Too good

Posted inEconomy, Government32 Comments
Yesterday’s economic forum was scripted and implemented to perfection. The forum, which was organised by GNHC and supported by the UNDP, was called “Macroeconomic Challenges, Opportunities and Policy Options for Bhutna” and held at the National Convention Centre. The forum was attended by the prime minister, cabinet ministers, senior civil servants and The forum was NOT attended by the governor of the Royal Monetary Authority and his two deputies. The CEOs of the financial institutions could not attend as they were summoned, by the RMA governor, for a separate meeting. The experts at the forum included Professor Joeseph Stiglitz…

Really important business

Posted inEconomy6 Comments
Doing business in Bhutan is already difficult. But it’s getting even more difficult. Each year, the World Bank publishes a “Doing Business” report in which they rank countries according to the “ease of doing business” in those countries. Here’s how our country has fared in their report over the last few years. In 2008, Bhutan was ranked 119 out of the 178 countries that the project studied. In 2009, we fell to 124 out of 181 countries. In 2010, we were placed at 126 out of 186 countries. In 2011, we plummeted to 146 out of 183 countries And…

When loss is gain

Posted inMiscellaneous17 Comments
Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, launched When Loss is Gain yesterday, at the closing session of Mountain Echoes 2012, a literary festival that keeps getting bigger and more successful each year. When Loss is Gain is written by H.E Pavan K. Varma, India’s ambassador to Bhutan, and a prolific writer who has already authored no less than 16 other books. This, however, is his first work of fiction, and one that you will most probably read continuously, in one sitting, from cover to very enjoyable cover. The story, set mostly in Bhutan, is about the…

The plague

Posted inGovernment16 Comments
Kuensel featured this advertisement yesterday. Read it, and see what's wrong. I, like the friend who showed me this notification, found it funny that RITH would invite bids to produce the plague. But we all know that what RITH really wants is a plaque to commemorate the inauguration of the institute. Funny. And no harm done. But look at the notification again. Look at it closely. To be awarded the work, one must be a registered license holder and pay Nu 200 for a set of bidding documents. The bidding documents will be sold from 17th May to 31st…

But nat!

Posted inGovernment40 Comments
At school, we, like all children, all over the world, loved playing pranks. Our arsenal boasted an impressive range of innovative pranks. But the simplest and the most popular of them by far was the very versatile but nat! prank. This is how it was administered: We’d go up to a fellow student and excitedly declare, “I found your wallet!” And then, very slowly, add, “But nat!” Or we’d tell him, “Our math test is postponed … but nat!” Or, “She says she likes you too … but nat!” The but nat! was meant to negate whatever news had…

Thank you Ama

Posted inWomen15 Comments
We don't celebrate Mother's Day in Bhutan. But 160 countries do. And 79 of them celebrate it today, the second Sunday of May. I think we should celebrate Mother's Day too. Like the rest of the world, we should dedicate a day to thank our mothers for their love and affection, and to acknowledge them for the huge influence they've had on our lives. Bringing up children is a difficult job at the best of times. But my mother raised six of us - all boys! She did so single-handedly. And she did so on a shoestring. That meant…

Country roads

Posted inVillages6 Comments
I am in Dorikha. I got here this evening having walked up from Dorithasa. My ancestors did this journey every year, at this time of the year, over the course of many centuries. They migrated to escape the oppressive summer heat of Dorithasa in favor of the much cooler Dorikha. And in the winter, they moved right back to Dorithasa to enjoy the mild weather there. Most of my relatives no longer migrate between two farms. They now live, throughout the year, in one of the two villages. But the two villages are closely related. So our people still…