The Bhutanese Leading the way.
A woman was detained at the Paro Airport carrying foreign currencies worth about Nu 4mn. The currencies were in USD and Chinese Yuan. The custom officials seized about USD 16,000 (one USD equals to Nu 55) and about 0.4mn Yuan (1 Yuan equals to Nu 5). The woman, a wife …
Read More »Largely favored yet largely debated
A six hour session in parliament and a threat-SMS (short message service) delivered to a supposedly non-supportive MP would sum-up the importance accorded to the Domestic Violence bill. Although a hugely supported bill as far as the National Assembly (NA) is concerned a misinformed supporter of the bill who presumed …
Read More »Land Bill 2012 set aside for the next Parliament
The National Assembly (NA) decided to defer the Land Bill 2012 for the new Parliament in 2013 so that an important bill is not hurried-through with little time left and His Majesty the King’s Kasho on land ceiling is properly incorporated. While this was announced, some MP’s also pointed out …
Read More »Budgetary constraints hamper fire security in most Dzongs
In early 2008 after the Gasa Dzong fire the then Wangdue Dzongda, Kinzang Dorji is quoted in a media interview as saying, “the fire security system in Wangdue Phodrang Dzong is well-maintained and properly checked. We, however, would like to upgrade the system if we have the budget.” While the …
Read More »NC Vs NA over Pvt Bill
The outcome could affect the legislative powers of both houses There is fresh controversy brewing between members of the National Council (NC) and the National Assembly (NA) over the procedure for passing the private members bill. The controversy which includes the National Flag Bill and the failed draft Right to …
Read More »Judged by society and marked by sundry-litigants
The Judge who puts the guilty behind bars and dispenses justice to the innocent is by definition a powerful personality. And for the recipients where the hammer of justice lands, with cold conviction, the judge easily becomes the virtuous hand of deliverance or the cruel reaper of precious human years. …
Read More »Wangdue Dzong reconstruction may cost up to Nu 1bn and take till 2016
This is according to the initial estimates made by the Department of Culture which is the main government agency on Dzong construction and renovation Even before the smoke of Wangdue Phodrang Dzong fire was subdued there were calls for rebuilding from the citizenry and leadership alike. The reconstruction of the …
Read More »NA passes Tax Bill, almost 95% of the proposed tax hike terminated
The government proposal to raise taxes on various items was stripped down to just ‘green tax’ which will be levied only on vehicles. In a session where NA MPs slammed all the specified sections in the tax bill, finance minister Wangdi Norbu said the tax hike would have never been …
Read More »Rio Summit will benefit Bhutan says Lyonchhen
After what is being described as a successful conference in Rio on Sustainable Development the Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley and his delegates are back in Bhutan. In his short briefing at the Paro international airport he said that Bhutan has been thrust into a position of leadership in …
Read More »Govt had rejected RICBL’s 2009 proposal to insure Dzongs against disasters
Bhutanese Dzongs were insured against fire by RICBL from 1983 till 1993 when it was withdrawn due to budget constraints. Govt said no again in 2009 due to budget constraints. If only Wangduephodrang Dzong was insured in 2009 the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan Limited (RICBL) and its foreign insurance …
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