Category: Editorial

The National Environment Commission (NEC) has resuscitated the 20-year-old ban on plastic carry bags. Come April 1, any business establishment found selling or using plastic bags would be fined Nu 500 in the first instant, with double the penalty in the second. The third offence could result in the cancellation of the business license. The […]

After missing several deadlines, the much awaited 720MW Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project (MHPA) is finally readying for commission. The last deadline for MHPA commission was January 10. The MHPA, which took six and half years to complete, was built at a total cost of Nu 49.83bn. Once fully operational, MHPA will bring in substantial revenue through […]

Something is not brewing right in the Member of Parliaments’ (MP) personal accounts. Excluding cabinet ministers, Prime Minister, Speaker, Council Chairperson and Opposition Leader, other fifty-eight MPs are entitled to Nu 6,000 every month as allowance for “employment of personal driver” but it appears that not a single MP has employed a driver so far […]

It is exactly three months since the third general elections were held. The dust of 2018 elections has settled. The sound and fury spurred by fierce political competition have all but died a natural death. It is business as usual. The new government is on the steering wheel. And so far, it has managed pretty […]

“Narrowing the gap” is certainly an idealistic concept. And the Prime Minister declared in the current parliament session that the government does not aim to make everyone equal but simply narrow the gap. This does hold some sense because doing away with the gap entirely is not possible. There will always be haves and have-nots […]

a clarion call This winter appears to be agonizingly cold. As if that is not enough, Thimphu’s water distribution system has literally tanked. With freezing temperatures, water pipes at the source are either blocked or damaged and as a result, many parts of Thimphu are grappling with prolonged water shortage. And it seems there is […]

The Prime Minister expressed his disappointment with the media last week during the first meet the press session and exhorted media to ask interesting questions. This was in the wake of the cabinet members having had come well prepared on the 12th Plan and not many specific questions coming from the media around the theme. […]

As the dates for the election draw closer, political brawl between the two parties, Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) and Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT), has also intensified. While political candidates are busy preparing and attending common forums and fortifying their position in their constituencies, the two party presidents are also aggressively in a campaign mode, touring […]

We have less than three weeks to go before the general polls. The decision will be the reckoning. People have a great responsibility on their hands. To select the government of the day. And decide the course of democracy in the country. It is not only our duty to exercise our franchise but our moral […]

Well, the results of the primary elections 2018 are out. The runners up Druk Phuensum Tshogpa came out as the surprise winner. Despite all the negative mileage it has received in recent times including reruns of the seditious party tag and accusations from some quarters, it fought its battles well, and emerged triumphant. DPT has […]