EDITORIAL

One major lesson from the start of COVID-19 in Bhutan from March and especially in the lockdown is that Bhutan can do a lot more to improve its food production, distribution and storage. The Agriculture Minister in a refreshing stance has admitted to the failures in the Agricultural sector on …

The Health Minister said that according to technical experts the lockdown which started due to the Gelephu lady case had come at the right time as there would have been a lot of spread if it even came a week later. Bhutan was also fortunate to discover most of its …

The last three weeks has seen a ballooning of community transmission cases in Bhutan starting from some local transmission in the Mini Dry Port in Phuentsholing and then continuing with community transmission being discovered in Phuentsholing. The Ministry of Health’s technical experts may take time to come up with an …

As most of us have been indoors fretting about our own families and supplies, thousands of brave Bhutanese in the form of Desuups, health workers, frontline workers and volunteers have been out in the hot summer sun protecting and serving us. These heroes are ordinary fathers, mothers, wives, husbands, daughters, …

There has been some inefficiency and confusion around the delivery of essential items and vegetables in Thimphu since the start of the lockdown.  The lockdown, though sudden, should not have come as a surprise as the government machinery had months to plan and prepare for it. When you plan to …

Given the local press statements and social media broadcasts from Jaigaon media and individuals, it is now an open secret that there is strong pressure from them to open Bhutan’s Phuentsholing gate. A transport association there even threatened to blockade Bhutan from essential goods and items, mainly because access to …

Semchen Tshethar Tshogpas are well known in Bhutan where tshogpas go around saving animals meant for slaughter. His Majesty The King’s leadership in the fight against COVID-19 has been a Human Tshethar where the lives and health of many Bhutanese have been saved. They have been saved not only through …

In an almost ironical situation the Prime Minister recently said that Bhutan needs around 48,000 workers to fulfill its manpower shortage. However, in the same speech he also said that around 30,000 Bhutanese need to be given jobs due to COVID-19. It is clear that Bhutan has more than enough …

Thursday 3 pm saw the top cream of the Royal Government of Bhutan coming together in a massive meeting in the Royal University of Bhutan hall, at the invitation of the Prime Minister. The meeting was attended by members of the Cabinet, Constitutional Posts, senior Judges, senior Executives and other …

Two developments should give us cause for concern. One is that scientists have found that COVID-19 is airborne and thus can spread through even small particles, especially in a poorly ventilated setting where people are not wearing masks. The other issue is neighboring India reaching the third highest number of …