<div dir="auto"><div>Dear PDWG,</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Please see my comments below...<br><br><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">Le mer. 9 déc. 2020 17:23, Ashok <<a href="mailto:ashok@afrinic.net" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">ashok@afrinic.net</a>> a écrit :<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div>
<p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>Dear
Community members,</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>I refer to
AFRINIC’s Chief Executive Officer’s emails dated 30 November
2020 and 03
December 2020 sent to the PDWG’s Co-Chairs to which I was in
copy thereof.
Copies of the said emails are also herewith attached.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span></span></b></p></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Hi Legal Counsel,</div><div dir="auto">Thanks for your, welcomed, email.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>As AFRINIC’s
Legal Counsel I wish first to draw your attention to the
PDWG’s Co-Chairs’
declaration of consensus dated 07 October 2020 in respect of
the policy
entitled <i>'Board's Prerogatives'</i> –
AFPUB-2020-GEN-004-DRAFT02- as well as
the policy entitled <i>'Resource Transfer Policy'</i>
–AFPUB-2019-V4-003-DRAFT04-
whereby in the latter case, consensus was initially declared
on 07 October 2020
and which was subsequently reversed by the Co-Chairs on 17
October 2020.</span></b></p></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">...so! facts.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>I hold no
mandate to interfere in the work of the PDWG and/or its
independence I shall
refrain from doing so.</span></b></p></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">...you *should* never try :-)</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>Nevertheless,
I deem it my duty to tender my advice, for whatever it is
worth and without in
any way pressurising, the PDWG, an AFRINIC-related body to
be bound by same.</span></b></p></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">...this is exactly what this PDWG [1] was missing, </div><div dir="auto">for so long time. See PDP [2] at CPM section 3.4.0 [3]</div><div dir="auto">...we were asking for legal advices without any response. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Even if i don't know who requested for this legal </div><div dir="auto">advice, i think it could be really useful to have </div><div dir="auto">such a useful help; which might boost this PDWG [1].</div><div dir="auto" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><br>~°~</div><div dir="auto" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><h3 style="font-weight:500;line-height:1.1;color:rgb(117,117,117);margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:24px">3.4 <a style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(210,114,70)"></a>Policy Development Process</h3><p style="margin:0px 0px 5px;font-size:13px;color:rgb(117,117,117)">Anyone can submit a proposal. Policy proposals are submitted to the Resource Policy Discussion mailing list (<a href="mailto:rpd@afrinic.net" style="color:rgb(210,114,70);text-decoration-line:none;background-color:transparent">rpd@afrinic.net</a>) by the author. AFRINIC will provide administrative support and assist the author(s) in drafting the proposal *if requested*. AFRINIC shall also provide relevant facts and statistics *if requested* during the discussion.</p></div><div dir="auto"><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:"helvetica neue",helvetica,arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px">~°~</span> <br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>My advice
addresses the aforementioned two policy proposals <span> </span>and my purpose is to
ensure that the work of
the PDWG thereon <span> </span>as
well as its outcome
are both legally in order. I have given anxious
consideration to this matter
and also bear in mind that where the acts and doings of the
PDWG are not
legally in order, same may have a detrimental effect on the
image and
reputation of AFRINIC both as a corporate body and
responsible RIR.</span></b></p></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">...i agree! yes, all the PDWG [1] work/actions matter.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>In regard to
the policy entitled <i>'Board's Prerogatives'</i>, I have
taken note of
AFRINIC's Staff Assessment report dated 04 November 2020 - </span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Garamond","serif""><a href="https://afrinic.net/policy/proposals/2020-gen-004-d2#impact" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"><span>https://afrinic.net/policy/proposals/2020-gen-004-d2#impact</span></a></span></b><b><span>. </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span></span></b></p></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Dear Legal Counsel (LC), please, have you </div><div dir="auto">contributed to that Impact Analysis Report (IAR)?</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">...if yes (as intended)! then do you think that your </div><div dir="auto">intervention, out there, was not sufficient? </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">...maybe you have some advices which can help </div><div dir="auto">volunteers to improve the PDP [2]; in a way that </div><div dir="auto">the PDWG [1] could gain more support from Staff?</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Please let us know. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>You may have
noticed that the said report has raised both serious
governance and operational
issues as well as areas of uncertainty observed in the
proposed policy which
has, up to now, remained unaddressed.</span></b></p></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Please can you be more explicit?</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>Consequently,
it is my humble view that the PDWG may in its wisdom
consider to review its own
stand in respect of these policy proposals so as to avoid
any form of
encroachment, potential or otherwise, <span> </span>onto the Board of
Director’s prerogatives, the
foundations of which are grounded in articles 3.4 and 15 of
the AFRINIC’s
bylaws.</span></b></p></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">...when you say: "...it is my humble view..." </div><div dir="auto">Do you mean you as AFRINIC's Legal Counsel </div><div dir="auto">or simply as Mr Ashok? i'm not clear with it here :-/ </div><div dir="auto">Please clarify, brother. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">...then what should we do to follow your advice?</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>However,
should the PDWG maintain its stand in respect of the above,
then the
appropriate motion has to be made during an AGMM, pursuant
to Article 7.7 of
the bylaws to amend articles 3.4, 15(1), 15(2) and 15(3) of
the bylaws thus
allowing the powers of the Board of Directors to be
subjected to the directives
and guidance of the PDWG.</span></b></p></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">...this is where it is really difficult to follow </div><div dir="auto">your argumentation.</div><div dir="auto">Look, you seem to ignore that the PDP is organized </div><div dir="auto">in such a way that all DPP *must* be ratified </div><div dir="auto">by the BoD (Board of Directors). Do you think </div><div dir="auto">that BoD's members are not responsible enough </div><div dir="auto">to take actions as the PDP [2] allows them to?</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">...i may be wrong! if it's the case, please brother, </div><div dir="auto">correct me :-)</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>As regard
the policy entitled <i>'Resource Transfer Policy'</i>, the
PDWG may be aware
that the said policy (i.e. version 4 thereof) is presently<s>
</s>the subject
of an appeal before the Appeal Committee and the matter is
yet to be
determined. </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>Consequently,
the PDWG is hereby informed and advised that it is a matter
of sound and
settled legal principle that, pending the outcome of the
Appeal Committee
proceedings, it (PDWG) refrains from entertaining any
request emanating
from the relevant co-authors of the said policy proposals
for further amending
these proposals on the legal principle of <i>pendente lite</i>.
It is also my
considered view that any attempt in the meantime by the
latter to submit a
newly purported version of their policy proposal will be
inadmissible
(non-receivable) in law. </span></b></p></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">...this advice is welcome! </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Maybe a DPP should be pushed for clarification?</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">...any tacker? </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>To close my
submission may I urge the PDWG to give due weight to my
non-binding legal
advice and consequently appreciate the real risk of AFRINIC,
</span></b></p></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto" style="font-family:sans-serif">...please Legal Counsel, note that your advices, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family:sans-serif">when requested, shall always be welcome </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family:sans-serif">here, as the PDP [2] stipulate it [3]. Then it's important </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family:sans-serif">that you follow the PDP [2] yourself. Then, please, </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family:sans-serif">don't urge the PDWG [1] again; because i don't </div><div dir="auto" style="font-family:sans-serif">think it's your role :-/</div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span> in the event that
the Appeal proceedings are ignored, having to ratify and
implement two policy
proposals, on the same subject matter, which would lead to
an unprecedented
conflictual situation.</span></b></p></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Please LC keep this advice to the AFRINIC's BoD; </div><div dir="auto">because i think they are more equiped to solve </div><div dir="auto">your legal concerns...</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>Ashok.B.Radhakissoon.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span>Legal Counsel<br>
</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b><span> </span></b></p></div></blockquote></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Again, many thanks for your email!</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">...as said, next time wait a request before intervening </div><div dir="auto">in any situation where you see that the PDWG [1]</div><div dir="auto">needs clarifications in any legal aspects. The PDP </div><div dir="auto">states that you *must* freely provide your </div><div dir="auto">legal advices to the PDWG [1] only when requested.</div><div dir="auto">Or use the IAR (Impact Analysis Report) tool to </div><div dir="auto">provide it.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Please, Legal Counsel, start to monitor this </div><div dir="auto">mailing list, to help the PDWG [1] to quickly </div><div dir="auto">understand legal questions raised here.</div><div dir="auto">__</div><div dir="auto">[1]: <<a href="https://www.afrinic.net/policy/manual#PDP-Process">https://www.afrinic.net/policy/manual#PDP-Process</a>></div><div dir="auto">[2]: <<a href="https://www.afrinic.net/policy/manual#PDWG">https://www.afrinic.net/policy/manual#PDWG</a>></div><span style="font-family:sans-serif">[3]: <<a href="https://www.afrinic.net/policy/manual#PDP-Process">https://www.afrinic.net/policy/manual#PDP-Process</a></span><span style="font-family:sans-serif">></span><br><br><div dir="auto">Blessed tuesday! </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Shalom, </div><div dir="auto">--sb.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal"><b><span><br></span></b></p></div>[...] </blockquote></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"></div></div>