Antillian Parliament Thread

[Insula Dei]

xAchilles De Bruijne

[Insula Dei]

Gentlemen,

I would like to thank the honourable member for raising this issue, that most certainly lives in our mutual consituency. While I personally am highly in favour of the eventual realization of this link and of the symbolic closure it would offer to the process of Pitfarrian intergration into the Antillian nation, I would urge this house to take the potential social consequences of their acts into account.

The USF and the owners of the ferry-companies are right when they assert that the result of the creation of this bridge would be dramatic for the industry. I would then suggest that, as the bridge won't be built for years anyway, we start both a commision to look into concrete plans for a bridge/tunnel, and a commission to prepare compensations for the workers hit hardest by this measures. I'm thinking specifically of re-schooling and subsidizing the transformation of our ferry fleet into a fishing fleet, where possible.

I thank you for your attention.

[Insula Dei]

Mr. De Bruijn

Gentlemen,

If Mr. MacPherson truly believes that a steady link with the mainland will not influence the integration of the Pitfarrian economy into our general economy, he must be very misguided indeed. In addition to that, I feel secure that the commission to be formed will repeat what I also said when simmilar proposals were on the table back in 2001, id est that the financial cost of this project will be compensated by the general growth of the aforementioned Pitfarrian economy.

Thank you.

[Insula Dei]

Achilles De Bruijn

Mr. Harlow,

Could I just remind you of the fact that we are, indeed, debating this issue on the instigation of the PNF? The Government does not have an official line on the issue as of yet.

Thanks.

[Insula Dei]

OOC - I believe we actually sort of did.

[Insula Dei]

Mr. De Bruijn

Mr. Speaker,

It appears that there is a broad consensus among the major parties in this House that Mr. MacPherson's proposal should be put before the Public Works commitee, where it will be judged on its merits and, quite probably, be passed back to us in its final form. As it happens, this would be my advice on the matter as well.

[Insula Dei]

Mr. De Bruijn

Our financial situation clearly is fundamentally sound and, barring unforeseen events, we should get trough the current crisis with very little to no problems, gentlemen, as has been said repeatedly in this house over the last 3 to 4 years. We all know that what has to be done immediately when we have the opportunity to do so, is to reduce our national debt, and to reduce the proportion of our national debt that's in the hands of foreign investors and banks. To that end we don't need to do anything beyond maintaining the intelligent and rational financial policies of the current government.

[Insula Dei]

I suppose the Prime Minister will present a cabinet in due time.

[Insula Dei]

Indeed. It won't be long before a government is formed.

At least we're getting there.

I do hope we actually are.

[Insula Dei]

Your majesty is absolutely right about the deafening silence in this house. Where is the Prime Minister? Where is the opposition? I should hope we are to keep in mind that the voters of this great nation do not pay us to sit in silence!!