EDITORIAL

The nation can ill afford a pay hike at the moment given our dire economic situation, but the government has given one mainly aimed at preventing the alarming levels of resignations from the civil service. The pay hike will cost the country Nu 6 bn and it will go to …

When the nation is in the midst of so many changes, it is important to do some soul searching of our weaknesses. While much has been made about how we are a small society where everybody knows everybody we need to see its other side. We have become like the …

A recent upbeat Tourism Department press release announced 52,173 tourists came from 23 September 2022 to 10th May 2023 and in so many words indicated things are improving and going well. It said 32,517 are Indian guests paying the INR 1,200 SDF while 19,656 are other tourists paying either the …

The West Bengal government has introduced the Suvidha tax of around Nu 5,000 for Bhutanese and other trucks exporting goods to Bangladesh. While it is the business of Indian states to charge levies on its trucks, it comes as a matter of surprise that such a tax is being imposed …

Among the many reasons that the private sector has not lived up to its potential is a mix of lip service with no action, generally dismissive attitude and some jealousy from government officials. It has been the traditional view that while civil servants serve the government and nation, the private …

Bhutan so far has largely had smooth sailing in international waters, especially so after it became a democracy with various institutions including a Free Press. Except for the occasional blips, it has seen its international stock rise as it did increasingly better in various ratings and measurements. However, just as …

There has been much speculation over Bhutan’s decision to mine Bitcoins and what it means. It is good that the Druk Holding and Investments has come forward and transparently laid out what it is doing and why. It is important to know that Bhutan is not ‘gambling’ or has ‘lost’ …

Tshering Tshomo from Zhemgang will cut a lonely figure in the National Council as the only woman candidate among the 20 elected candidates. In the NC race of the 89 candidates there were only five women candidates. Whenever the issue of women’s representation comes up the issue of merit always …

The two biggest loan portfolios in the banking sector are Housing loans followed by Service and Tourism Loans and they in the financial year 2021 to 2022 made up around 52 percent of the total loans. The tourism loans which consists mainly of loans to hotels is already impacted due …

In the last few years the nation has been outraged by one horrible crime after another, especially against children. At the same time there was growing awareness of rampant sexual harassment in our educational institutions, offices and other places as cases came out. However, the reality for the longest time …