The National Assembly passed the Royal Monetary Authority Bill yesterday. I did not support the bill. My objections were based on a simple principle: that the proposed legislation gave the government too much influence over the RMA. True, it’s important for the RMA and the government to work together to achieve our common national objectives. [...]
Yesterday, the government proposed a motion in the National Assembly to endorse a list of thromdes (urban settlements). Thromdes, along with gewogs and dzongkhags, form our local governments. But the Local Government Bill, which describes different types of thromdes, has not yet fully completed its passage in Parliament as required by Article 13 of the [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
“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 [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Tshering Tobgay is a Member of Parliament representing Sombaykha Constitutency in Haa. He is the Leader of the Opposition Party in the National Assembly of Bhutan.
Is ACC taking too long to start investigating the Gyelpozhing land case?
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