Mining our business

Posted inEconomy, Government15 Comments
Most of the work at the Punatsangchu hydropower project, estimated to cost more than Nu 36 billion, is being contracted out to large Indian companies. And rightfully so. After all, we still don’t have enough in-house capacity to dig tunnels, erect dams and build powerhouses. But mining? For stone? Now that, I’m sure we can all agree, is something we are good at! Then why is the government allowing Indian companies – L&T, HCC and Gammon – to operate stone quarries for the Punatsangchu hydropower project? And how will L&T, HCC and Gammon operate their mines when the Mines…

Dangerous talk

Posted inGovernment, Political parties
I smell danger. The prime minister is going all out campaigning for state funding for political parties. In January, the prime minister informed the business community in Phuensholing that both the political parties were facing severe financial difficulties. Referring to the Parliament’s decision not to provide state financing for political parties, the prime minister complained that: We asked for financial support but, there was so much criticism about it being unconstitutional, we withdrew the plea … whatever the government had done so far is in accordance with the Constitution. Shortly afterwards, in Gelephu, the prime minister told the community…

Praying for help

Posted inReligion
Yesterday, at the opening ceremony of ECB’s annual conference, I sat near Lam Sangay Dawa and his student-monks from Semtokha shedra. They were there, beside the choesham, microphone in hand, ready to preside over the sacred marchang ceremony. The marchang, which was composed and popularized by Zhabdung Ngawang Namgyal, is an offering of wine – an oblation – to the lama, yidam, pawo, khandrum, choechong sungma, neydag and zhidag to secure their blessings for the removal of obstacles, and for the successful outcome of the endeavour being inaugurated. Naturally, the sacred ceremony is important. And Lam Sangay and his…

Transparent and accountable?

Posted inGovernment
The cabinet’s website is actually quite good. It is clean, simple, quick and easy to navigate. And it provides useful information. That is, until they stopped posting the government’s executive orders, cabinet decisions and press releases. So in my previous post, I didn’t mean to complain that the cabinet’s website was bad in any way. What I did mean, however, was to point out that the cabinet had stopped sharing important information on their website. Unless they compromise national security, executive orders and cabinet decisions must be made public. Otherwise how should we know what our government is doing?…

Cabinet’s idle website

Posted inGovernment15 Comments
I trust that part of the Nu 2.05 billion total solutions project will go towards updating the cabinet’s website – for some odd reason, the cabinet has stopped publishing their executive orders, cabinet decisions, and press releases on their website.

Performance in India

Posted inGovernment
Dr Prajapati Trivedi recently talked about the performance appraisal system he’s developing in India. Our civil servants, some of who have already signed performance compacts, may find his insights useful. On the importance of implementation: The big difference between the developed country and developing ones is not so much about strategising and planning but implementation. On how performance contracts are prepared: The document is prepared with internal consultations within specific ministries, aligned with government’s annual and five-yearly plans and is vetted and approved by a high power committee on government performance led by the cabinet secretary. On who judges…

Spring art exhibition

Posted inCulture
“Everything in life is watched and seen beyond the strength of the naked eye,” says Passang Tobgay describing his painting “Under the Watchful Eye”. Passang, who graduated in traditional painting from the Institute for Zorig Chusum, is a member of VAST. He taught traditional painting before exploring modern art to communicate his ideas and emotions. “Under the Watchful Eye” is currently on display at VAST’s Spring Art Exhibition. The exhibition, which is at the Tarayana Centre, runs through April.

Most popular posts

Posted inGeneral
You might have noticed a new panel in the sidebar. The new feature automatically identifies the most popular posts in this blog. The idea is to draw attention to topics that have received the greatest number of your comments. And I’m already thinking of adding another panel, one that will highlight some of the important issues that we discuss in this blog.

Where’s Justice?

Posted inGovernment

Exactly one month ago, I called on the Royal Civil Service Commission requesting them to reverse their decision to terminate (without retirement benefits) seven education officials from their jobs. The basis of my request was that the RCSC had violated Section 10.2 of the Bhutan Civil Service Rules and Regulations 2006.
Section 10.2 declares that: “Only one penalty shall be imposed in each case.”
I haven’t heard from the RCSC yet. But in the meantime, I’ve learnt about another case, this time involving three officials of the Paro NIE.
They too had been caught “adjusting” their accounts, supposedly to meet workshop expenses. They were penalized. Then they were taken to court. And after the court’s verdict, the RCSC reinstated all three of them in their earlier jobs.
One of them decided to resign. He applied for, and received his retirement benefits.
The other two decided to continue in their jobs. But the RCSC reversed their earlier decision and terminated them both. They didn’t receive their retirement benefits.
Where is Section 10.2? Where is justice?
This is their story:

Public policies

Posted inEconomy, Government
Several multinational companies, like Tata, Airtel, Lafarge, and Infinity, have shown interest in investing in Bhutan. And others, like Mountain Hazelnut Venture, have already started doing business in our country. So it’s time the government finalized its foreign direct investment policy. But before finalizing the policy, the government should hold thorough consultations with all stakeholders, particularly the private sector, to ensure that they understand the policy and, more importantly, that they commit to supporting it. And once the FDI policy is finalized, it should be made public. Incidentally, the cabinet approved the Economic Development Policy last year. But it…

CDG – MPs = LG

Posted inGovernment
The Constituency Development Grant: The National Council has declared it as unconstitutional; The Election Commission of Bhutan has complained that it will compromise the conduct of free and fair elections; citizens have called it a political tool; and the opposition party has denounced it. And still, the controversial CDG prevails. But faced with increasing questions on the legitimacy, intent and usage of the CDG, the prime minister has agreed to consider revoking the grant after two years of his government. The plan, apparently, is to scrap the CDG: Provided that majority of the Gewog Tshogde (GT) submits that it…

Mineral development policy

Posted inEconomy
According to the DGM director general the draft mineral development policy “… is for the development of the mining sector in a equitable, safe, more value added and environment friendly way.” Good. The draft mineral development policy proposes to allow only “one mining lease to an individual or to a company”. Very good. I’m all for a healthy reduction in the number of mines in our country. But wait a second, what about the Punatshangchu Hydropower Project Authority? Didn’t they recently apply for “three large quarries”? And what about Penden Cement? Surely they operate more than one mine. And…

Big picture – 9

Posted inGeneral
Jigme Tshewang won the last Big Picture. But Jigme didn't claim the prize. So it goes to the first one who correctly figures out this picture.

Headline news!

Posted inMedia
The latest comment on my post about the prime minister’s office influencing Bhutan Today was by “mediawatch” who challenged: Mr OL You got to do some explaining here! We are not convinced. TR has given his explanation and made his stand clear. Now Mr OL you need to put a brave face and give your reasons. otherwise we are going to take this as one of your several political gimmicks! And the comment before that was by “Guest” who pleaded: I am still pleading with the OL to explain to me how he sees that issue which escapes me…