Live TV

Posted inMedia
The sixth session of the Parliament has concluded. And again, during this session too, the National Assembly did not allow its proceedings to be broadcast on live TV. But this time, the Assembly allowed the Question Hour discussions to be carried on live TV.  That’s a slight improvement. And I welcome it. And hope that, from the next session on, BBS will once again be allowed to cover the National Assembly’s entire proceedings on live TV. On a related note, BBS’s own efforts at covering the Parliament’s discussions seem to have regressed. Till the last session, BBS would, after…

Respect, honesty, pride

Posted inEducation
Thimphu Primary School graduated their first batch of students this morning. 21 children who had recently appeared for their first board exams received certificates from their principal, Ma’am Carolyn Tshering. In her final speech to her outgoing students, Ma’am Carolyn urged them to never forget the all-important values of respect, honesty and pride that their school had taught them. I’m reproducing her speech below to share her timeless message with students, teachers and parents throughout our country. This week’s banner celebrates primary education in Bhutan. Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to our first ever Graduation .  In most western countries…

Good news

Posted inGovernment, Legislature21 Comments
The National Assembly has endorsed the government’s proposal to increase the salaries of public servants. Here’s the good news: Civil Servants will get a 20% raise over their pre-2009 salaries. Pre-2009 is used as a base as that was when salaries were last increased (by 35%), taking the total increase to 55%. Civil service salaries will now range from Nu 7,067 (for GSC II staff) to Nu 52,654 a month (for EX-1/ES-1 level). Secretaries to Government will draw Nu 55,490 a month. And the Cabinet Secretary will get Nu 63,000. That makes the Cabinet Secretary Bhutan’s top civil servant.…

Totally redundant

Posted inLegislature
Yesterday, the National Assembly passed the Sales Tax, Customs and Excise (Amendment) Bill, and the Public Finance (Amendment) Bill. The two of us in the opposition party had argued that the bills would violate the Constitution, and, in the end, only the two of us voted against the bills. The two amendments could allow the government to impose and raise taxes without having to seek the Parliament’s approval. The bills will now be forwarded to the National Council, who will discuss them in the next session. If they pass the bills, the amendments will come into effect. If not,…

Vice ministers?

Posted inGovernment
What? The prime minister wants to call secretaries vice-ministers? Why? Who do we want to impress? Shouldn’t we focus on streamlining the civil service instead? Shouldn’t we be working towards making the civil service small, compact and efficient? Where did the prime minister get this idea from anyway? Where would vice ministers draw their legal basis from? And under what legal authority would they function? What? The RCSC is in the dark? Really?

Wanted: more guarantees

Posted inGovernment
I am impressed with Lyonpo Dorji Wangdi’s confidence. When the labour minister called for a ban on drayangs, he guaranteed jobs for all the women who currently work in drayangs. And I’m quite sure that, if he had to, he could keep this promise. But here’s something he should think about: the women working in drayangs already have jobs. So they don’t need his bold assurances. Unemployed youth, on the other hand, would welcome his guarantees. After all, they are the ones who are desperate for work. So provide out-of-school youth with gainful employment. Then they themselves would choose…

Monitoring drayangs

Posted inLegislature
The public of Paro informed the National Assembly that drayangs and discotheques cause societal problems and upset the social harmony. So they suggested that strict licensing and operating rules should be developed in order to reduce the numbers of such entertainment centres. When discussing this matter yesterday, MPs, focusing mainly on drayangs, complained that these businesses lured young women from the villages, underpaid them and subject them to sexual harassment. So a couple of MPs pushed for an outright ban on drayangs. But, thankfully, the majority favoured developing clearer policies and regulations, and leaving licensing and enforcement to local…

Lottery questions

Posted inGovernment
During Question Hour yesterday, I asked the finance minister two straightforward questions: “What action has the Royal Government taken to investigate alleged violations by Bhutan’s lottery agent in India?” “What action has the Royal Government taken to investigate alleged violations in the manner the lottery agent was appointed and reappointed?” The finance minister’s reply was a long-winded narrative about the history of Bhutan lottery. And an elaborate recount of how the government selected their lottery agent, and how, later, reduced that agent’s contractual obligations. But the finance minister did not answer the question: has the government investigated the alleged…