<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><br><blockquote type="cite"><div><blockquote type="cite">Some people have commented on the participation of the co-chairs in the<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">discussions about the proposals. The co-chairs can ask questions in an<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">individual capacity. As you may have noticed, these persons come to the<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">microphone line on the floor and wait for their turn like any other<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">individual when they comment about a proposal.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><br>I support this; in fact, I would like to see AfriNIC staff do the same;<br>although my (admittedly brief) reading of the mailing list archives did not<br>supply an explanation, I surmise that their conspicuous absence at the<br>microphone is as a result of some dictatorial edict.<font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#144FAE"><br></font></font></div></blockquote><br></div><div>Dear all,</div><div><br></div><div>Allow me first to introduce myself, I am Hisham Ibrahim Acting Communications Area manager in AfriNIC.</div><div><br></div><div>This is the first and hopefully the last time I post a comment on the rpd list as AfriNIC staff, and though we here at AfriNIC follow the list and keep an eye on the development of the conversations, we can not take part of the debates (either for or against) a proposed policy and the reason behind that is simple, "complete transparency".</div><div><br></div><div>The role of AfriNIC is to implement the policies approved by the community and apply them into the procedures used for resource management and to conduct analysis of proposals and advise the community on any issues regarding implementation based on the communities request.<br><br>As the "secretariat" for the members & the community at large, it's preferred that staff do not engage in policy discussion due to a potential conflict of interest. It is possible that staff can oppose a proposal which, for example, could cause more workload if implemented, or cause AfriNIC as an entity some unforeseen predicament, while the proposal is not necessarily bad for the community.</div><div><br></div><div>This is why it is important that we stay as impartial to the conversations and debates at all times. There shall be no follow up from our behalf on this email and AfriNIC staff will only submit an impartial impact analysis to the list upon request from the community.</div><div><br></div><div>Thank you for your kind understanding</div><div>Hisham A. Ibrahim</div><div>Acting Communications Area Manager</div></body></html>