Corporate salaries – part 1

Posted inEconomy, Government
Two readers – Samdrups and Sharu – asked me for my views on our government’s recent announcement on corporate salaries. My views are simple. And they are straightforward. Government should not be involved in doing business. Yes, government should regulate businesses. But no, government should not interfere in how businesses are run. So our government’s decision to define the salaries of corporations – business entities, all of them – is wrong. First, consider the Druk Holdings and Investment Limited. DHI was established by His Majesty the King as an autonomous organization in order to promote “…the competitiveness of Bhutan’s…

Rehabilitating a cub

Posted inNature2 Comments
Earlier today we visited a bear cub. This little cub turned up in Jengkana school in Haa, a day after the recent flash floods. She was probably separated from her mother during the floods. Forestry officials quickly took the cub to the Wildlife Management and Rehabilitation Centre in Taba. She’ll stay there – with another resident, an orphaned leopard kitten – there till she’s old enough to be reintroduced in the pine forests of Haa.

Moenlam chenpo

Posted inReligion
Yesterday I attended the moenlam chenpo in Haa and, with my extended family, offered lunch to the devotees. The prayers for universal peace and harmony have been conducted in Haa annually since its inception in 2001. And His Holiness the Je Khenpo has personally led the prayers there every year. People from every village in Haa, some having walked for several days, are participating in the moenlam chenpo, which is being conducted in the compounds of the Lhakhang Karpo. Devotees from neighboring Paro and Thimphu are also attending the sacred event. The photograph shows the faithful circumambulating the main…

Reporter’s right

Posted inGovernment, Media
Article 7.3 of our Constitution guarantees that “A Bhutanese shall have the right to information”. But read what Kuensel has to say about one reporter’s experience with Lyonpo Wangdi Norbu. If what Kuensel reports is even partially true, we should be seriously concerned .After all, this is not the first time that our government has yelled at and intimidated journalists. The DPT promised a “friendly and accessible government” and a “strong and independent media”. We cannot settle for less.

Broadcasting bad news

Posted inMedia34 Comments
During a recent meeting to discuss the agenda for the next session of the National Assembly, MPs decided that live TV broadcast would be allowed only for the opening and closing ceremonies, the PM’s address, and for discussions related to public accounts and anticorruption. Only two MPs, both from the opposition, argued that the proceedings of the National Assembly should continue to be broadcast live on TV. I cannot understand why anyone would want to discontinue the live broadcast of the National Assembly proceedings. Consider that: the Constitution requires that “The proceedings of Parliament shall be conducted in public”;…

Druk Air’s new route

Posted inEconomy
A few times in past, incoming Druk Air flights have been diverted to Bagdogra due to unfavourable weather conditions over Paro. Such diversions are generally unwelcome by passengers and crew alike as they are required to spend hours in Bagdora waiting for the weather to improve in Paro. Yesterday’s flight from Paro to Bagdogra was different. It was scheduled. And it was welcome. Bhutanese living in Phuentsoling and Samtse, and those who have work in Siliguri or Darjeeling will find Druk Air’s latest service to Bagdogra very useful. And as the only air service allowed to use Bagdogra as…

PCS postion

Posted inGovernment
The results on our last poll, on banning the sale of tobacco products, is in: of 210 voters, 199 (that’s 57%) think that prohibiting the sale of tobacco products is not a good idea; 83 of you (40%) would support the ban; and 8 voters don’t care either way. While those against the ban win by 17 percentage points, the last poll was the closest so far. Thanks everyone for participating. Our new poll is on the civil service. The position classification system continues to spark debate among civil servants, so I’m asking if the system has support. Please…

Everlasting smile

Posted inInternational
Yesterday, at the Clock Tower Square, HRH Ashi Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck launched Grand Mutual Smiles, a project to exchange smiles – digitally, using smile detection cameras, computers and cyberspace – between the peoples of Thimphu and Linz, Austria. Thimphu’s Smiles project will be on for a week. And it was selected to introduce what’s being called “80+1: A Journey around the World”, an eighty day event featuring projects in at least 20 locations around the world. The projects showcase themes that are critically important for the future ranging from food and markets to exploration to co-existence. Thimphu’s theme is…

Happy birthday YDF

Posted inCivil society
About ten years ago, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo commanded the establishment of a sustainable funding mechanism for the development of our youth. So Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck, started the Youth Development Fund to realize the vision of our beloved monarch. During the last decade, Her Majesty has worked tirelessly to build this important institution, which has already benefited countless thousands of our youth. So on 16 June, when friends and supporters of YDF gathered at the Taj to celebrate its 10th anniversary, I respectfully offer tashi delek to Her Majesty and the…

Moenlam chenpo in Haa

Posted inReligion
I've posted another set of photographs. They were taken earlier today while accompanying His Holiness the Je Khenpo's entourage to Haa. His Holiness is in Haa to lead the moenlam chenpo prayers for world peace and harmony. The moenlam choenpo was started in 2001 by three cousins - Dasho Nob Tshering (a civil servant), Desang Dorji (a businessman) and Nob Gyeltshen (a retired RBG officer). That year, the three of them sponsored the prayers and contributed Nu 100,000 each towards the moenlam chenpo fund. Other devotees quickly joined them and, before the end of the week-long prayers, the fund…

More dogwood

Posted inMiscellaneous
Blooming dogwood prompted Tongyal to visit the Clock Tower Square and spend a good half an hour among the dogwood trees. Since Tongyal enjoyed the experience so much, I'm posting another picture - this one shows a blooming dogwood at the Motithang Hotel. Thimphu has a few other good dogwood spots. Some of them are old. All, at this time of the year, are quite beautiful.  I invite our readers, and especailly Tongyal, to look for them and send me the photographs.

Civil service bill

Posted inLegislature
You can download the Civil Service Bill of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2009 from the National Assembly's website. This is important bill will be discussed during the forthcoming session of the Parliament. So please read it. And share your thoughts and comments here.

Archery stars

Posted inCulture
This week's featured photo is again about archery. The finals of the Silver Jubilee Coronation Tournament, which was, till 1998, called the Coronation Cup, concluded yesterday. As predicated, Team Phojas won the coveted trophy. But Team MPAB put up a good fight. They won the second game. And matched the Team Phojas karey for karey in the third game, which was far more interesting and competitive that what the final score showed (25-8). In a dramatic finish, Lop Kinley Tshering, MPAB's anchor, hit the target with his second arrow and cut Team Phojas' choenda, which had been planted by…

PDP meeting

Posted inPolitical parties
Today we organized a special meeting for our financial supporters. During the meeting, we made presentations on the status of our party, and talked about the way forward. Our supporters resolved that the PDP must continued to be strengthened in order to provide an effective opposition to the government, and to ensure that our people have access to a credible alternate party. Several supporters offered voluntary financial contributions. Others volunteered to join the fund-raising committee.

Archery finals

Posted inCulture
The 2009 National  Coronation Cup archery finals are being played in the Changlimithang grounds. Team Phoja, who are widely regarded as the strongest team this season, needed just four rounds to win the first game. The score: 25 - 0. And the time: only 10:30 AM. Most spectators were resigned to a quick second game, and hence the match, in favor of the much more superior team Phoja. Some even ventured that the match would be over before lunch. But team MPAB didn't give up. They began the second match by scoring points before team Phoja, preventing, much to…