May 24, 2013
The three DNT candidates who spoke in favour of the common forum yesterdayDruk Nyamrup Tshogpa candidates refuted the concerns that Druk Phuensum Tshogpa candidates recently expressed with regards the country’s growing national debt, politicisation of armed forces and the monk body and cancellation of common forums.
Sometime last week, DPT’s south Thimphu candidate Yeshey Zimba, during a press conference had said common forums were becoming unproductive with candidates exchanging derogatory remarks and in the process infuriating the tshopas.
DNT candidates yesterday held a press conference of its own, in [... Read More]
May 24, 2013
Vote for us: Party workers distribute pamphlets to voters after the common forum in Mongar A week before P-Day, and most locals did not know the number of parties in the fray
Poll day for the primary round is a week from today yet, in the remote village of Kengkhar in Mongar district, the electorate did not know how many parties are contesting.
That is why more than 300 people attended the common forum for Kengkhar-Weringla constituency at Kengkhar gewog yesterday. But some voters were disappointed, because the parties had sent representatives [... Read More]
May 24, 2013
All together now: Leisure time after the common forum and lunchFollowing in the footsteps of some NC contestants, the rivals here kept things civil
Parties contesting the primaries have a lot more to learn from the eight candidates of the four political parties in Trongsa.
In going from one chiwog to another for common forums, they spend a lot of time together, travelling, sharing meals, enjoying hearty conversation, helping each other put up banners, and take them down after the events, and rendering moral support to one [... Read More]
May 24, 2013
Although not many, it is a number stillWhich, though low, is far better than how many showed up for the NC show – zero!
Perhaps the least, as compared to other gewogs in the dzongkhag, only around 20 voters showed up to attend the Samdrupjongkhar throm common forum held at the primary school auditorium yesterday.
But this turnout is a slight improvement, if compared to the National Council election common forum organised at the same venue last month, where not a single person appeared.
It [... Read More]
May 24, 2013
Bhutan today signed a grant agreement of USD 1,285,500 (Nu 71.6M) with the World Bank to be used for building technical capacity, to keep ward of risks associated with disasters in the country.
The agreement was signed yesterday morning between WB’s acting representative Om Bhandari and finance secretary Lam Dorji.
The money will be shared among four departments, which are departments of disaster management, geology and mines, culture and engineering services.
“The money will basically be used to [... Read More]
May 24, 2013
A two-day national workshop began yesterday in Paro to fight against doping in sports.
The anti-doping effort in Bhutan is relatively new, and is spearheaded by a committee under the Bhutan Olympic Committee (BOC). The Bhutan anti-doping committee was formed in late 2011.
The anti-doping committee’s chairman, Tenzin Norsang, said that no Bhutanese athletes have so far been found guilty of doping. “We do test, where there is potential for doping, but so far nothing has come [... Read More]
May 24, 2013
Wangduephodrang dzong (Photo: Felicity Shaw)The Wangduephodrang Dzong – the Fortress of Conquest – is one of the five great dzongs of western Bhutan.
Built in 1638 upon a strategic hilltop, resembling the trunk of a sleeping elephant at the confluence of two rivers – Punatsangchu and Dangchu – its main purpose was to bring under control the enemy forces resisting the consolidation of Drukpa power in Wangdue valley.
The dzong is encircled by many monasteries and temples. To its east are [... Read More]
May 23, 2013
Starting point: Election officials leave Goenshari for Lunana on May 20
(Photo: Dorji Wangdi, Electoral registration officer)Election officials, who are walking to the northern frontier gewog of Lunana in Gasa, to conduct the primary round on May 31, are expected to cross Mount Gangjula today.
Gangjula, which is 4,900m above sea level, is the second highest peak along the walking trail to Lunana.
The Gangjula pass is partially open, and the team should be able to cross over, if it does not snow. The weather as of last evening was reported to be [... Read More]
May 23, 2013
They’ve been asked not to submit their CVs to private contractors, who misuse them
Engineers, architects and surveyors employed by the armed forces, corporations, financial institutions and hydropower projects are to refrain from providing their curriculum vitae (CV) to contractors.
They have been given a month’s notice to refrain from such practices by the Construction Development Board (CDB), following complaints from the Anti-Corruption Commission.
“It’s been found that most contractors have been using the CVs of already employed [... Read More]
May 23, 2013
Presentation done: PDP president interacts with a villagerHaving been fed with speeches from all four political party presidents, many voters in Mongar now claim to have a better idea on whom to vote for on the primary’s poll day on May 31.
After attending the last of the president’s campaigns, which was that of People’s Democratic party’s Tshering Tobgay, where over 200 people showed up, people said each president tried to woo voters in the best way possible.
“But we’ve decided on the best,” [... Read More]
