Giving thanks

November 20, 2009Posted inLegislature, Monarchy
This week’s banner features members of parliament, in front of the Gyalyog Tshokhang, preparing to receive His Majesty the King to the inaugural ceremony of the fourth session of the Parliament. A quick translation of my statement thanking His Majesty the King follows: …………………………………………………….............…………………………………… A series of natural disasters have ravaged our country during the past 20 months. Nature’s four elements have created calamities throughout our country, in every dzongkhag, causing immeasurable problems for our country and our people. Recently, earthquakes, windstorms and fires have inflicted damage, and caused anxiety and hardship for the people living in the eastern…

Parliament’s fourth session

November 18, 2009Posted inLegislature
The winter session of the Parliament will begin on the 20th of November. It is expected to sit for three weeks. The agenda and documents for the fourth session were distributed earlier today. The National Assembly will discuss: Standards Bill of Bhutan, 2009 Royal Monetary Authority (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan, 2009 Tobacco Control Bill of Bhutan, 2009 Civil Service Bill of Bhutan, 2009 Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2009 Entitlement and Service Conditions Bill for the Holders of Constitutional Offices of Bhutan, 2009 Anticorruption Report, 2009 SAARC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters If you have comments on these documents,…

Parliament endorses LG bill

September 11, 2009Posted inLegislature, Local Government
All 67 MPs present at the extraordinary sitting of the Parliament voted “yes” to unanimously pass the Local Government Bill.  The Bill had been narrowly rejected by the Parliament during its third session about six weeks ago. The extraordinary sitting of the Parliament was commanded by His Majesty the King as a special case to reconsider the Local Government Bill, the enactment of which was necessary to hold local government elections and to properly implement the Tenth Five Year Plan. In my statement, after the Parliament cleared the Local Government Bill , I requested the government to render full…

Relief Fund

August 29, 2009Posted inGovernment, Legislature2 Comments
“Disaster relief” generated a fair deal of debate. And most of it was good. Some of our readers (Sonam, Shogan and others) felt that the donations were made specifically for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the damages caused by the May 26 floods. And that, as such, the donations should not be used for relief purposes. One reader (Guest) pointed out that the restoration of damages caused by calamities is the government’s responsibility. And that kidu, which is His Majesty’s prerogative, should not be confused with restoration. But other readers (especially Linda Wangmo) felt that the reconstruction and rehabilitation…

Disaster relief

August 25, 2009Posted inGovernment, Legislature
On 21st July, the Ambassador of India to Bhutan presented Nu 100 million to our government. The money, a gift from the government and people of India, was to carry out relief works of the damages caused by the May 26th floods. Yesterday, the Ambassador of Thailand to Bhutan presented US$ 20,000 to our government, also to carry out relief works on the May 26th floods. The gifts reflect the sympathy of these countries towards us, and underscore the friendship and goodwill that we enjoy with them. We must put their money to good use. And the best possible…

Policing the legislature

August 22, 2009Posted inLegislature
Jurmi Chhowing asked me to post his article "What exactly is The RBP's Status?" on this blog. It appears that Bhutan Observer inadvertently ran an unedited version of the story. And, more importantly, that they wrongly credidted the article to Thuji Nadik. If you wish to feature your story as a "guest", please send them to me by email. Do not post your stories as comments.

Rejected

August 10, 2009Posted inLegislature
The third session of the Parliament did not pass two bills: the Local Government Bill and the Civil Service Bill. Both the bills are important. So, many people are concerned. And, more than a few people have asked me how the discussions will be continued. One concerned reader, a Samdrups, was particularly worried about what I wrote in “Parliament rejects civil service bill” and commented: “You are talking as if you are in favour of referendum or making the bill dead!!! I am sure it will be very costly to have referendum and costlier to make these bills dead.…

Going forward

August 9, 2009Posted inLegislature
The third session of the Parliament rejected the proposal to lift the ban on the slaughter of animals and sale of meat during the first and fourth months of our calendar. Some, like Freewill who wrote “…I think it is a stupid move”, are confounded by the Parliament’s decision. But others are happy. Ifyouwilliwill (no prize for guessing the intent behind this nickname) wrote, “I feeeeeeeeeel great. Good decision by the MP’s.” Both comments were posted in “Parliament rejects LG Bill”. The proposal to amend the Livestock Act, which would have lifted the meat ban, was debated in both…

Thanking our king

August 2, 2009Posted inLegislature
What follows is my statement of thanks for the Royal Address at the concluding ceremony of the third session of the Parliament on 30th July. On behalf of all members of the Parliament and, in particular, the opposition party, I offer thanks to Your Majesty for gracing the concluding ceremony of the third session of the First Parliament of Bhutan. Your Majesty’s personal presence in this august hall, and Royal Command to us, clearly indicates the exceptional level of support and guidance that Your Majesty continues to provide the Parliament in particular, and to democracy in general. The Parliament’s…

Answering questions

August 1, 2009Posted inLegislature
In “Questioning questions” Di asked, “Did Kuensel report correctly that you were in the end supporting the PM in that the ministers need not attend QT?” If that was what Kuensel reported, they are wrong. I did not say that ministers need not attend the National Council’s Question Time. What I did say, however, was that I appreciated our government’s efforts to accommodate the NC, as we, in the National Assembly, were told by the PM. What I also said was that, as far as the opposition sees it, the issue is between the Cabinet and the National Council.…

Parliament rejects Civil Service Bill

July 29, 2009Posted inLegislature7 Comments
The joint sitting the Parliament adjourned an hour ago, at about 10:30 PM, having concluded the debate on the Civil Service Bill. The bill, an “urgent” bill, was also rejected by the joint sitting. Only five MPs supported the bill, 7 abstained, and 55 voted against it. Discussions on the bill started collapsing when major differences emerged over whether the judiciary should be completely independent, or whether the current civil servants in the judiciary should continue to be part of RCSC. So now what? According to the Constitution, His Majesty the King may command a national referendum if, in…

Parliament rejects LG bill

July 29, 2009Posted inLegislature8 Comments
BREAKING NEWS The Parliament, this morning, did not pass the Local Government (amendment) Bill. Of the 68 MPs present, 44 voted to for the bill, 23 voted against, and 1 abstained. The Hon’ble Speaker did not cast a vote. According to the Constitution, he can only cast a deciding vote. A bill is passed by simple majority when it is debated in the individual houses (the National Council and National Assembly). But, if the two houses cannot agree on the provisions of a bill, that bill is debated in a joint sitting. In which case, two-thirds of the members…

Dressed to talk?

July 18, 2009Posted inLegislature
In our last poll,  many of you – almost 60% - said the National Council conducts its debates well. Very good. And, most of you said that there’s a lot to be desired in the way the National Assembly conducts its business. That’s bad. Our poll results, incidentally, may have a relation to the respective Houses’ policies on live TV broadcast. The National Council welcomes it. And, the National Assembly does not allow most of its proceedings to be telecast live. Even though I’m a member of the National Assembly, I’m inclined to agree with the results of the…

Questioning questions

July 15, 2009Posted inLegislature23 Comments
The National Council had summoned two ministers – Lyonpo Thakur Singh Powdyel and Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba – to attend Question Time yesterday. Both of them didn’t show up. So the Council adjourned for the hour earmarked for Question Time. By now, it’s safe to assume that the Council will continue to hold Question Time, which they have scheduled on Tuesdays and Fridays. And, that they will continue to expect cabinet ministers to attend to deliver their answers in person. But it’s also safe to assume to our cabinet ministers will not attend the National Council’s Question Time. Last Friday,…

Dangerous nonsense

July 10, 2009Posted inGovernment, Legislature
The first item on the National Council’s agenda today is Question Time. And they’ve summoned our finance minister to answer, in person, questions that have been sent to him ten days ago. I predict that our finance minister will not show up at the National Council. He will not respect their summons. Yes, we are, in many ways, still transitioning to a democracy, hopefully to one that’s honest, robust and vibrant. But, this brinkmanship playing out between our government and the Council cannot be blamed on transition. What we are witnessing is the lack of decency, and the absolute…