Tshering Tobgay

Question bank

December 26, 2008Economy

I was shocked to read that RMA has given the Punjab National Bank approval to start preliminary work to set up a branch in Bhutan. I have many questions…Do we know that Punjab National Bank is India’s second largest public sector lending bank? That it has more than 3850 branches? That its total business in 2007 was US$ 60 billion? That this is 56 times our GDP? Or almost 20 times the total planned outlay for our 10th Five Year Plan? That its market value of US$ 2.79 billion which almost trebles our total GDP?Do we know why they…

Our PM’s report

December 25, 2008Government

Yesterday, during the opening day of the National Assembly’s second sitting, our PM submitted his report on the performance of the government.His report did not touch on the government’s performance in the social sectors and on the economy. Too bad. It was a good opportunity to showcase the successes of the government in these areas. Unless, of course, there hasn’t been enough successes to speak about.But, on the one hand, the new government has been in office for only eight months – it probably needs more time to prove that it is keeping the promises that it has made.One…

Parliament’s second session

December 25, 2008Legislature

The second session of the Parliament started yesterday. His Majesty the King, in His Royal Address, commanded that democracy has started off well in our country, but that a lot of work also remains to be done. His Majesty the King reminded the nation that the main purpose of democracy is to further strengthen our country, and to realize the aspirations of the people. And that to achieve these goals, we must work together, as one family. On behalf of the opposition, I proposed a vote of thanks to offer our deep gratitude to His Majesty the King for…

Today’s pictures

December 23, 2008Nature, Women

Today, I saw the future ... and it looks good! Girls having fun, preparing themselves to become future teachers, doctors, engineers, scholars, technicians, poets, businesswomen, and politicians. It snowed today, this season's first. Although it was light, and only in the high mountains to the north of Thimphu, I was happy – it is good for our farmers, our environment and for hyrdopower.

Supreme excuse

December 22, 2008Justice

Bhutan Observer, Bhutan Times and Kuensel are doing a pretty good job of keeping the controversy over the appointment of the Bhutan Post CEO alive. If it were not for them, the Cabinet’s tentative response to ACC’s investigation and report would have gone unquestioned, and the public would be none the wiser.But now what? Constitutional experts argue that only the Supreme Court, as the final authority on the interpretation of the Constitution, can decide if the cabinet’s action on the ACC’s report, or lack thereof, is unconstitutional. And that the differences between the ACC and the Cabinet cannot be…

Parked Constitution?

December 21, 2008Government, Legislature

On 12 December the prime minister inaugurated the Wangchuck Centennial Park. This is good news and bad news.The good news is that Wangchuck Centennial Park, our country’s second largest, covering 3736 sq km across four dzongkhags, connects the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park in the west with Bomdeling Wildlife Sanctuary in the east. The entire northern belt of our country is now protected, allowing for even better management of our rich biodiversity. The park will also protect our water systems, essential for hydropower, and provide ecotourism opportunities for our farmers.The bad news is that the park is illegal. According…

Celebrating volunteers

December 20, 2008International

I almost didn’t make it. I was so preoccupied writing about Galek’s taekwondo – and watching her practice – that I almost missed this morning’s event to honour two decades of JOCV service in Bhutan.HRH Ashi Sonam Dechen Wangchuck was the guest of honour, and JOCV and JICA had arranged quite a show – from lively dancing, classical music and health checks to photo exhibitions, tea ceremony and bamboo toys, our Japanese volunteer friends had organized a lot of activities in the Clock Tower square. It was fun.I would have felt terrible if I’d missed the event. Not because…

Learning taekwondo

December 20, 2008Youth

Galek, my daughter, attends taekwondo classes twice a week. This is one of the activities organized by her school for their students during the winter holidays. Galek loves it.I accompanied her yesterday. I wanted to see how good she’d become. Instead I got to see how good our boys are.Galek’s coach, Sir Kinley, had called his friends to do a short demonstration for his students. They put on quite a show – performing complicated moves, perfectly choreographed fights, breaking wooden boards and smashing apples blindfolded. Galek and her friends enjoyed the performance. That was the idea. I was enthralled.…

Teaching history

December 19, 2008Education

My son, Gyamtsho Tshering, 17 years, Class XI, is home for his winter vacations. My wife and I are delighted to have our family together, and have often worried that our son has had to be away from home for most parts of the year.Gyamtsho studies in St Joseph’s School, also known as “North Point”, in Darjeeling, India.Why is he in North Point? Because while he was at Lungtenzampa MSS, the government decided to teach Bhutan history in Dzongkha. His mother had been seriously concerned. “Even as a subject, most students find Dzongkha difficult” she had grumbled, “so how…

Good luck

December 18, 2008Youth

950 university graduates have registered to appear for the Civil Service Common Examinations. Written exams for Technical and Dzongkha graduates begin today. General graduates start theirs on the 23rd. After years of studies, tests and interviews, it is the Common Exams which will determine their immediate futures and, in many cases, their destinies. I wish all of them the BEST OF LUCK!

Tashi Delek!

December 18, 2008Monarchy

Yesterday, Changlimethang Stadium His Majesty the King addressing his people during the Centenary National Day. (Portrait from www.bbs.com.bt) .................................................................... I offer my congratulations to the recipients of the Druk Gyalpo’s National Day medals. His Majesty the King awarded Druk Thuksey to: 1. Dasho Kunzang Wangdi 2. Aum Neten Zam 3. Dasho Pema Wangchuk 4. Dasho Pema Wangchen His Majesty the King awarded the Druk Wangyel to: 1. Lyonchen Jigme Y. Thinley 2. Thrimche Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye My heartiest Tashi Delek! to all of them.

The constitution of our nation

December 17, 2008Monarchy

Today, we celebrate our 101st National Day. Today will also mark the culmination of the year-long celebrations commemorating a century of peace, prosperity and happiness under our beloved monarchs. As we conclude the historic celebrations of 100 years of monarchy, we have many reasons to be deeply thankful: a secure and sovereign homeland, a vibrant culture and religion, a largely pristine environment, free healthcare and education, a unique democracy, and a growing economy. Simply put, we live longer, better and happier lives. And as we enter the next 100 years as a unified nation, we must uphold our two…

Saving industries

December 16, 2008Economy

I applaud Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk’s tour to Pasakha to assess the crisis gripping the steel factories. And factory owners welcomed his visit as signs of possible government support for an industry which is seriously affected by the global financial crisis.The government should support the steel industry, but provided it is of strategic importance to our country. That is to say that the industry should be socially, politically or economically too important to our country to allow it to collapse. So if, due to a failure in the steel industry, many jobs for nationals would be lost, or national security…

A bigger (and better?) hospital

December 15, 2008Health

In the fall of 1974 the brand new 60-bed Thimphu Referral Hospital was inaugurated to commemorate the coronation of His Majesty the Fourth King. The hospital has served Thimphu and all of Bhutan faithfully for the last 34 years.Yesterday, Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck inaugurated the brand new 350-bed Jigme Dorji Wanchuck National Referral Hospital to commemorate the coronation of His Majesty the King and 100 years of monarchy. Our new hospital comes equipped with central heating and cooling, 8 OTs, 64 ICUs, central oxygen supply, 48 cabins, ward cubicles, digital x-ray, telemedicine facilities and…

Good heads make good schools

December 14, 2008Education

More than 150 educationists attended a three-day seminar this week to examine our education system. Participants agreed on a range of problems frustrating education in our country ranging from inadequate infrastructure to ineffective teaching methodologies.The seminar was an excellent idea. And recommendations were good. But nothing is new. Education workshops and seminars have time and again identified the same problems and agreed on similar strategies to improve education. Why? Because no matter how many times we met, we hardly ever followed through on the important decisions. So the quality of education, let’s face it, remains poor.It wasn’t always so.…