Organisation and former Yingdalan Prime Minister, Fu Young Su where it is being hinted that the President will formalise a loan agreement between the EDO and Saridan.

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Although not an extremely popular position in the international domain, the concept of federalism has gained considerable moment and support, with constitutional scholars and lawyers noting that the eagerness for federalism in Saridan is stronger than it has been in centuries. Federalism in Saridan has gained momentum through the consistent campaigning of the Saridan Labour Party who argues that federalism allows for issues unique to Boerestaat to be solved in Boerestaat by citizens native to the region. As a strong proponent of the concept of federalism, the Saridan Labour Party sought to operationalise the concept of a federation in Saridan. Following its election in June 4902, the Labour Party through Minister of Home Affairs, Tinus Van Heerdens and Attorney-General Willem Theunissen embarked on the government's ambitious plan to transform the unitary Republic of Saridan, into the Federal Republic of Saridan. The process initially began with a series of deep consultations with numerous organisations from across Saridan including lawyers, constitutional scholars/lawyers, public servants, the Bank of Saridan, the various local government organisations and the numerous minor political parties which existed in the various townships/cities throughout Saridan. Following the conclusion of this consultation process, Attorney General Theunissen sought the input of the general public. Through a series of town hall meetings alongside individuals such as Senior Lecturer of Constitutional Law at the University of Boerestaat, Rynold Bekker and other important policy developers, Attorney General Theunissen sought to ensure that the general public's input was a centre-piece of the amendments being proposed. Out of these town halls with the general public, Attorney General Theunissen sought the inclusion of the various ethnic minorities in Saridan. The All-Iftgoerroon Support Committee and Ikpi Cultural Association were formally introduced to the consultations. With representatives from the public sector, civil society and the various ethnic minorities in Saridan, a committee was formed to draft a new federal constitution. Following months of draft work at the committee stage, the new federal constitution was approved by the Cabinet and sent to the parliament for debate.

Earlier this morning, the Parliament approved Saridan's new federal constitution, henceforth heralding the end of the unitary Republic of Saridan and proclaiming the Federal Republic of Saridan. The new constitution outlined numerous changes in the general structure and conduct of the government and its relationship with the provinces. The names of the provinces remain the same: Kaap, Ijkpieland, Sint Pietereiland, Tasselstaat and Boerestaat. It empowers the aforementioned provinces with increased autonomy and powers to conduct their respective internal government. It allows for the aforementioned provinces to establish their own parliament, government and laws. As it pertains to laws, according to the Attorney General, there is a clear distinction between federal law and the statues of the provinces. He explains that federal laws will be those passed in the federal parliament. Statutes are subordinate to federal law and thus cannot contradict the directions of federal legislation. In empowering the provinces to conduct their own affairs, the new constitution outlines the relationship between the "Federal Government" and the "Provincial Governments". It notes that the provincial government shall be responsible for the day-to-day governance of the province while the federal government shall be responsible for the day-to-day governance of the "federation". Issues such as tax collection, budgets, natural resources, business and the economy, housing and other related matters have been devolved to the provincial governments. As it pertains to income tax and other related wealth-taxes, the federal government shall be responsible for the collection of said taxes. In a similar manner, the federal constitution established the provision of an independent institution responsible for ensuring the provincial governments maintain balanced budgets which do not exceed revenue. Finance Minister Dr Adriaan Stuyvesant explained the inclusion of the provision. He explained that underneath the previous arrangement there was no obligation on local government authorities to strive for a balanced budget, nor was there any statutory obligation for local government authorities to maintain fiscal responsibility. Dr Stuyvesant noted that the provision would allow for greater fiscal responsibility across the provincial government and would prevent the budget deficits seen under previous authorities.

With the provincial governments now empowered to conduct their own internal affairs, numerous questions have arisen as it pertains to institutions that existed prior to the federation. Institutions such as the National Police, the National Fire Service and Healthcare Services have been decentralised. According to the Minister of Home Affairs, Tinus Van Heerdens, the provincial governments will be responsible for fire and rescue services and will also be responsible for law enforcement within their respective spaces. He stated that there now exists a clear distinction between the Provincial Police and Federal Police. Minister Van Heerdens explained that the federal police will be responsible for combating transnational crime, terrorism, cybercrime and other areas of national responsibility. In addition to its federal role, the Federal Police provide policing services to the federal capital of Koeistad. As it pertains to healthcare, the centralised healthcare system of the past has been decentralised to the provincial governments. The previous National Health Councils of the past have been replaced by institutions known as "Gesondheidsowerheid" (Health Authority). As per the new constitution and the reformed Healthcare Act, there exists the Tasselstaat Health Authority, the Boerestaat Health Authority, the Ijkpieland Health Authority, the Sint Pietereiland Health Authority and the Kaap Health Authority. According to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Frederich Krige, the Health Authorities shall be responsible for healthcare policy in the various provinces and shall be the implementing agencies for public health policy in the aforementioned provinces. Fire Services, according to Home Affairs Minister Van Heerdens have been decentralised to the provincial governments who are now mandated to establish their own province-wide fire services. The Minister noted that the federal government had essentially devolved numerous responsibilities to the provincial government through the reformed constitution. He has stated that numerous national agencies have been devolved alongside the police, fire services and healthcare. He explained that numerous agencies once under the remit of the Home Affairs Ministry are now under the direct governance of the provincial governments.

With the new federal constitution proclaimed by the State President, the law mandates that elections be called in the provincial governments to allow for these new entities to form their respective parliaments, government and henceforth govern their own affairs. State President Ruben Van Ryneveld is yet to approve the election call as he believes it is important to allow for the population to become accustomed to the renewed arrangement before the various provincial governments can be formed. General Secretary of the Saridan Labour Party, Pieter Haarhoff stated that once the elections were called, the Saridan Labour Party has every confidence that it will be able to secure the provincial governments. He explained that the popularity of the Saridan Labour Party among the population is evidence of the party's success in transforming Saridan. He stated that the federal constitution amends how parties work also. He explained that although there is a Saridan Labour Party on the national level, it cannot interfere in the affairs of the Saridan Labour Party in Sint Pietereiland. He explained that the Saridan Labour Party on the federal level can only provide the general guidance and direction of its provincial subordinates. "Although we provide the general direction of the movement, we cannot tell the Saridan Labour Party in Sint Pietereiland how to implement its policies." Each province has a branch of the Saridan Labour Party responsible for implementing social democratic policies specific to the province in question. General Secretary Haarhoff stated that in the upcoming Saridan Labour Party Conference, the policies for the provincial governments will be developed by the various working groups/committee of the conference. "We are confident that we will see victory in all of the provinces," Haarhoff ended. The Federal Constitution allows for numerous changes in Saridani society. It empowers provinces to conduct their own affairs, whilst allowing for the federal government to retain key decisions such as defence, foreign policy, taxation, census and international trade and commerce (although Provincial Governments can have trade offices in other territories). It is hoped that these new powers will bring with it, increased accountability, transparency and efficiency within Saridan.

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On the backdrop of the completed federalisation of Saridan, the question of the nation's moves in the coming decades are yearning to be answered. With provincial governments aiming to outline their respective economic agenda going into the next decade, there is a need for the federal government to address the general direction in which Saridan will be heading as a means of ensuring the respective provinces play pivotal roles in the nation's development. Earlier this morning, at a joint press conference in Federasiehuis (Federation House), State President Ruben Van Ryneveld and Federal Minister of Economic Development and Communications, Dr Itha Van Schoor announced Saridan's Digital Transformation Agenda going in the future. As the government ministry responsible for policy development and information technology, the Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Communications will be responsible for guiding and implementing the digital transformation agenda as established. The Digital Transformation Agenda had been birthed out of deep consultations with numerous officials both in the public and private sectors and was crafted with the objective of pivoting Saridan towards becoming a completely digital nation. Grounded in the belief that the Federal Government should establish the foundation/standard for the digital revolution in Saridan, the proposed Digital Transformation Agenda focuses on numerous areas including economic growth, innovation and inclusion. The Ministry notes that concurrently, Saridan's population is not digitally literate (i.e.) persons either don't have access to digital mediums or simply don't know how to operate simple digital mediums such as cellphones, computers and tablets. The Digital Transformation Agenda, according to the Ministry, also focuses on the public sector. It establishes a mandate for provincial governments to formally begin the "Digital Transformation" agenda in their respective governments. The general aim of digital transformation in the public sector is to ensure that (1) it remains modern and adaptable to new/emerging technologies and (2) there is a complete reduction in bureaucracy as processes that would have spanned across days, months and/or even years can be narrowed down to mere hours or minutes. Apart from this, it allows for administrative bodies to become more efficient in terms of data analytics (i.e.) allowing for data to become the foundation upon which decisions are made. The Digital Transformation Agenda outlines numerous measures aimed at transforming Saridan's digital landscape as it pertains to governance, infrastructure, education and the economy.

Digital transformation in the public sector is not a minuscule issue as others might have it out to be. It encompasses business processes, millions of government documents, the culture of the public service employees and the ability for this public service to remain modern, aware and adaptable to new and emerging technologies. Minister Van Schoor notes that prior that following an audit into the numerous "digital transformation" initiatives throughout the various government ministries, most if not all of the initiatives had been happening in silos. She explains: "Digital Transformation in the public sector cannot be centred only on the idea that a government ministry/department converts hardcopy documents into softcopy and upload said documents onto a registry. Digital Transformation entails the digitisation of those documents for their application in numerous settings. Thus, the transformation also entails interoperability and how documents digitised from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Services can be accessed and used by the Federal Ministry of Education and Culture without the need for multiple entries by citizens." The Minister notes that ensuring the public servants themselves are digitally competent is of extreme importance to the digital transformation process. Already, plans are underway for the government to begin the construction of a new public service academy that would allow for new disciplines to be gained by potential public service employees. Apart from this, it is expected that the digital transformation in the public service will see numerous processes brought online. From the renewal of passports to accessing medical records. Currently, government documents are being digitised and uploaded to the federal government's new central information depository where any government department/ministry may access government data based on a scale of authorisation.

The shift towards embracing technology must be met with a wave of infrastructural upgrades. As person continue to utilise digital platforms in increasing frequency, there is an inherent need for connectivity as it pertains to internet connections. Whilst the question of liberalising the domestic telecommunications market to allow for greater involvement by private sector entities who could potentially drive the entire process of enhancing internet connectivity is one for consideration, Minister Van Schoor notes that said process would have to be supervised by the Federal Government. The Digital Transformation Agenda notes that internet connectivity must be fast in order for it to be accessible in the eyes of the general public, explaining that slow internet connectivity is generally avoided by the general public and thus should be avoided by provincial governments. The Infrastructure question not only encompasses internet connectivity and speed but also pertains to the application of digital platforms in infrastructure. For example, the Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Communications notes that port infrastructure in preparation for the future economy must integrate digital platforms such as 5G connectivity to enhance its efficiency and general operations. The Digital Transformation Agenda calls for the liberalisation of the domestic telecommunications market and the introduction of a federal supervisory authority responsible for issues such as consumer protection and the enforcement of standards. It also posits the introduction of a digital infrastructure investment fund which would allow for small/medium-sized businesses to receive funding to enhance their ability to fully exploit 4G/5G connectivity. It is expected that should the domestic telecommunications market be liberalised that the companies which come out of this process will be responsible for transforming telecommunication lines and other related infrastructure albeit with significant government assistance.

The digital transformation agenda's focus on education and digital culture is primarily rooted in the objectives of ensuring education and technology can be blended to ensure better access/inclusive to education by students and that digital literacy lends way to a population which becomes more and more accepting of technology as a medium to improve efficiency, speed and inclusion. Federal Minister of Education and Culture, Dr Marchelle Bakkes notes that the internet is rapidly becoming the go-to medium for which students receive information. She explained that the increased reach of the internet, as it pertains to being able to obtain information that might not have been readily available prior to its inception, has allowed students to consume and deconstruct information at a faster pace. According to the Computer Society of Saridan, students who are digitally literate are more inclined to use their literacy for creative means, to communicate and bridge numerous divides. Digital literacy is becoming increasingly important to the modern economy as more and more employment opportunities are being combined with technology to allow for greater speed and ease of doing work. The Digital Transformation Agenda, as established by the Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Communications envisions a Saridani population whose mindset is shifted entirely towards a complete embracing of technology. The Digital Transformation Agenda identifies numerous areas for government investment as new opportunities will present themselves. It calls for the federal government to make funding available to provincial governments to undergo a transformation of their respective education systems to allow for (1) schools to adopt new technologies (2) the retraining of teachers to utilise technological mediums to enhance the delivery of education and (3) schools to furnish students will digital applications such as tablets, e-books, electronic drawing pads and laptop computers. Minister Bakkes notes that the Federal Government will convene a meeting of the various education ministers of the provincial governments on the Federal Education Curriculum, which according to the Minister will be advisory.

[imperialpearl]

Having regard to the federal government's drive towards revitalising the domestic economy through target investments, Ijkpieland's newly elected Ijkpieland National Party government has announced its intention to pour a significant amount of local government funding into revitalising the province's agricultural sector in hopes that it could potentially spur growth and opportunity in the economy. At a press conference at the Government Offices in Woolloowilli, Stadtholder Rudi Mudungarra and Minister of Finance, the Social Economy and Agriculture, Aneke Wandoawe announced the provincial government's intention to introduce a series of reforms aimed at (i) improving accountability in the agricultural sector (ii) improving productivity (iii) improving access to financing arrangements and (iv) encouraging the use of technology. According to Minister Wandoawe, agriculture accounts for around 18% of Ijkpieland's GDP, with a significant portion of the agricultural sector in the province being controlled by five competing mega-farms: Bird's Nest Estate, le Jardin d'Amandiers, Wildflower Fields, Birds of Paradise Grange and Crossroad Farm. The Minister lamented that the aforementioned mega-farms were primarily owned by Duntrekker families, highlighting the noticeable lack of Iftgoerroon and Ikpi persons operating in the sector. Minister Wandoawe attributed this to the fact that Iftgoerroon and Ikpi businesses were mainly being driven out of the market by the aforementioned farms via hostile takeovers or by means of monopoly advantage. Apart from the monopoly established by the mega-farms, it has been reported that land tenure remains an extremely important factor hindering the upward movement of Iftgoerroon and Ikpi persons and their respective businesses in the agricultural sector. Minister Wandoawe notes that the land redistribution process which saw Iftgoerroon and Ikpi persons being given plots of land following the abolition of the supposed "apartheid" system was not formalised. This meant that although persons were given plots of land (which still remain in the care of their descends to this day), they were not given deeds that legally recognised their ownership. Solicitor-General and Minister of Legal Affairs and Consumer Protection, Stiaan Hattingh noted that prior to the federalisation process, numerous claims had been made by persons to seize pieces of land owned by Iftgoerroon and Ikpi who do not possess deeds for lands that had been in their families for generations and for some many are their only source of income.

Solicitor-General Hattingh has stated that the process of formalising land tenure for thousands of small-time Iftgoerroon and Ikpi farmers has already begun with technical assistance being sourced from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Federal Office Attorney-General and Federal Ministry of Legal Affairs. Speaking to the question of increased accountability in the agricultural sector, Minister Wandoawe notes that the local agricultural sector lacks significant oversight to prevent the formation of monopolies. He stated that a team from the Ministry of Finance, the Social Economy and Agriculture in conjunction with the Office of the Solicitor-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs were currently in deep consultations which could potentially see the introduction of numerous laws to deal primarily with farm-size, food and agriculture standards and other matters related therein. According to Solicitor-General Hattingh, the Ijkpieland Bureau of Standards is to be established to formalise standards and quality assurance measurements. Focusing on improving productivity, Minister of Finance, the Social Economy and Agriculture, Aneke Wandoawe stated that the provincial government was seeking to establish a relationship with a major agricultural power in the international community as it pertains to technical assistance. He notes that the current model of agricultural development in Saridan yields smaller quantities in comparison to the other models utilised in other nations. According to Stadtholder and Minister of Culture, Development Cooperation and the Diaspora, Rudi Mudungarra, the provincial government was seeking technical assistance from the Kalistani and Lodamunese governments respectively. He noted that the aforementioned states had demonstrated to possess robust agricultural models. He elaborated that in terms of the Kalistani model, there was great interest in the system among agricultural economists locally as it showed increased yield and little to no wastage. As it pertains to increasing access to financing arrangements, Minister Wandoawe stated that it was in advanced stages towards the development of what will be known as the Agricultural Development Bank. According to the Minister, the ADB will be responsible for providing funding via loans schemes and equipment loans.

As it pertains to encouraging the use of technology, Minister Wandoawe notes that the Agricultural Development Bank will be responsible for arrangements as it pertains to technology in agriculture. He notes that the ADB, in its capacity as the provincial agency responsible for funding programmes and introducing mechanisms which will provide for increased development in agriculture, will be responsible for seeking out technology firms wishing to enter into the agriculture sector and will pair said businesses with small/medium-sized farmers. He stated that the government was determined to allow for small and medium-sized farms to have access to numerous routes to entrench their position in the domestic market and ensure that their operations remain as competitive as larger, more established farms. It is being reported that discussions are ongoing towards the establishment of an agriculture university that could potentially train farmers in new and emerging technologies and methods for cultivation. Although the focus is primarily on cultivation, Minister Wandoawe noted that there was significant attention being paid to other areas of agriculture. He noted that agro-processing was being seriously considered by the provincial government. Concurrently, the Ministry of Finance, the Social Economy and Agriculture is in deep consultations with the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Federal Ministry of Finance in attaining federal funding in establishing an agro-processing park in Ijkpieland to be rented out to small agro-processing businesses.

[imperialpearl]

With an eye on carving a sustainable path into the future, the recently elected Tasselstaat Labour Party Government has announced that its programme for reinvigorating and recalibrating the province's economy will be anchored in the green economy. The Green Economy, according to the World Congress, is a sustainable economy that provides increased inclusion, equity and improved human well-being while reducing society's impact on the natural environment. The Green Transformation, as it is being coined in the Tasselstaat Government, will see a province-wide transformation of infrastructure, business processes and public administration/politics. In recognition of the inherent need for technical assistance and foreign direct investment to make such a transformation a possibility, earlier this morning, Provincial Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Trade, Wikus Van Niekerk opened the province's first trade office in the Lourennais city of Parmentier. Lolonyo Du Toit, a native Lourennais would head up the organisation as the Trade Representative in Parmentier. According to Minister Van Niekerk, the decision to establish a trade office in Parmentier, Lournene came amidst recognition of the fact that the nation was rapidly resolidifying its position as the global hub for renewable energy research and development and was a template for nations who seek to enter the green economy. Speaking at a reception dinner after the opening of the trade office, Minister Van Niekerk noted that the aim of the trade office was to reel in Lourennais foreign direct investment (FDI) into Tasselstaat's economy. Apart from this, it will also act as a means of bridging the gap between Lourennais buyers and Tasselstaat sellers, and vice-versa. Stadtholder of Tasselstaat, Heinrich Strydom is expected to travel to Parmentier in the coming months where it is expected that he will conduct a series of meeting of Lourennais green energy firms with the intention of inviting said firms to establish their Seleyan regional offices in Saridan. As mentioned prior, technical assistance remains an extremely important factor in the establishment of the trade office in Parmentier. According to the Provincial Minister of Energy, the Environment and the Green Economy, Leah Van Rooyen, it is expected that technical assistance on matters relating to the green economy can be sourced through the trade office in Parmentier. Stadtholder Strydom stated that he hopes that the government's pivot towards the green economy would allow for opportunities and the formation of a new economy for Tasselstaat.