The Bhutan airline finalised its move into the domestic sector

Drukair has confirmed that it will enter the domestic air services market by a stipulated April deadline.

The national airline finalised its move into the domestic sector, following its board of directors meeting yesterday.

The chairperson of the airline’s board, Kesang Wangdi, told Kuensel that Drukair would “respond to the call of the government”. He pointed out that the government had selected both Drukair and Tashi group of companies’ Tashi Air, and that the national airline would be “letting down” the government if it did not enter operations.

In a surprise for both Drukair and Tashi, the government chose in December the two companies to operate domestically. According to the request for proposals (RFP) floated in July last year, only one company was supposed to have been selected.

Tashi had approached the government, expressing its concerns on the financial viability of such a move, earlier this month. With an untested domestic market, survivability of two operators was worrying the company.

This prompted the government to hold meetings with representatives of both companies. Following the meetings, the communications minister Nandalal Rai said that the government would not reverse its decision to see two operators in the domestic market. A Tashi representative chose not to comment until a further date.

“The board has considered all options,” said Kesang Wangdi, in response to whether similar viability concerns were shared by Drukair. “Viability is a concern for both airlines, it applies to Drukair as well,” he said. But he pointed out that tourist numbers are expected to increase. He added that the board saw the existence of two operators as “cooperation” rather than competition.

Drukair CEO, Tandin Jamso, also said that the domestic market is “uncertain” for the airline. He pointed out that, if competition is a factor, even the international sector could be of concern. “In the peak season we’re doing all right, but in the lean season, occupancy is below 50 percent.”

The CEO said that the airline is expecting to commence domestic operations by April. The national airline will be operating a twin-propeller ATR 42 aircraft for domestic and short haul international flights. “Drukair respects the RFP and will be guided by the RFP,” he said.

Source: Kuenselonline

His Majesty in Kuwait

His Majesty with the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife soon after arriving in Kuwait on February 25, to attend the 50th Anniversary of Independence, and the 20th Anniversary of Liberation of Kuwait. His Majesty leaves Kuwait for Thailand today.

Source: Kuenselonline

Closing time for discotheques and bars in Bhutan

As an interim measure, discotheques may follow previous timings said the Information and Communications Minister, Lyonpo Nandalal Rai. This will come as good news for party goers and discotheque owners alike.

As per a recent notification issued by Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority, bars have to close by 10pm. Discotheques by midnight.

The Information and Communications Minister made the concession after several bar and discotheque owners approached him requesting the ministry to reconsider the recent notification.

Bar and discotheque owners argue that the new rule will seriously hamper their business with some saying that they might as well close shop.

Previously, discotheques can remain open till 2am in the morning.

Tashi Gyeltshen who runs Club Banana, a discotheque in the heart of the capital town, said the matter was never discussed with them.

“We want to cooperate with the government but the government should have discussed this with us before issuing the notification,” he said.

Kinley Penjor, the owner of Splash Club, said “people do not come to the clubs directly from work. They go home, rest and visit the clubs after dinner. They arrive by 11pm. If the clubs have to close by 12, we only get one hour to operate.”

The notification has also affected employees who work in bars and discotheques. Phuntsho Wangdi works as a DJ at Space 34, a swanky night club in the town. “My owner has already decided to cut my salary. How am I going to meet my household expenses,” he said.

The Information and Communications Minister, Lyonpo Nandalal Rai said the new rule was introduced to tackle the growing social problem.

He agreed it was an ad hoc decision and said the issue could be re-discussed if it is affecting business.

“We will discuss the issue once again with relevant stakeholders and see if we can do anything other than shortening the time. We will look for other alternatives,” said Lyonpo Nandalal Rai.

Club owners can keep their business establishments till 2am for the New Year celebration. What is to be done after that is yet to be seen.

Source:BBS

Ambassador of Kuwait in Bhutan

Bhutan will soon have a third embassy based in the capital, that of Kuwait.

Yesterday, the prime minister, Jigmi Y Thinley, met with the new resident ambassador of Kuwait to Bhutan, Nameer Kathem Al Quraine. Welcoming the new and the first resident ambassador, the prime minister said that his appointment was a reflection of the deepening relations between the two countries. Lyonchhoen congratulated the ambassador on his appointment, and said that this was a matter of great satisfaction.

The prime minister also thanked Kuwait for its immediate response and substantial support to help Bhutan during the two disasters in 2009 caused by the cyclone Aila and the earthquake, a press release from the prime minister’s office stated.

Nameer Kathem Al Quraine said that Kuwait will continue to support Bhutan in all areas and fields.

Source: Kuenselonline

Bhutan Film Cardo: The Intermediate State

Is there such a thing as bardo? This question is the driving force behind the latest release from Karma Bumzang films, Bardo – The Intermediate State.

Put in the words of the film’s chief antagonist, Kardon (played by Sonam Choki), when she asks, “Who has seen this thing called bardo?” the film proposes the idea that reality isn’t immediately perceptible. Kardon rhetorically asks in another scene, “If your face is like a flower, who’s to tell that your heart harbours thorns?”

Kardon is an unscrupulous, ambitious and manipulative woman, who kills her brother-in-law, Tenzin (Tshering Phuntsho), so that his brother (her husband), Wangdue (Karma Chhechong), can usurp his place at the head of a successful business empire.

That is one of the two stories in Bardo, told in the Macbeth vein, where it takes one ambitious step to begin an inescapable sink into thicker mire. The other parallel story is one that Buddhists will relate to; it concerns the progression of Wangdue’s soul through the six stages of bardo.

Bardo attempts to correlate a being’s sufferings, brought about by greed, anger, ignorance, pride and jealousy; and suggests that virtuous deeds accumulate good karma, thereby enabling the soul to transcend to a better form in order to progressively gain enlightenment. Religion is, thus not just an element in the film, it is the element.

Pretty much everything in Bardo – costumes, sets, special effects and dialogue – is overloaded. The first conversation between Kardon and Wangdue, for example, leaves you marvelling at the creativity of the scriptwriter, but doubting the plausibility of a real life couple ever speaking to each other in verse, and in singsong tones.

Yet it is for the same reasons that one, conversely, appreciates the sheer effort that has gone into its making. The hard work off-camera certainly deserves applause and bodes well for the future of Bhutanese filmmaking.

Like every other Bhutanese film, Bardo is a musical. Song sequences are necessarily, and awkwardly, interwoven into the story. But the music and dance smack of originality and character.

At a time, when the Bhutanese film machinery is churning out little other than lame romances, frivolous action thrillers and melodramatic tear-jerkers, Bardo stands out as a challenging alternative.

Bardo is currently screening at Trowa Theatre in Thimphu.

Source: Kuenselonline

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