[rpd] Board Composition

[Dr Paulos Nyirenda]

Owen's concerns on organizational structure are valid and there is need to look out for
and to avoid possibility capture of AFRINIC by a company, or as I  additionally stated
about a year ago, by a geographic region or country.

I got crucified for making those remarks during the last and similar AFRINIC elections a
year ago. It is not enough to say that voters will be able to see it and vote wisely, it
does not happen especially if those twisting the facts, as here, have enough resources
to distort the picture.

The concern here is genuine in addition to other conflicts of interest involving ICANN
etc that others have mentioned.

NOMCOM needs to do the right thing this time around, even if NOMCOM is under sympathetic
leadership, we need to grow up.

Regards,

Paulos
======================
Dr Paulos B Nyirenda
NIC.MW & .mw ccTLD
http://www.registrar.mw



On 3 May 2016 at 8:36, Owen DeLong wrote:

> It has come to my attention that Mike Silber is running for the
> independent seat that is opening on the AfriNIC board in the next
> election. 
> 

> While I consider Mike to be an excellent candidate and believe he
> would be a true asset to the AfriNIC board, I have a concern that I
> must express. This concern has nothing to do with Mike himself, but
> rather is a concern about organizational structure. 
> 

> There are only 8 elected members of the AfriNIC board. If Mike Silber
> is elected, then 25% of the elected board seats would be held by
> employees of Liquid Telecom. Personally, I do not feel that the board
> can properly represent the diversity of the AfriNIC community if we
> allow multiple board seats to be held by representatives from the same
> organization. While I do not believe that Liquid has any sort of goal
> of organizational capture or any nefarious intent whatsoever, the
> reality is that if this is allowed, then it does create the
> possibility for some other organization to achieve a form of
> organizational capture. 
> 

> The board has tremendous authority and responsibility within the
> AfriNIC organization. As such, I think it is important to consider
> these generic structural issues seriously, no matter how much we may
> like and admire the candidates in question. 
> 

> Again, this is not personal. If it were, I’d be endorsing Mike rather
> than calling his candidacy into question. However, from a structural
> perspective, I think it is important that the community at least
> consider the issue. 
> 

> Owen 
> 
> 
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