Tropica

[jamescfm]

     Tropican government designates Baltusia "state sponsor of terrorism"
               9 June 4880

The government of Tropica has taken the unusual step of designating Baltusia as a "state sponsor of terrorism". At a press conference yesterday, foreign minister Matewa Wati announced that the decision had been taken despite much reservation from Prime Minister Daisy Timu-Fisher. Tropica has not labelled any country in this manner in the history of the modern federation and successive governments have tended to avoid international controversy as far as possible.

According to government sources the Prime Minister felt the the unprecedented step was necessary after the Baltusian government effectively admitted that they had facilitated the arrival of an armed militia in the Dovanian country of Ntoto. When confronted about the matter in the World Congress recently the Baltusian representative had no plausible explanation for how the formation of a small army evaded their notice. In the meantime countries throughout the region and beyond have lined up to criticise Baltusia for their actions.

The official designation means that all diplomatic relations between Baltusia and Tropica will be ceased. In reality the two countries have little contact however Wati was surprisingly critical of other countries who had failed to take similar steps. In particular he condemned Kalistan's foreign minister for choosing to visit the country only a short time after the revelation in the General Assembly, saying that "all nations have a duty to stand up to foreign imperialism, not normalise these actions".

     Nikutabi Today is an independent local newspaper in the Tropican capital that covers news, culture, politics, economics and sport

[jamescfm]

     Emerara Islands become thirty-fifth region of Tropica
               1 December 4890

After a political process that has lasted almost four years, the Emerara Islands have officially been admitted as the thirty-fifth Tropican region, only the fifth time a new federal region has been admitted in over two centuries. The new region is composed of over a hundred islands located off the southeastern coast of Kukunui but only five of these are considered "major islands" with a substantial permanent population.

Since the approval of the federal constitution, the islands have been part of the Eastern Islands region. The territory originally included virtually all of Tropica's outlying islands however several island groups successfully sought changes of status in the early history of the federal era. Roseroto and the smaller islands that surround it initially became attached to the mainland before eventually becoming the first newly admitted region in 4714 while the Raki Islands were admitted in 4833.

Within the Emerara Islands, the political movement for autonomy was sparked principally by the separation of the Raki Islands, leaving the Emerara Islands as the largest population centre in the region and somewhat politically isolated from many of the smaller, less populated islands scattered throughout Tropica's eastern waters. Politicians from the regionalist Emerara Party have dominated local and national elections in the islands in recent years and the Timu-Fisher constitutional reforms further catalysed the separation movement.

The process of admission began in 4887 when a group of local politicians signed a public declaration stating their intention to seek separation from the Eastern Islands and admission as a region in their own right. At that point the Prime Minister was noncommittal on the prospects for federal recognition. The success of the Emerara Party in local elections later that year highlighted the strength of popular support for the movement and Timu-Fisher offered her support for the process.

     Nikutabi Today is an independent local newspaper in the Tropican capital that covers news, culture, politics, economics and sport

[alaskancrabpuffs21]

Prime Minister in Deep Trouble -- Polls, Economy and Approval are Turning on her -- Conservatives Rising in Polls and look to end 25 year Labour Dominance


Embattled 5 term Prime Minister Evelyn Clark is falling dramatically in the polls as Terra goes through financial crisis. With elections mere months away this could spell doom for her administration.

Tropica City
June 23rd 5050

The Labour Party is falling apart. With the economy starting to crash, grumblings of Ms. Clark's role in government have made way to full protests. This is due to the Vorona crisis and a weak economy under Clark's leadership. Also the Conservatives who have not seen power in over 25 years are rising in the polls lead by controversial leader Lewis Fanaafi. Fanaafi has called for several reforms including closing immigration into Tropica and ending the National Healthcare system. His most popular proposal is to cut national spending and to balance the national budget, something that has not been done in over 140 years. The Conservatives have been in havoc since 5024 when their last Prime Minister George Bullensdile was arrested for fraud and having prostitutes in his office on a regular basis.

Unemployment has been going up at unprecedented rates across Tropica. This quarter saw almost 4.5% of the population unemployed, this is at its highest rate in over 3 decades. Now in the capital, angry citizens have taken to the streets saying "We need to Cancel Clark" and spraying feces and trash all over the front entrance to the Prime Minister's residence. Clarks's decision to bail out CEO's and banks has seen the left wing of the country rise up as well and here approval ratings fall to historic lows. In a recent poll conducted over 34% of the population supports the Prime Minister and her Government this is down from 67% almost 6 years ago...



The polls show the Conservatives leading comfortably for next months elections. This might be the turning point the party, and the country need. Clark insists nothing is wrong and at a campaign stop yesterday she said

"Tropica needs proven leadership that can get the job done. I know the people of this country. I know them more than anyone else and I am willing to lead this country through the best and the worst of times. We cannot take a risk on a candidate that wants to end immigration, one that wants to crush our economy even further".

Mr. Fanaafi also has stated that as Prime Minister he will lower taxes on every tax bracket and get rid of the Death tax. He has said that he will boost the nations military and make a missile defense system. He has also stated that he will "take firm action" against Vascania and make sure to get rid of Tropica's dependence on Vascania.

"Vascania are not our friends ladies and gentlemen. They want to use us. They are driving up the price of oil they are ruining our economy for their own gain. It is time for us to stand our ground and drill for Tropican Oil!!! We will not stand by and be over run by Vascania. We will stand and be a symbol of freedom and liberty across Terra. As Prime Minister I will put a backbone into this country once again. For too long we have been weak with a Spineless Prime Minister that has brought us to ruin. She works with Vascania to undermine our country every day. Enough is enough. We will take out country back and it begins with elections next month. Get out and vote. Vote Conservative vote for a better future, vote for Tropica!"

Mr. Fannifi speaking to a energized crowd outside the capital, where he is gaining ground quickly

Fannifi's vision seems to be Tropica's destiny as the polls paint a clearer and clearer picture of what election day will bring but for now we have to wait and see what the future for Tropica will bring...

[alaskancrabpuffs21]

Tropica's Conservative Age - Why The Government's Support seems truly unstoppable.


Prime Minister Fanaafi has been controversial however he has turned around Tropica.

Tropica City
May 2nd 5056

The past 6 years have been unique to say the least. It began with the ousting of the long time Labour Prime Minister and replaced with a Conservative government that was hellbent on change. Quickly this government got to work cutting national budgets by 24% and turning around the stock market by injecting capital into the markets. This was met with mixed reaction to those on the right however the public opinion grew more positive of Prime Minister Fanaafi's Government. Fanaafi has been an outspoken right wing nationalist declaring the Labour Party "A bunch of disloyal Communists" and hurling insults at them. Attempts to counterattack failed and only made things worse for the Labour Party. In regional elections in 5052 They fell in several regions by big numbers.

The Conservatives next battle would see the Repealing of the National Firearms ban on all weapons 22 caliber and bigger. The ban had been there for over 45 years. With its repeal the amount of gun owning Tropicans skyrocketed. Crime has gone up but national support of firearms has as well which has made the decision to bring them back that much more popular.



The Prime Minister's government also passed legislation that limited all judges in the country to term limits, his actions have helped curb corruption and seen as good things for Tropica by many Right Wing and moderate commentators.

With the Government being re-elected easily they have set their sites on making Tropica "Family oriented again" and repealing several progressive laws on marriage and LGBT rights. This will be met with much more scrutiny and will anger many more people so it will be a test on this Conservative Government. What will happen next is anyone's guess but it will be a battle that Mr. Fanaafil will fight as hard as he can.

[imperialpearl]

Having campaigned aggressively on a platform of reforms aimed at bringing about a complete transformation of the nation's political, economic and social order, the Socialist Party has secured an outright majority in the federal parliamentary elections, ushering in a new era of left-wing politics in Tropica. For more than five (5) centuries, left-wing politics in Tropica has been dominated by the long-standing Labour Party, who up to last-nights electoral results had governed the nation since the adoption of the federal constitution. Last night's results according to political scientists, had been boosted by mounting dissatisfaction with the previous administration over the management of the economy and the rising cost of living crisis which has plagued the nation for centuries. This coupled with unresolved social issues, particularly poverty, inequality and refaced ethnic tensions, resulting in the population's swing towards the Socialist Party. Although highly new to the political scene, the Socialist Party traces much of its pre-political roots to grassroots movements by disenfranchised supporters of the Labour Party. The void created by the Labour Party's decline from prestige created a power vacuum on the left, which the then Conservative Party exploited. Political Leader of the Socialist Party and incoming Prime Minister Samantha Spencer said that her party's victory signalled the return of confident left-wing governance in Tropica, proclaiming that the Tropican left will rescue the nation from the clutches of "conservative incompetence." Although the Socialist Party had not secured an absolute majority (i.e. complete control of the parliament), Spencer noted that the party's outright majority would make the party's reforms possible, recognising that it does not need to negotiate alliances/coalitions with other parties. The Socialist Party's campaign focused on proposing left-wing solutions to the chaos created by the nation's right-wing governments. In the coming hours, Spencer will be summoned to the Kooti Kaitiaki wherein Kaitiaki Peter will appoint her as Prime Minister. It is expected that following this brief ceremony, Spencer will announce her ministerial appointments.

[imperialpearl]

Attorney-General Alexander Hughs has announced that the federal government intends on convening a constitutional convention to consider significant reforms to the tropican constitution, in keeping with the socialist party's campaign agenda. The announcement was made following the new government's first formal cabinet meeting since the socialist party's victory at the polls some weeks prior. On the campaign trail, Prime Minister and Political Leader of the Socialist Party Samantha Spencer championed that her socialist party would reform the nation's constitution to bring about a complete transformation of tropical. Pointing to the nation's cumbersome 30+ regions, she stated that the previous constitutional convention had, in its attempt to address the ethnic tensions of the time, transformed tropica into a confederation, wherein regions were established as a compromise between regional leaders' desire for political autonomy and national politicians desire to ensure that the whole population had proper political representation. Having regard to the passage of time, and the quelling of many of these once heated ethnic tensions, Prime Minister Spencer believed that the time to take the nation's constitutional transformation to the next step was upon us. As a part of the convention, a committee of constitutional lawyers and experts had been convened by the Office of the Attorney-General to conduct a comprehensive review of both the socialist party's plans as well as proposals from the various regions. According to Attorney-General Hughs, the reforms proposed by the socialist party will not trample on the nation's established administrative structure, meaning that tropica will remain a federal constitutional monarchy. However, among the preliminary proposals as stated in the party's electoral manifesto, many of the nation's regions will be combined into a single province/state. "The constitutional convention has been convened to determine the way forward in terms of how we push Tropica into a new era of political, social and economic progress. The reforms we are proposing are radical in some areas but tamed/measured in others. We believe that the current constitution, although grateful for the efforts of the previous framers, does not fit the times nor does it encapsulate the wishes of the electoral based on the promises we have made during the electoral season. Whilst we anticipate pushback from some quarters, we believe that this convention is the right approach to addressing constitutional reform as it brings together all individuals from all sectors and walks of life in Tropica to contribute to the building of a more just and perfect union."

[imperialpearl]

With a new political administration in Nikutabi, a unique opportunity has emerged to address the nation's systemic challenges and build a new foundation for what could become a freer, fairer and more equal outlook for the Tropican economy. In its report on the state of the economy, the Reserve Bank pointed to systemic corruption, unequal access to healthcare and education, a collapse of the nation's labour force and the subsequent decline in labour productivity and chronic institutional failures as the significant contributors to the nation's centuries-long unstable macroeconomic foundation. Thus, the coming decades will prove extremely important in potentially addressing much of the nation's social, political and economic woes. Federal Treasurer Anthony Bishop outlined the new socialist government's economic agenda for the coming term, signalling a return to economic planning. He announced at a press conference at Puarangi House (the Prime Minister's residence) alongside both Prime Minister Samantha Spencer and Minister of Economic Development, Industry and Trade Justin Walsman. In his address, Treasurer Bishop outlined: institutional strengthening, social care, education, infrastructure, technology and manufacturing as the federal government's priorities heading into the coming political term. Speaking about the government's future policies for institutional strengthening, Prime Minister Spencer pointed to the nation's ongoing constitutional reform process. She stated that the nation's reformed constitution would among other things, safeguard the independence of the nation's treasured institutions such as the Reserve Bank of Tropica and the Judiciary. In addressing the nation's systemic corruption challenges, Prime Minister Spencer said an aggressive agenda was in the making within the Office of the Attorney-General which includes the creation of a federal anti-corruption commission, a significant upgrade to the nation's outdated tax system and the creation of an equal opportunities tribunal to eliminate the racism from the workplace (be it public and/or private) and communities. "When we speak to institutional strengthening, we don't simply mean creating new institutions, but also ensuring that our existing institutions remain relevant for the times. To enter into this phase of our nation's development with weak and inadequate institutions, be they political, social or economic, would present a clear and present danger to the new economic foundation we seek to build for Tropica. That being one which is grounded in the principles of equality, productivity and transparency.

On social care, Prime Minister Spencer stated that Tropica's social safety net had been virtually destroyed as a result of the policies of the previous conservative government. She explained that cuts in expenditure had virtually blown a massive hole in the nation's social welfare programmes, resulting in the Department of Labour and Social Development calling its report on the nation's social welfare system as a "gradual attempt to dismantle the welfare state." Although the Minister of Labour and Social Development had not been present to expound on the government's plans for Tropica's social safety net, Prime Minister Spencer stated that the nation would undoubtedly need to rebuild the welfare state. "To tackle unemployment, poverty and crime, the social welfare state must be rebuilt and strengthened. In that regard, we hope that we could introduce unemployment insurance, food assistance, rent assistance etc. Apart from this, a review and restructuring of our healthcare system remain a key priority for this government going into the future. We believe that the system of privatised healthcare as developed by the previous government has been a complete failure and has created more issues than it had solved." Prime Minister Spencer explained. On Education, Prime Minister Spencer once again railed against the conservative notion of "privatisation means efficiency", as she pointed to the systemic failures of the nation's privatised primary and secondary education system. She noted that a lack of access to education by the nation's most impoverished and vulnerable had created a situation wherein education has become marginalised between the rich and poor; wherein the rich can afford high-quality education for their children and the poor are often locked out of the system entirely. She pointed to the emergence of schools run by numerous religions and the explosion of charter schools, and the unequal access which comes with these schools as a direct consequence of privatised education. She said: "The privatisation of education, was the worst decision any government has ever made in our nation's history. It is a direct result of privatised education and healthcare, why we have unequal access to both services, collapsing labour productivity and competitiveness, poverty and crime. Access to these basic services is important in developing a truly equal and just society. It is with that understanding that we commit to re-nationalise both education and healthcare and bring about a complete transformation in both services to ensure that access is not based on the ability to pay."

On infrastructure, Treasurer Bishop stated that due to the incompetence of the previous administration, Tropican infrastructure (be it roads, bridges and/or pipelines) had been allowed to slip into a state of disrepair. He explained that the coming federal budget would be expansionary, with a major focus on infrastructure. From the construction of new roads and bridges to a feasibility study into the development of a transnational railway network. Apart from physical infrastructure, Treasurer Bishop pointed to the nation's energy situation as a major cause for concern. Collapsing foreign earnings is making it increasingly difficult for Tropica to import much-needed natural gas to power the nation's natural gas power plants. Treasurer Bishop stated that an aggressive campaign to transition Tropica into a more energy-secure nation would have to be launched by the government. He said: "We continue to burn foreign exchange to import fuel to power our natural gas power plants; there are no coal mines in Tropica and thus we have to import coal to power our coal-fired power plants. This is not sustainable, as such going into this fiscal term, we intend to conduct a feasibility study into the adoption of solar, wind, tidal and geothermal energy as potential alternatives to our natural gas and coal-heavy energy mix." On technology, Minister Walsman stated that the current situation presented the government with a unique opportunity to develop Tropica into a "technology first" nation. He explained that the use of technology should enable greater efficiency throughout the business of the government and the private sector, from education to healthcare to agriculture. Pointing to the successful digital government policies in Keymon, Minister Walsman stated that the Department of Public Administration and Digital Transformation had been created to lead the digital transformation of both the public sector and the private sector in Tropica. Among the projects under consideration by the Department is the creation of an e-identity system, and the digital transformation of education, agriculture, healthcare and tourism. He stated that the government's future digital transformation agenda will impact all sectors of society, from the federal level to the city/island council level.

On manufacturing, Minister Walsman stated that Tropica had to escape the low to middle-income trap. He explained that the return of economic planning would usher in industrial policy development. He explained that Tropica's current account constraint created a situation wherein due to being a relatively small, open economy for its demographic size, was extremely dependent on foreign exchange earnings from exports to be able to import materials and other items important/key to national development. According to Minister Walsman, the foundation of the future tropican economy would be manufacturing, be it both light and heavy industry manufacturing. According to Minister Walsman, there are advanced plans within the Department of Economic Development, Industry and Trade for the feasibility of developing Tropica into a major producer of ammonia, and fertilizer as well as a major food production powerhouse via cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries.

[imperialpearl]

The Constitutional Convention convened the consider reforms to the Tropican constitution has presented a preliminary draft to Prime Minister Samantha Spencer, bringing the nation one step closer to the “democratically conscious revolution” promised by the Prime Minister’s Socialist Party during the last election. The draft constitution, if accepted by the Parliament (i.e. both the House of Representatives and the Congress of Regions), would bring about sweeping transformations to the social, economic and political order within Tropic among others. “Although this process is recent, it embodies centuries of concerns held by numerous individuals throughout the country and acknowledges our nation’s indigenous peoples as the first inhabitants of this nation known as Tropica,” says Assistant Minister for Constitutional Affairs Patrick Richardson. The pursuit for constitutional reform comes amidst mounting discontent among the population with the nation’s current constitution, which many say is no longer fit for purpose. Among the grievances expressed via submissions from the public, the nation’s near confederation administrative structure creates unnecessary bureaucracy and in so far as the public and technocrats are concerned, the powers intrusted to the nation’s 30+ regions, are a mere step above those of a city/county council, as much of the power as it relates to decision-making remains within the ambit of the federal government. “What we have here is a centrist republic playing itself off as a federation,” said Dr Tavita Tuiasosopo, a Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Tropica and one of the members of the central planning committee of the constitutional convention. The review process began months prior, with numerous stakeholder consultations with members of academia, government and business officials, and many of the representatives of the nation’s indigenous groups. Dr Tuiasosopo revealed that upon convening the convention, Prime Minister Spencer emphasized the new role the nation’s indigenous communities will play in the reformed constitution, pointing to the decades of discrimination and maltreatment at the hands of both the federal government and regional/local governments as the impetus for greater (real) autonomy among these communities. Apart from this, according to Dr Tuiasosopo, she emphasized the importance of canvassing the opinion of the general public, noting that although the proposals of the socialist party would play a role in this reformation process, submissions from the general public must form the basis upon which the reform process delivers this transformation.

The draft document calls for a reform of the nation's administrative structure. Concurrently, Tropica is divided into 30+ regions, all of which have limited political powers in that they do not possess their very own legislatures, nor do they possess the ability to deliberate on issues related to their respective regions. The draft document proposes a sweeping consolidation of the 30+ regions and the creation of new administrative divisions. The regions of the main/major islands would be combined into separate provinces. On the island of Tapoa, instead of its 4 separate/semi-autonomous regions, there shall be a singular "Province of Tapoa", governed by a singular "Tapoan Government". On the island of Coromaru, instead of its 20+ separate/semi-autonomous regions, there shall be a singular "Province of Coromaru", governed by a singular "Government of Coromaru". Both provinces shall possess their own legislatures and constitutions and shall be responsible for schools, hospitals, conservation and environment, roads, railways and public transport, public works, agriculture and fishing, industrial relations, economic development, sport and recreation, consumer affairs and emergency services. Although the provinces govern over greater areas of responsibility, matters related to defence and foreign affairs; trade, commerce and currency; immigration; police and emergency services; postal services, telecommunications and broadcasting; air travel; most social services and pensions will remain under the ambit of the federal government. The province shall be governed by Premiers, who through the efforts of their respective executive councils shall be responsible for the aforementioned areas of responsibility. The former borders of the regions shall remain unchanged, with said borders forming the boundaries of the nation's new counties which are further divided into districts/parishes. Each county shall be governed by a "county council" and the islands within these provinces shall be governed by an "island council". The draft document renames the Raki Islands (to the Leeside Islands), the Emerara Islands (to the Windside Islands) and Roseroto and Einuna (to Faiwald and Roxbirna). These islands shall be known as Island Territories and shall be governed by Island Governments with the same rights/powers as the major island provinces. The islands shall be governed by an Administrator, with the Kaitiaki appointing a Governor to represent the monarchy on said islands. Similar to the provinces, the Islands shall process their own legislatures and constitutions.

According to the document, Indigenous communities shall be semi-autonomous regions underneath the ambit of the Kaitiaki, in that they shall enjoy the protections of the Office of the Kaitiaki in safeguarding their communities from territorial and legal intrusion. Many of these communities shall maintain their own administrative structure and judicial systems, however, the Kaitiaki shall appoint a High Commissioner to represent the federal government and the monarchy in these communities. On the federal level, the Parliament shall be restructured with a House of Representatives and Senate instead of a National Assembly and Council of Regions. Attorney-General Hughes is expected to lead the process from draft to ascension in the coming months.

[imperialpearl]

Against the backdrop of the completed constitutional reforms, the question of the nation's moves in the coming decades is yearning to be answered. With provincial, and territorial 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 Tropica 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 Puarangi House, Prime Minister Samantha Spencer and Minister of Public Administration and Digital Transformation Elisapeta Faaeteete announced Tropica's Digital Transformation Agenda going in the future. As the government ministry responsible for policy development and information technology, the Department of Public Administration and Digital Transformation 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 Tropica towards becoming a completely digital nation. Grounded in the belief that the Federal Government should establish the foundation/standard for the digital revolution in Tropica, the proposed Digital Transformation Agenda focuses on numerous areas including economic growth, innovation and inclusion. The Department notes that concurrently, Tropica'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 Department, also focuses on the public sector. It establishes a mandate for provincial and territorial 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 Tropica'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 Faaeteete 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 department converts hardcopy documents into softcopy and uploads 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 Department of Public Health and Wellness can be accessed and used by the Department of Education, Research and Innovation 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 people continue to utilise digital platforms with 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 Faaeteete 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 Department 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. Minister of Education, Research and Innovation Falevalu Autagavaia notes that the internet is rapidly becoming the go-to medium for which students receive information. He 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 Tropica, 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 Department of Public Administration and Digital Transformation envisions a Tropican 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 Autagavaia notes that the Federal Government will convene a meeting of the various education ministers of the provincial governments on the National Education Curriculum, which according to the Minister will be advisory.

[imperialpearl]

The nature of crime and criminality within Tropica remains largely influenced by external forces. The importation of illegal substances and the influx of high-powered rifles have combined to create the nation's current unsettling security environment. This, alongside increased instances of gang violence as wars/conflicts among viral gangs in Temania spill onto the nation's streets, adds additional pressure to the nation's economic, social and political revival. In a report by the Royal Tropican Police Force Special Branch on the explosion of violent crime in Tropica, it had been revealed that many of the criminal organisations within Tropica draw much of their strength (both in terms of numbers and firepower) from organisations existing in Temania. Amidst that nation's uncertain political situation, the RTPF Special Branch has warned that amidst the growing complexity of organised crime within Tropica, the Royal Tropican Police could soon be overrun by criminal gangs wielding greater man and firepower. Commissioner of the Royal Tropican Police Force Ana Tameifuna admitted that for the past few decades, the police force had been struggling against the numerous criminal organisations existing within Tropica. She pointed to organisations such as LS-9, the Temanian outfit and the Dalibor Commission among other entities as the major organised crime networks underneath the constant gaze of the RTPF. She noted that much of their operations, although largely known to the police force, are becoming increasingly sophisticated and clandestine. "What continues to be of major concern to us is that their operations are becoming more clandestine and thus increasingly difficult to investigate and keep an eye on," she lamented. Pointing to statistics on firearms-related incidents, Commissioner Tameifuna stated that crimes involving firearms are intensifying, with increased instances of war between street gangs involving increasing amounts of high-powered rifles. "Apart from increasingly complex organised crime networks, violence between street gangs are on the rise and is involving increasing amounts of high-powered rifles. Although our general duty officers carry firearms (primarily pistols and assault rifles), these street battles become so intense they often require the intervention of the District Tactical Response Units, who in their own right are becoming overwhelmed," Commissioner Tameifuna concluded. Minister of the Interior Paul Newman has stated that a review of the nation's national security environment had been ordered by the Prime Minister. Former RTPF Commissioner Justin Clark and Minister of State for Public Security & Emergency Management Rawiri Kawhena will jointly chair the review committee.