PDP is DNT-empowered, chagrined DPT not intimidated – it’s game on for Generals

Irrespective of the earlier name-callings and judgmental exchanges, seven DNT candidates including its President and Vice-President joined PDP

All this talk of morality of a party (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa) that will let candidates hop to an inviting party, in contrast to that of one party, who will most definitely not let its candidates hop around and at the same time not stand to promote the whole ‘hopping phenomenon’ (Druk Phuensum…

The Real Power Picture

This is with reference to the letter from Mr. S Dorji, Changangkha titled ‘Tariff Hike to Hit Ordinary Consumers Hard’ regarding power tariffs wherein he states that, “The stand taken by the owner of BPC on this issue, the Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), has also been extremely disappointing.” Though he may be disappointed, we would like to thank him for raising this issue as there is a lot…

The enigmatic Bhutanese voter

An everyday Bhutanese is for the most part simple, and does not require codified language or tact to be demystified or clearly understood. That’s generally speaking, about a person’s daily routines, his or her likings and to a certain extent whether the person is a true Manchester fan or a Chelsea loyalist.

Enter the elections and with it the empowering vote which translates to ‘empowered individual citizens with the power…

The reality behind Bhutan’s deflated and dubious unemployment figures

Unemployment, particularly the youth unemployment, continues to stubbornly top the national “worry” chart, and has become a perennial thorn in the side of the government. Unfortunately, the government has yet to crack the youth unemployment nut in a meaningful way.

The government says that unemployment has dropped from 4% in 2009 to 2.1 % in 2012. Ostensibly, youth unemployment rate has also decreased from 12.9 % in 2009 to 7.3%…

A macho upper house, not entirely a good deal

The outcomes of the recently concluded National Council (NC) elections have been a fairly sound and comforting bases for the second round ‘successfully-conducted’ by the Election Commission (ECB).

It has in the process ensured general thoroughfare for the young Bhutanese Democracy, in terms of its growth and health. Still, and all factors…

Dangerous Expressway

For any discerning user of the Expressway these days in Thimphu one is usually greeted by the sight of school children practicing marathon along the road.

What is more dangerous is that most of the practice happens in the evenings when the lighting is not good and it is not easy to spot students running on the expressway. We can also see children crossing the Expressway without warning and to…

RCSC adding salt to injury?

Sir,

This has reference to your news article ‘RCSC says committee members stand to be terminated”, published on 13 March 2013. It is regarding the involvement of civil servants as committee members in the ongoing Gyelpozhing land allotment case.

The nation knows that people involved in the Gyelpozhingzhing case are going through difficult times, especially after the passage of the verdict by the Mongar District Court this month.  The verdict was…

Loop Hole in Bajothang Infrastructure Kills a Man

I am writing about every corner of Bajothang because I love this place and I am living the best part of my life here. The loop hole I am going to write about is not that of 3G network which is not working yet- I know it just a rough sail in new place.

It’s with heavy heart I am breaking the news that was not covered in any news…

MP’s Entitlement Urgency

In his inaugural address, the speaker  announced that the Parliamentary Entitlement Act would be introduced for amendment during this session.

Now here, we run into trouble, both by law and by principle.

Section 30 of the Parliamentary Entitlement Act states that, “A member of Parliament upon retirement on completion of his term of five years shall be entitled to such amount of gratuity as may be provided for under this Act.”  And according to…

Unbalanced Coverage

I watched with interest the news coverage of the BBS on the blocking of the Bhutannomics website. Though the topic was interesting I felt the news coverage was biased in favor of the government.

Both the tone and the content of the news coverage were aimed at declaring that Bhutannomics was not blocked by the government. The Dzongkha news section was particularly biased though the English section was better particularly…