The Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) has decided to place a temporary ban on the import of all types of chillies after the detection of a banned pesticide in three types of imported Chillies from India. The three imported Chillies are namely Hybrid, Terasani and Akashi which are …

As the government finishes its third year and as 2018 looms closer, the Opposition party has shifted itself to a higher gear in both criticizing the government and pointing to shortfalls, including election pledges made in 2013. In the most detailed and arguably the longest press conference till date the …

Two recent political phenomenon that have shaken political capitals has been the rise of Trump and Brexit or Britain’s recent exit from the European Union. Both are related in that they show the growing distrust of mainstream political parties, politicians and political institutions including the US Congress in USA and …

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is currently in the process of studying a Revenue or Tax Intelligence System, that once set up will monitor tax evasions and investigate tax frauds. The Department of Revenue and Customs (DRC) under MoF has submitted a proposal to the MoF which is looking at …

Whenever some natural disaster or even heavy weather hits Bhutan, there are almost always reports of damages to public infrastructure whereby the damage is ascribed almost entirely to the disaster. However, the Royal Audit Authority in its performance audit on Disaster Management from 2010-2015 says more often it has to …

A performance audit report on Disaster Management from 2010-2015 has found several issues like the lack of coordination among agencies,  absence of Dzongkhag Disaster Management Committees, inadequate fire safety measures in Dzongs, lack of central data base on disaster management etc. The Bhutanese in the monthly meet the press asked …

A recent Royal Audit Authority performance audit on Business Income Tax from 2009-13 had pointed out that the overwhelming benefit of Nu 2.688 bn fiscal incentives given from 2010 onwards as part of the Economic Development Policy had mainly benefited 39 high end hotels. It had noted that apart from …

The Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) will be auctioning Nu 5.5 bn worth of Treasury Bills on behalf of the Ministry of Finance to mop up some funds from the market. The RMA Governor Dasho Penjore said the RMA is facilitating the auction for the Ministry of Finance. The Finance Minister …

On 24 June 2012 a national tragedy gripped the nation as Wangdue Dzong burnt down, but a 2010-2015 performance audit on disaster management still found inadequate safety measures in Dzongs and public buildings even after the fire. A Royal Audit Authority (RAA) review of the fire safety measures in Dzongs …

Bhutan over the years has experienced its fair share of natural disasters from earthquakes to floods and fire. All the while there was much pronouncement and promises by both the former and current governments to strengthen disaster management preparation and coordination. However, the Royal Audit Authority in a Performance Audit …