Tropica

[imperialpearl]

Tropica, when compared to the largest, more global economies of the wider international community, can be considered a novice/newcomer to the technology landscape. It has only existed within this environment solidly for around twenty years compared to the centuries of participation by nations such as Dorvik, Lourenne, Keymon, Yingdala and others. However, what sets Tropica's role in the global technological environment is its use of data and technology to leverage competitive advantages and enhance governance. Under the premiership of Samantha Spencer, Tropica's digital transformation drive was launched and was guided by the new Department of Public Administration and Digital Transformation, an amalgamation of the Department of Public Administration and the Department of Science and Technology. Through this Department of Public Administration and Digital Transformation, the government aims to transform Tropica into a digital society i.e a nation whereby technology is the primary enabler of socio-economic growth and progress. In recognition of the need to bring more and more government services into the fold through digital means, the Department announced the issuance of e-identity cards for members of the public. According to Minister of Public Administration and Digital Transformation, Etano Tuitama, the government had been involved in an intense digitisation programme whereby hardcopy documents had been transformed into digital documents (soft/hard data) and thus an increased number of government services could thus move online and would no longer require physical interaction at government departments. He noted that the aim was to ensure that the government can bring as many of its services online to ensure (1) increased access (2) faster service and (3) quantitative data can be garnered for decision-making. He noted that prior to the formation of her department, digitalisation and digitisation were not buzzwords in the public sector and there was no real agenda to transform the nation's public service to provide better, higher-quality services to the general public.

He highlighted the fact that digital transformation had been happening in silos throughout the government departments (i.e.) although some government departments were making significant advances in bringing their services online and allowing for technology to be the leading enabler of their department's increased efficiency, data was not being shared among the government departments. He explained that although birth and death records were being digitised at the Office of the Attorney-General, such information was not being shared with the Department of Public Health and Wellness and the Department of Labour and Social Development. Thus it created scenarios whereby a person had been dead for years however the Department of Labour and Social Development had been still issuing social services cheques to that individual because the social services department had not been informed of the individual's death. Minister Tuitama noted that scenarios such as this had encouraged the government to begin the process of digital transformation which led to the formation of the national e-identification card. The new e-identity card's development was made possible through a new business process/data-sharing platform called Government Data Link. Through Government Data Link, information is shared between the various government departments and their respective sub-departments/agencies, thus allowing for better service delivery and interoperability. In making the national e-identity possible, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Department of Public Health and Wellness, the Department of Labour and Social Development, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Agriculture and Food Production, the Department of Education, Research and Innovation and the Department of Economic Development, Industry and Trade were all brought together to combine data, update laws and transform their respective services. Of the aforementioned government departments, the Department of the Interior had been described as the most beneficial due to the fact that it was the only government department to have a system whereby it can enable other government departments to share data.

Minister Tuitama spoke about some of the elements of the new e-identity card. The card contains most of the information which existed on the previous national ID system. Information such as the individual's surname, given name, gender, date of birth and more are all featured on the new e-identity card. The card also contains a machine-readable chip, where the compound data/records of an individual are stored. Some of the e-services being offered with the current iteration of the e-identity card include e-tax payments, obtaining birth and death certificates, digital signatures, health insurance and social services. Underneath the new e-identity card, persons seeking to interact with the central government no longer need to bring fiscal documents to the government department in question, instead of the e-identity card through its embedded files would possess the necessary data/files the various government departments will require. It will eliminate the scenario whereby persons will have to re-enter the same information at different government departments. Minister Tuitama stated that as the federal government continues to revolutionise the definition of governance and advance the connection between governance and technology, more services will be available to the public through the e-identity card. Some of the services currently under development by the central government include accessing universal basic income, accessing prescriptions, accessing health records and much more. As more persons begin the use the e-identity (which will be mandatory to carry) throughout the various government platforms/services, it is expected that the Office of Statistics and Information and the various government departments will finally begin to gather terra-bit of hardcore data to craft their policies in the future in line with the government's goal of being a data-centric government. "This is only the beginning of the complete transformation of Tropica. We are slowly assuming our position in the global community as a major competitor in the global technological race and I am proud to be the person responsible for overseeing this transformation. I believe we can transform Tropica through technology," Minister Tuitama proclaimed.

[imperialpearl]

The advance into becoming a completely digital society is developing in the public sector. With more than 20,000 government employees undergoing skills retraining to become acquainted with the processes and technologies both currently employed and to be employed, very soon the public service will be leading the digital transformation of Tropica, leaving the private sector and other aspects of Tropican society worryingly behind. In recognition of this situation, Minister of Education, Research and Innovation Dr Lupelele Matautia has announced that the Department of Education, Research and Innovation was in an advanced stage of rolling out its new technology-centric curriculum and would be aiming to integrate technology into the classroom. He notes that since the central government began the discussion on Tropica's "digital transformation", his department began the process of making significant reforms to both its internal structure and the general structure of Tropica's education system to ensure that it too could benefit from technological advances. In a report developed by the Department entitled "the E-Classroom: An In-Depth Analysis of Tropican Education and Impact of New Technology," it was found that Tropican schools rarely integrated technological applications as a means of increasing access to education, speeding up the time at which education is attained and ensuring that individuals remain abreast with modern technological advances. It noted that numerous schools throughout Tropica only integrated technological applications in instances whereby the institution(s) were forced to communicate with parents outside of the school setting. In this case, schools sought to utilise instant messaging applications. These applications although intended to increase communication between the school and parents, these applications were limited in both their scope and reach as they did not allow for parents to receive feedback on assignments and other related materials from teachers. In most cases, instant messaging applications were primarily used to issue mass messages to parents as they related to events within the school. General Secretary of the Association of Principals and Deans, Rawiri Kawhena confirmed that many of the instant messaging applications used by schools to communicate with parents are primarily used to inform parents of events within the school and matters related thereto.

Dr Matautia stated that amidst deep consultations with numerous educational institutions, the Confederation of Parents/Teachers Associations and the Association of Principals and Deans, one of the primary hindrances to adapting technological applications are funding. Throughout the consultation period, the Confederation of Parents/Teachers Associations lamented that accessing funding for schools to make the complete transformation towards digital technologies was a major hindrance. The Associations explained that although the government's ambition towards integrating technology with education was admirable and should be championed aggressively it noted that the implementation, particularly as it pertains to funding is keeping back progress as many schools are not properly funded to allow for new and advancing technologies to be introduced to both the classroom and the staff. General Secretary of the Confederation, Akumatua Rakena noted that in many instances, public schools are being outpaced by private schools as the latter has a steady stream of income and in many instances, the public schools are losing students to private schools. "I have colleagues in private schools who tell me that they have access to so many amenities which enhance their abilities as teachers. Although I personally have no intention of leaving the public education system, I can't help but wonder why we are seeing a steady increase of both students and teachers heading to private institutions." Dr Matautia reassured the Confederation that discussions with the Federal Treasurer had been initiated to see that federal, provincial and territorial Departments of Education receive increased budget allocations, grants and pathways for funding. Returning to the topic of technology in the classroom he stated that he intends on releasing orders/mandates on classroom standards which will establish a set of amenities that are essential to a classroom. He explained that amenities such as high-speed internet, digital whiteboards and 3D printers must become as important to a classroom as chairs and desks.

[imperialpearl]

With a persistently precarious situation at home, Kimuro Heavy Industries, SlipStream, Stanley and Windsor Motors have announced their intentions to shut down their operations in Luthori and move the majority of their respective businesses to Tropica. Buoyed by numerous trade missions by the Coromaru Government to encourage firms to establish their base of operations on the island province, CEO of SlipStream Joseph Armstrong explained that the company had been battling to remain in Luthori amidst the nation's precarious economic and political situation. Amidst the chaos within the nation's political system and a centuries-long stagnant economy, Armstrong laid much of the blame for the move on the political and economic machinations within the country, highlighting the nation's instability as a hindrance to growth and innovation. According to Armstrong, the company has been weathering counterless financial and operational crises and has come out battered and bruised. "Apart from losing our competitive edge as a major defence company, we are battling on a near daily basis to keep employees and lights on. We simply aren't the company we used to be and that is as a direct result of this nation's decline." Armstrong noted that companies such as Kimuro Heavy Industries, Stanley and Windsor Motors had shared similar sentiments on the business environment within the country. SlipStream Defence was once a leading manufacturer of advanced missiles and guided munitions, Kimuro Heavy Industries was once a brought manufacturer of pleasure craft alongside long-departed shipbuilder Pennington-Reid and Stanley and Windsor Motors were once proud manufacturers of luxury vehicles. Armstrong noted that whilst the other firms have expressed their intention to even move their headquarters to Tropica, SlipStream's board had decided to keep the company's headquarters in Fort William, hoping for an improvement in the nation's economy. Coromaru Provincial Treasurer Waiapi Timoti stated that he had been in constant communication with the companies as the acting line minister responsible for business development. The firms' entrance into the Tropican manufacturing sector is expected to create a major boon in productivity, Timoti explained. "We view these firms' decision to enter into the manufacturing sector as a major boost in our province's pursuit towards enabling Tropica to become a major manufacturing powerhouse.

[imperialpearl]

Following a tumultuous internal election campaign immediately followed by a general election, Victoria Hamilton has emerged victorious as both the leader of the Socialist Party of Tropica and Prime Minister of Tropica, the fourth woman to hold the position since the formation of the federation. Ms Hamilton’s victories came as a result of many of the promises made in both campaigns. Internally, she promised to revitalise and transform the Socialist Party after a myriad of complaints and internal skirmishes almost brought the party’s reputation for sound internal politics to a crashing halt. One of the proposals made by Hamilton is to form a lasting coalition with the once-prominent Labour Party. Amidst their defeat in the most recent general election, the Labour Party is set to undergo a major shakeup with much of the party’s incumbent leaders set to not return for re-election in the party’s upcoming internal election. Although the socialist party had secured a very comfortable majority over other political parties, some political commentators note that Hamilton’s intentions to form a coalition with the Labour Party is rooted in a scheme to consolidate left-wing rule in Tropica. Not wanting to be misunderstood, Hamilton stated that there were no “nefarious” or “hidden” agendas behind her intentions to unite with the Labour Party. “I have seen within the public domain that there are some among us who believe that my olive branch to the Labour Party is some attempt to consolidate power on the left and to that I say: It has been left-wing governments which have brought this nation back from the brink, certainly more left-wing politics couldn’t be a bad thing for Tropica.” Leader of the Labour Party Kauri Hariwana has confirmed that during the party’s upcoming conference, the question of whether it should join with the Socialist Party would be discussed. However, Hariwana fell short of revealing his thoughts on the proposal, instead repeating that questions surrounding the proposal will be answered at the party’s conference. Following her landslide victory at the polls, Hamilton heralded a new era for Tropica. Much of her electoral campaign focused on “revitalising the Tropican spirit.” When questioned on what this meant, she stated that the nation had strayed from its left-wing beginnings and needed to be brought back on track. “This party [the Socialist Party] and by extension the nation has strayed from its founding principles of compassion, progressivism, tolerance and the common good. It is time we whip our nation back into shape to become a true example for all nations, both regionally and internationally.”

Prior to her appointment as both leader of the Socialist Party and Prime Minister of Tropica, Hamilton served as Deputy Director of the Office of Statistics and Information and had gained a reputation as a cutthroat technocrat. During her time at the OSI, she often locked horns with government ministers and provincial/territorial governments on the importance of modern statistical data. Hamilton argued that without accurate data, many of the policies announced by government ministries, departments and agencies would fall on their faces as there would have been no clear picture of the problems facing the citizenry and whether the policies introduced were in fact working. It was during her time at the Department of Labour and Social Development, Hamilton began leaning heavily into left-wing politics. As Associate Minister for Benefits, Pensions and Work she advocated for the creation of a robust welfare state in Tropica. Concurrently, Tropica does not maintain a legislatively sound welfare state, nor does it maintain a stable national insurance system capable of addressing the needs of the nation's ageing population. On the campaign trail, Hamilton vowed to build a welfare state for Tropica, calling the undertaking "one of the most ambitious proposals for economic transformation in the nation's history." She vowed to continue working with the governments of the Outer Islands through the Outer Islands Forum. Apart from this, she has promised to provide a reformed foreign policy for Tropica, aimed at ensuring the nation maintains strong allies within the region and is capable of building stronger bonds with nations outside of Dovani. She notes that much of this reformed foreign policy will feed directly into a review of Tropica's involvement in the Dovani Pact among others. On security, she stated that although she does not intend to compromise on national security, she stated that there needed to be a greater degree of focus on dealing with domestic issues. The highlight of her campaigning was her plans for the national economy. Pointing to the slowing down of the national economy and signs of inflation as a result of future oil price increases, Hamilton stated that she intends to maintain the party's established principles of meritocracy. It has been stated that former IDSB Chief Economist and current senator Dr Arya Dasgupta has been tapped to become Treasurer of Tropica. As Prime Minister Hamilton begins her term, time will tell whether the transformation she vowed to usher into Tropica would either materialise or fall short of expectations.

[imperialpearl]

With the new administration having had two weeks to settle into their new positions, the pressures of governance have already arrived thus ending their honeymoon period abruptly. News of Neftkomp, one of the world's largest crude oil and natural gas producers scaling back production has sent domestic markets into considerable turmoil as investors anticipate cost-push inflation as a result of potential price increases. For consumers, this could mean varying degrees of price increases in numerous commodities including food, and machine parts and would most certainly manifest itself as an increase in the price at gas stations. Although Neftkomp blames lingering demand in Majatra for the production cut, some analysts have scuffed at this statement, instead concluding that the company's production cut is as a direct result of the current feud between Trigunia and Deltaria. As a result of the production cut, the spot price for Bier Qassem crude is expected to hit $93, a 7% increase compared to the last time Neftkomp cut production. In a statement following the production cut and subsequent price increase, Assistant Minister for Energy and Industrial Strategy Hokulele Kahoiwai stated that Neftkomp's recent production cuts were the beginning of what could potentially become a global oil crisis, fueled by a seemingly worsening geopolitical sparing match between Trigunia and Deltaria. "It is our view that this recent production is as baseless as it is vexatious. We have observed attempts being made by the Trigunian government to form a coalition of the crude oil producers of the world in what I can only describe as a sick attempt at global price fixing." Minister Kahoiwai's statement read. In response to the price increase and mindful of its impact on the cost of living in Tropica, Federal Treasurer Dr Arya Dasgupta outlined some of the immediate steps the federal government intends to take to soften the blow to the cost of living. She stated that the federal government was prepared to subsidize the price of crude oil and natural gas for consumers. She notes that where the federal government intervenes in the energy market, the nation's foreign exchange reserves will come into play. "To subsidise the price of crude oil and natural gas and some of their products, it will require us to utilise our foreign exchange reserves. It is in consideration of the fact that we do not want to drain our currency reserves, that this will be a simple cap at $90. Under this cap, prices beyond that figure will be rolled onto the consumer, as it is a trade-off for the government taking the majority of the price increase's blow." Treasurer Dasgupta explained. "As a result of this situation, we [the federal government] will have to review our fiscal and monetary policy regimes towards effectively responding to future situations of this nature in the future and this could potentially mean the creation of a Stabilisation Fund and continued moves towards reducing our dependence on crude oil and natural gas in our daily lives. It will mean increased attention on the Tropican Energy Corporation's plans for energy diversification."

[imperialpearl]

Against the backdrop of the opening of a potentially damaging global energy crisis triggered by decreased production in Trigunia and a stagnant domestic economy, Prime Minister Victoria Hamilton and Federal Treasurer Arya Dasgupta unveiled the Tropican Government's multi-billion dollar, long-term infrastructure investment programme, aimed squarely at addressing the nation's infrastructure shortcomings and developing a new economy within the country. The lion's share of the proposed plan involves massive injections into existing infrastructure projects as well as increased funding for new proposals. Some of these projects include the construction of new roads and bridges, addressing the nation's noticeable lack of public transportation, introducing the nation to better spatial planning and addressing the existing housing deficit which has plagued the nation for decades. The "Tropican Infrastructure Investment Programme (TIIP)", would see the federal government pour some 300 billion TRD into the Tropican economy over 15 years. "It is time we "TIIP" the scales in our favour. Our nation's infrastructure has dramatically fallen behind other nations in the region and has become a direct hindrance to our continued development. It is time to rebuild our economy from the ground up. Not for our sake, but for the sake of our children and our children's children." Prime Minister Hamilton said. On the philosophy behind TIIP, Treasurer Dasgupta stated the plan was firmly rooted in Kodonomic theory. "It is no secret that our economy is slowly heading into what could be a harsh recession and thus the inherent benefits of a programme of expansionary fiscal measures become known. We believe that this provides us with a unique opportunity to retool the Tropican economy and address historic shortcomings. Through this ambitious infrastructure programme, we will seek to dismantle bottlenecks, improve the efficiency of transportation, enhance the quality of infrastructure and address the issues of the day through a comprehensive review of our national objectives." According to the Treasurer, of the 300 billion TRD figure, some 100 billion TRD will be allocated to federal, provincial, territorial and SAR governments towards addressing issues related to infrastructure namely the aforementioned areas of roads, bridges, highways and utilities. 50 billion TRD is expected to focus on addressing the nation's housing shortage, with an additional 15 billion TRD set to focus on enhancing the nation's manufacturing and agriculture base. Of the remaining 165 Billion TRD, much of that figure is expected to be channelled specifically to the creation of a national railways system, to include both freight lines and high-speed lines. When questioned on the government's loan financing arrangements for TIIP, Treasurer Dasgupta stated that the federal government through the Treasury would engage in a series of loans from numerous local and international lenders including Fairisles, the Eastern Development Organisation, the Dovani Pact Development Bank and a suite of other financing mechanisms, alongside a major taxation reform agenda set to be spearheaded by Associate Treasurer and Associate Minister for Finance, Mareta Tonumaipe'a.

Present during the press conference was Assistant Minister for Rural Economic Development Jane Scott. As the cabinet minister responsible for the Outer Islands, she provided details on how TIIP is expected to impact the island territories and potentially contribute to their overall economic development. In seeking to reaffirm the federal government's commitment to respecting the semi-autonomous trajectory of the outer islands' economic development, Minister Scott squashed rumours of the new government's intentions to dismantle the outer island forum and reign in the powers of the territories. "We [the Federal Government] will continue to view the Outer Island Forum as an extremely timely and important organisation which continues to raise the bar for small island developing territories and has become a model for growth among SIDS." Minister Scott said. On the benefits of TIIP, Minister Scott stated that the programme provided the island territories with a unique opportunity to enhance their infrastructure to be in line with their unique economic models. At the previous summit of the Outer Islands Forum, delegates agreed that although tourism will remain the base/foundation of the economy of the Outer Islands, multi-destination tourism will become the defining feature of tourism on these islands. Incumbent Chief Minister of the Eastern Islands Samasoni Pulefaasisina, who was then a Senior Policy Advisor to the forum from Irwin-Clarke, was a strong advocate for infrastructure being leveraged to support multi-destination tourism among the island territories. He lamented the state of road infrastructure on the islands, noting that the in the absence of a functioning transportation network, tourists continue to find it extremely difficult to navigate the islands. "Be it the construction of new roads, maintenance of existing infrastructure or the creation of functioning bus, tram and/or trolley networks on the islands, there is much of the focus should be centred on ensuring projects of this nature are at least commenced." On TIIP, Pulefaasisina stated that investment into infrastructure which enables growth on the islands was "long overdue". He notes that although attempts were made by the OIF, through the numerous Development Banks, to pool resources towards enhancing infrastructure across the Outer Islands, the once-promised support from the federal government did not come. As a result, many of the plans drawn up by the development banks were either scrapped or shelved. "That experience has left a bad taste in the mouths of many of the territorial governments as it made clear to them that the federal government could not hold up to its commitments. It is in view of this that one could understand the suspicion held by the other chief ministers as we have been burnt before." Pulefaasisina said during an interview. Minister Scott, in apologising for the failures of her predecessors, committed to making the necessary funds available to aid the outer islands in materialising their infrastructure plans.

On the specifics of some of the projects set to be initiated by the federal government under TIIP, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Kaimalie Makaiau stated that the programme would allow for the Department to operationalise much of its shelved plans for Tropican infrastructure. As a feature of the Akarana Ministry's introduction of economic planning to Tropica's macroeconomic environment plans to address the nation's infrastructure shortcomings were made years in advance and were updated on a yearly basis. Some of these plans include the construction of a national highway system, a national freight railway and a national high-speed railway. On the national highway system, Minister Makaiau noted to make the proposed highway system truly connected/integrated, it would have to connect both Tapoa and Coromaru. According to schematics developed decades prior, the supposed solution would be for bridges to connect the two island provinces via the islands of St.Christopher and Maukere. On the national freight and high-speed railway, they are intended to follow the same path with bridges on St Christopher and Maukere to be built to connect Tapoa and Coromaru. Once completed, the projects are expected to have generated thousands of jobs and would have contributed to connecting the Tropican economy and enhancing the ease of movement of persons, goods and services. Apart from transport infrastructure, energy infrastructure is also a key component of TIIP. Assistant Minister for Energy and Industrial Strategy Hokulele Kahoiwai stated that the Federal Government intends on doubling its investment in renewable energy sources. Buoyed by the recent production cuts in Trigunia, both Prime Minister Hamilton and Minister Kahoiwai stated that the government intends on ensuring Tropican citizens remain shielded against external shocks. According to Minister Kahoiwai, the Tropican Energy Corporation is expected to conduct numerous feasibility studies into the construction of solar, wind and tidal energy farms throughout the country. "We remain committed to safeguarding the environment against intense fossil fuel use and shielding the Tropican people from hardship brought on by external shocks. On Housing and spatial planning, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Florence Fielding has stated that a company similar to TEC and TSC, called the Tropican Housing Finance Corporation is expected to be created with the sole intention of spearheading the federal government's drive to address the national housing deficit. The Tropican Spatial Planning Authority (TSPA) is expected to be created as well with the purpose of overseeing proper spatial planning regulations within Tropica, in keeping with international best practices.

[imperialpearl]

The Office of Statistics and Information (OSI) has released its estimates on crime in Tropica over the previous decade, sending many into shock at its conclusion. According to the OSI's report, violent crimes particularly those involving firearms are on the rise, with organised crime increasing dramatically over the previous decade although attempts were supposedly made by the Royal Tropican Police Force to stamp out criminal organisations. Previous commissioners promised to tackle violent crime via data, specialised groups and technology, all of which have fallen on their faces amidst the OSI data, thus mounting speculation as to whether the RTPF is capable of addressing the nation's increasingly concerning crime problem. Although incoming Commissioner of the RTPF Austin Berg has committed to transforming the RTPF from within, it is clear that the nation's crime situation is not only as a consequence of the numerous failures of the RTPF but is also a scathing indictment of the federal government's policies. For the first time since the organisation's creation, Prime Minister Victoria Hamilton convened the National Security Council to enact a "whole-of-government" approach to addressing the slowly worsening situation. Present during the meeting was Minister of the Interior Iokina Kanekalau, Assistant Minister for National Security and Emergencies Kenika Keolanui, Commissioner of the RTPF Austin Berg, Chief of the Defence Staff Lt.Gen. Connor Thompson and Director of National Assessments Dr Erihapeti Himona. At a press conference following the meeting, Director Himona disclosed the Office of National Assessment's analysis of Tropica's crime situation. According to Director Himona, similar to previous years, much of the turmoil within Tropica was a result of both increased gang activity and the resurgence of numerous organised crime entities including the Temanian and Vascanian mafias. She highlighted an elaborate network of weapons smugglers, money launderers and drug dealers as directly fueling the aforementioned organisations and thus leading to the noticeable increase in violent, firearms-related crimes. "Although the ONA focuses primarily on threats related to terrorism, in our work to keep Tropica safe from those entities, we are beginning to see the workings of a deeper partnership among criminal organisations against the state, which much of their money laundering scheme (which largely fuels their wars) moving under the radar." Acting Director of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, Paki-Iwi Taimana noted that with intelligence from the TSIO (Tropican Security Intelligence Organisation), the agency was able to determine that the majority of illegal firearms were primarily coming from Temania, accompanied by potentially massive shipments of illegal drugs. According to Acting Director Taimana, the federal ban on firearms and growing drug use have created a sort of market for which Temania drugs and weapons smugglers have happily exploited. "Apart from this, it is becoming extremely clear that many of the known criminal organisations are becoming more aggressive as they are becoming increasingly armed with higher-powered rifles," he warned. To address the RTPF's administrative and operational failures, Minister Kanekalau has appointed a Law Enforcement Review Committee to provide recommendations to both the federal government and the RTPF Commissioner on enhancing the operational effectiveness of the RTPF. Heading this committee is former Permanent Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Dr Aputi Tuigamala. Prime Minister Hamilton has vowed to increase the budget allocation for the RTPF for the procurement of new equipment, enhanced training and recruitment. As a result of the situation, there have been calls for the government to create a separate and independent border control agency. Minister Kanekalau has stated that the federal government is currently reviewing strategies, with the idea of an independent border patrol agency on the table for discussion. In the interim, Minister Kanekalau has committed to establishing clear synergies between the Royal Tropican Navy and the RTPF on border control, as is the former's responsibility.

[imperialpearl]

With a new administration in Nikutabi, questions have been raised as to whether the new government intends to continue along the established path of reform for the Tropican Defence Force. Having undergone a series of structural and operational reforms, the Tropican Defence Force's reform plan is set for review in the coming years, and many within the defence community believe that the new administration and the upcoming review present the TDF with a unique opportunity to refocus its efforts on enhancing its operational effectiveness. Recently appointed Chief of the General Staff Maj. Gen Maiope Aperahama affirmed his commitment to materialise the transformation plan as originally intended, stating that the Tropican Army must centre its efforts on becoming a force capable of operating in any climate/environment. "The army must be prepared to operate in numerous environments, be it jungle, cold-weather or desert. We can't claim to want to have an effective army if it can't operate effectively under extreme conditions." Maj. Gen Aperahama said. Defence planners have expressed concern at the lack of urban warfare training for the Tropican Army. Although much of the country is subtropical with temperate and cold regions in the south and south-east, with a population of around 44 million, there are numerous population centres including Nikutabu, Tropica City, New Kosmos and the hundreds of towns/villages scattered throughout the numerous islands. "Whilst it is important that the Tropican army be able to operate in climatic environments native to Tropica and the Temanian regions, it is even more important that the army be able to effectively defend our cities. What would therefore be its purpose if it could not fulfil its primary task of defending Tropica if it can't operate effectively in urban areas, which are a hallmark of our nation's geography?" complained Matthew Phillips, a Senior Policy Advisor at the Institute for Wartime Studies. "Although the Defence Force Training Center has placed significant attention on crafting new facilities for jungle and cold-weather warfare exercises, its facilities for urban warfare are virtually non-existent. The DFTC's vision of urban warfare is soldiers clearing makeshift houses." Seeking to rectify gaping holes in the defence force's training scheme, recently appointed Chief of the Defence Staff Lt.Gen. Nathan Coleman appointed Air commodore Kahekili Maleah (RTAF) as the TDF's training czar to command the Defence Force Training Center. Air commodore Maleah underwent numerous training courses in the Dorvik, Hutori and Lourene in leadership, doctrine development, all-weather tactics and strategy. Lt.Gen. Coleman has stated that underneath the DFTC an urban warfare school will be created and would attempt to simulate a near-dense urban environment.

[imperialpearl]

In the pursuit of economic growth and a more equal/equitable society, social welfare remains at the forefront of the debate, with many public policy and political analysts arguing that without a conscious attempt to improve the nation's social welfare system, much of the growth the nation is set to experience in the future will be inequitable/unequal, as many may not be able to experience the benefits of investments made today. Setting aside the complications of the nation's existing social welfare system (i.e. unemployment benefits and superannuation), economic security remains one of the major issues plaguing the nation's economic policymakers. The pace of the nation's reformed economic direction creates a situation wherein elements of the old economy are being supplanted for more modern sectors. Textiles are being replaced by semiconductors, agriculture is becoming increasingly autonomous and light manufacturing is being replaced by more energy-intensive heavy industry processes. Without job retraining programmes, this creates a situation whereby those employed in the industries/sectors of the old economy are losing their jobs to the younger generations and immigrants as the old economy transitions to the new. This transition creates the impetus for structural unemployment as those of the old economy lose jobs, are sent into early retirement or are sent to the unemployment centres. With no primary income stream, many are forced to turn to the informal economy and other shady economic circles to obtain otherwise poor wages to maintain their standards of living. Decreased standards of living threaten the well-being/livelihoods of many within the old economy and the idea of leaving these individuals behind should not be contemplated by any political administration. In its recent report on structural unemployment and inequality in the nation's economic transition, the Central Bank of Rutania notes that systemic inequality caused by structural unemployment and the development of a weak social welfare system dampens any hope for record-breaking economic growth. It posits "A nation's capacity to rise above the challenges of the day is wholly dependent on the treatment of its citizenry. Through the development of a sound labour force could a nation weather the economic storms of the future. Social welfare remains one of the most important pillars in building a sound labour force. The vulnerabilities arising out of being an economy in transition are becoming increasingly evident, and so is the need for structural reforms to social welfare to ensure the most vulnerable within our society are protected."

As one of the government's foremost proponents for social welfare reform, Federal Treasurer Dr Arya Dasgupta and Minister of Labour and Social Development Vikram Sharma believe that there is not a single remedy to social welfare reform, but that it must entail many laws and structures working in unison. One of the proposals of Dr Dasgupta was the creation of a Citizen's Welfare Fund. He spoke to the complications arising out of the nation's demographic issues, explaining that as the labour force becomes smaller, there will be increased pressure on the already small labour force to make increased superannuation benefits. He proposed the creation of two types of citizen wealth funds. One aimed at maintaining funds for future superannuation payments and another aimed at addressing the shortcomings of the nation's social welfare system. Expanding on his previous point, he explained that the government can create the "Tropican Citizen's Fund (TCF)" whereby capital and assets would be placed into the fund and it would be managed by a state-owned company and each citizen over a certain age would receive either a monthly or yearly dividend from their share/ownership of the fund. "This "Tropican Citizen's Fund" would be managed by the Tropican Citizen's Fund Corporation (TCFC), with the Departments of Public Administration and Digital Transformation and Labour and Social Development as joint corporate sole." When pressed on how the government intends on paying for such a fund, Dr Dasgupta explained that initial deposits into the fund will come from royalties on fisheries, forestry, a windfall tax on downstream petrochemical profits and proceeds from privatisation. Speaking to the dividend, he explained that the size of the fund would determine the size of the dividend. "Although each citizen over 18 will be granted a share of the nation's wealth, the dividend they receive as a result of that share would be wholly dependent on the performance of the fund. Persons will have to option of a monthly dividend or a yearly dividend, with the monthly divided being smaller than the year dividend; the monthly dividend will not exceed around 1,000 dollars." Speaking to the superannuation fund, Minister Sharma stated that similar to the citizen's fund, when persons become retired they can access dividends from a pensions fund. He explained that such a fund would be primarily financed via existing pension payments alongside assets and investments on the international markets. Once the fund grows to a certain point, eligible persons will begin to receive monthly payments. This "Tropican Superannuation Fund (TSF)" would be a subsidiary of the Tropican Insurance Board (TIB) which is responsible for national insurance payments.

[imperialpearl]

In the outer islands, the question of how it leverages its dreams for infrastructure development towards enhancing economic development has taken centre stage. With the federal government having announced its intention to undergo a major infrastructure renewal project via TIIP (Tropican Infrastructure Investment Programme), the territories of the outer islands (the Eastern Islands, the Leeside Islands, the Windside Islands and Faiwald and Roxbirna) see the programme as a unique opportunity to make major leaps in their collective economic development journeys with the goal of greater connectedness among their respective economies. At the opening of the third summit of the Outer Islands Forum, Chief Minister of the Windside Islands Ahulani Alohilani lamented that compared to the major islands (Coromaru and Tapoa), infrastructure on the outer islands lagged behind in key areas including road and port infrastructure, utilities (including electricity, water and internet) and drainage. As a direct consequence of this infrastructure gap, the price of utilities and other basic amenities are often higher than in Coromaru and Tapoa. For example, although energy consumption in the Leeside Islands is considerably lower compared to Coromaru and Tapoa, Leeside Islanders are often forced to pay bills three (3) times higher than the national average. Chief Minister Alohilani chalks this down to a hidden premium imposed on Tropicans by the companies which serve the outer islands. The infrastructure gap becomes more evident when looking at the road infrastructure on the islands. Although leaps have been made to ensure greater connectivity among villages and towns on the numerous islands via better roads, only 40% of roads in the outer islands are paved. Road infrastructure has long been a major sticking point for the numerous political administrations which have passed through the territories of the outer islands and has been a major election issue in the recent elections across the island territories. Between complaints of mismanagement of public funds to a lack of funding from the federal government, the politicking of crucial infrastructure programs has become a staple of the electoral cycle in the outer islands. As part of their plan to address administrative challenges hampering infrastructure development among the territories, the General Council of the OIF (the main body of the Outer Islands Forum which primarily consists of the Chief Ministers of the OIF territories) agreed to adhere to CPG (Common Procurement Guidelines) developed by the Outer Islands Forum's Programme for Governance (OIF-PG). "We [the islands territories] made a conscientious decision that in order to make meaningful progress on infrastructure development and hence make major leaps in economic development among our economies, there must be adherence to a new set of rules which govern how we go about organising such projects, particularly on procurement which is the root of much of our infrastructure woes." Chief Minister Alohilani confirmed.

Through TIIP, the federal government has committed itself to providing the outer islands with the very funding they had been clamouring for decades. During the general council meeting, Minister for Economic Development, Industry and Trade Kenika Keliikoa stated that the $15-25 billion TRD in funds earmarked for infrastructure development in the outer islands represented a major recommitment on the part of the federal government to development on the island territories. She stated that the funds would be held in a new agency recently approved by the federal cabinet, the 'Tropican Infrastructure Bank'. Drawdowns combined with direction from the Tropican Spatial Planning Authority could set the outer islands on the right path as it relates to infrastructure. According to President of the Eastern Islands Development Bank, Georgia Matthews, through the work of private sector consultants and academics, the outer islands through the EIDB had developed detailed plans for infrastructure on the respective island territories. Having laid much of the groundwork for their multi-destination tourism plan as agreed upon during the 2nd summit of the OIF, Matthews stated that much of these plans can be materialised. She pointed to the construction of functioning ports on the islands. She explained that the Eastern Islands is earmarked to see a major upgrade to the Port of Tinkeri, the territory's main port, with upgrades set for the docks and wharves throughout the territory. Matthews notes that on the other territories, similar projects will be greenlit once the respective territorial governments request drawdowns from the TIB. At a seminar on road infrastructure and its impact on the economies of the outer islands, Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Kaimalie Makaiau stated that the technical assistance to be rendered to the governments of Coromaru and Tapoa will be rendered to the governments of the outer islands. "In building better roads in Tapoa and Coromaru, we have partnered with the University of Tropica to conduct research into cheaper and more resilient components for making asphalt to ensure that the quality of the roads we hope to finance and build would remain high throughout their lifetimes. What we build for Tapoa and Coromaru, we will certainly build for the Eastern Islands, the Leeside Islands, the Windside Islands and Faiwald and Roxbirna." Minister Makaiau explained. Apart from roads, ports and utilities, the TIB drawdowns are also open for airport construction. According to Minister Makaiau, through the Tropican Airports Authority (TAA), the federal government intends to transport the nation's airports, particularly those in the outer islands to accommodate for greater traffic, with the Eastern Islands' W.K Hookano International Airport set to be the first airport to be upgraded under the TAA's programme.