Bhutan and the Maldives have signed an Air Services Agreement

Bhutan and the Maldives have signed an Air Services Agreement, paving the way for the two high-end tourist destinations to be connected by direct flights or flights transiting through other countries in the region.

The flight details and routes will be worked out between the airlines of the two countries, one a tourist hot spot on the roof of the world and the other an ultimate destination for those interested in sunbathing and deep sea diving.

The Maldives Minister for Transport and Communication, Mohamed Adil Saleem, and the Secretary for Information and Communications in Bhutan, Dasho Kinley Dorji, signed the agreement on May 8, 2011. They emphasised the fact that air connectivity was vital for tourism and broader economic development. High-end tourists could find the connection a very attractive possibility with the tourism industry viewing both countries as niche markets.

Bhutan, which saw about 40,000 tourists last year, is currently building three new domestic airports. The Maldives, which is constructing its third international airport, has achieved an escalation of tourist numbers to about 800,000 tourists a year and is still expanding.

With Bhutan holding the chairmanship of SAARC, the agreement is also a step forward in one of SAARC’s goals, to connect all the capitals of the region.

Source: Kuenselonling

Divestment of the government’s holdings in Bank of Bhutan

The divestment of the government’s holdings in Bank of Bhutan, or increasing the bank’s share capital through a primary float, must take place by June 1, failing which a severe penalty will be imposed, the central bank announced yesterday.

“The timing is not negotiable,” the central bank’s deputy governor, Eden Dema, said.

The bank was levied a penalty of Nu 5,000 a day from November 8 last year to 8 April 2011, for failing to comply with the central bank’s deadline to issue the prospectus for divestment. “The penalty was imposed almost three and a half years, since the directive to divest was given,” Eden Dema said. The penalty accrued is Nu 750,000 which the bank wants waived, but the central bank has denied.

The central bank directed BoB to go public, based on the regulations for the establishment of commercial banks in March 2007.

But officials of Druk Holdings and Investments (DHI), which holds 80 percent of the bank, said it might not be possible to revalue the bank’s assets to determine its share price before June 1.

Although RMA also provided options on how to determine share prices, based on the banks audited account of December 2010, DHI’s executive director, Damber Singh Kharka, said the recent balance sheet of the bank does not reflect the current value of its assets like land and its investments on shares.

“Valuation of a company assets, which has been in the market for 43 years, may require a great deal of time,” he said. “The bank doesn’t have the capacity to come out with a proper valuation within June 1.” DHI had also considered requesting international consultants to assist with determining the share prices.

On the criticism it received on preempting the parliament with regards to divestment, Eden Dema said, if RMA had to wait for the Financial Services Bill to be passed in the parliament, it would also have to stop the operation of new banks, because it comes under the purview of the FSA.

On April 11 last year, the bank decided to go public on its own accord and offload 33 percent of its holdings and had sought RMA’s approval. However, the next month, DHI sent a letter to the central bank to reconsider the public float.

RMA has suggested that the bank could either make an offer for subscription or an offer for sale.

Offer for subscription would mean enlarging the share capital. The bank’s paid up capital could increase to Nu 533M, if Nu 133M worth of shares was floated to the public.

The offer for sale would require the shareholders DHI and State Bank of India to offload 25 percent of the holdings.

Eden Dema said the offer for subscription is better, since it benefits the company in the long run.

The central bank arrived at a share price of Nu 577 a share, according to figures available with RMA. The banks paid up capital at Nu 400M, its reserves at Nu 1.9B, retained earnings at Nu 883 and the total number of shares at 4M.

According to the procedures and timeframe for the divestment set by RMA, it will require the bank to prepare its prospectus by May 6, submit it before May 20 and publish the abridged prospectus by May 27.

Source: Kuenselonline

Dot Com beat BTCL in BCCB Twenty20 Championship

In a totally one-sided game, team Dot Com beat BTCL comfortably by six wickets, to emerge winners of the Twenty20 championship, the final of which was played yesterday in Thimphu.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, BTCL were bundled out for 60 runs. BTCL had no answers for Dot Com’s opening fast bowler Lobzang Younten, as he went on to take three wickets, giving away just 11 runs.

On the other side, off spinner Susil Sharma picked up three wickets, giving away only three runs. Captain Jigme Singye and Nima picked up two wickets each.

BTCL’s opening batsman Tandin Wangchuk was the only batsman from the team to reach double figures (17 runs).

Dot Com took 14 overs to reach their target for the loss of four wickets. Subash remained not out at 21, while Dechen scored 10 runs. Phuntsho Wangdi was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets.

“We’re looking to make a tour to Kolkata and get our boys some tournament practice,” DK Chhetri, Dot Com enterprise and club owner, said after the emphatic win.

“We promised to support two students for further in-country studies in the next academic year and, at the same time, we’re looking to form a permanent club website and continue to support students financially for their academics as much as possible,” team manager and player, Ashish Chhetri, said.

Dot Com took home the winning amount of Nu 30,000; while runners-up BTCL won Nu 20,000.

Dot Com captain Jigme Singye won the man of the match award and a cash prize of Nu 3,000; while teammate Susil Sharma bagged the best batsman of the tournament award. Rigsum’s Sampath was awarded the best bowler of the tournament.

The tournament was organised by the Bhutan cricket board.

Source: Kuenselonline

Bhutan GNH: Part IV - Corporate responsibility and the potential for oil and mineral exploration in Bhutan

Between the 1970s and 1990s, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) did the mineral exploration in Bhutan and covered 33 percent of the country. The GSI found potential for oil in Bhangtar, in Phuentshothang gewog of Samdrupjongkhar, traces of gold, silver and copper in the Black Mountains and tungsten in Sarpang dzongkhag with an estimated value of Nu 50 – 60 billion.

Now there is an American mining company willing to follow up on these finds and to explore the rest of the country with a few strings attached. In 2009, Kuensel reported that US-based Cline mining corporation is trying to gain mineral exploration rights for the entire country. J Matthew Fifield, managing director of the Cline Group, proposed he would get a group of American investors to invest in Bhutan’s mining sector “in a big way.” The Department of Geology and Mines (DGM), and Druk Holding and Investments (DHI) — through which Fifield communicated with the government — expressed interest in the proposal and were studying it, said the newspaper report. If an agreement were reached, the mining company would get exploration rights, and the government would get mining shares and royalties.

According to DGM, nothing has yet been done to implement the 2009 Cline mining corporation proposal, which is still in the conceptual stage. The department reportedly would not consider or act upon any proposal until the draft mineral development policy is finalised.

Druk Holding and Investments, however, is currently encouraging interest in potential mineral exploration and extraction by “seeking partners to invest” in mineral-based industries, among other areas. According to DHI, “With the development of the mineral development policy, there will be opportunities for investments in extraction of minerals and mineral-based businesses.”

Both these statements, and that of DHI in particular, indicate the potential for the proposed policy to open the floodgates to mineral exploration and extraction throughout Bhutan. Certainly DHI is explicit in referencing the new policy as providing “opportunities” for mining activities. While the Cline mining corporation proposal has been stalled since August 2009, approval of the draft mineral development policy may well provide the means through which the Cline “conceptual” proposal becomes reality.

Before dealing with Cline mining corporation or similar mining corporations, the government needs to assess these inevitable aforementioned long term costs that have been associated with mining operations worldwide, and to determine whether such activity is in keeping with GNH values, principles, and practices. Needless to say, in negotiating with any foreign company, RGoB will also certainly want to ensure that the company is indeed responsible, without any past negative social, economic, and environmental record, and therefore likely to operate according to GNH principles and practices in a country with the avowed philosophy and policy of adhering to those values and practices. However, recent news reports out of the U.S. raise a red flag regarding the Cline Group’s past environmental record in its home country. For example, concerns are currently being expressed at public meetings by residents and environmental groups over a highly contentious proposal by the company for an open-pit iron mine, slated to destroy an ancient mountain range in Ashland counties, Wisconsin. Investigation of such past and present activities is clearly essential to establish a clear profile of any foreign company invited to participate in this country’s unique development strategy that can be a model for the world.

A caveat
Impact of the best of intentions, policies and strategies will be less in the existing environment. Unless the prevailing environment of weak enforcement, poor monitoring, poor accountability, lack of professional capability in particular in assessing the total costs of exploitation of natural resources, which, I believe, must be computed to rationally fix rents, fees, royalties and evaluate bid offers and compensation for communities change, creation of new bodies or policies will not bear much value. Public interest that the paper is expected to protect, during implementation will give way to private interest, which generally is the case now. Institutions will be abused to legitimise wrong decisions and to peddle private interests. Community elites and local officials will be mobilised by the influential proponents for their gains.

Choosing a development path for the future
More disturbingly, such immediate concerns about whom we might be inviting in to exploit our land should provide a deeper invitation to the government and the people to assess the real purpose and potential impacts of the proposed mineral development policy. Certainly DHI, at least, appears to see the new policy as opening the door to what could be a sharp increase in mining activity nationwide, and is already “seeking partners to invest” in this activity, among other areas. But who are these potential partners? And would such a move exchange an apparent short-term economic gain for a potentially devastating long-term loss that could carry huge and irreparable costs to our nation’s precious earth and ecology? And does our future lie more with the massive, profit-hungry multi-national corporations that are inevitably associated with large mining operations or with smaller, more self-reliant Bhutanese endeavours with a real commitment to the land and its people (hopefully)?

The National Environment Commission’s answer to those questions is crystal clear, and points to a clear choice between two different visions of our country’s future that deserves to be invoked at this crucial point in history. As stated in Bhutan’s NEC 2008 report:

“The concept of large-scale industrial development is in direct conflict with the country’s policy of environmentally sustainable development especially when bearing in mind the country’s fragile mountain ecosystem and limited usable land…. The potential for future industrial development in the country lies in the development of a network of small-scale and cottage industries based on sustainable management of cultural and natural endowments, especially focusing on niche products such as hand-woven textiles using natural dye and organically produced food and medicinal products.”

The goals and values of GNH are clearly aligned with the above statement of the NEC. But, how effective is NEC with its strong team of well educated and well exposed professionals? We have managed thus far to act as superbly responsible stewards of a land rich in biodiversity and aesthetic beauty—guardians of some of the world’s most precious natural heritage. That remarkable legacy of stewardship was formally acknowledged in 2005, when the United Nations recognised Bhutan as “Champion of the Earth” for placing the environment at the very centre of all its development policies, and thereby setting a vital example to a world with a sad history of destroying its natural assets at incalculable cost to human society and other species.

Only if our deeply-felt ecological “conscience” and commitment to GNH - the extraordinary legacy of its wise and benevolent monarchy, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, and its profound ancient wisdom tradition - continue to be put into practice in policies today will we continue to protect our own precious heritage. And only then can Bhutan act, in the words of world-renowned ecologist Dr. Vandana Shiva, in a recent visit to Samdrupjongkhar, as “a lighthouse for the way the world should be if the world has to have a future.”

I strongly feel that this is the context within which the proposed draft mineral development policy must be assessed, and within which the deeper question must be asked whether a pro-active mining policy, with all its known ecological and health impacts, is compatible with the country’s deepest held values and principles. The decisions made today will have far reaching implications for us, for its unsurpassed natural assets, and indeed for the world.

By the way, what does NEC have to say on the policy?

As I sat solemnly in the kuenrey of Tashichhodzong on March 18, praying for Japan and our Japanese friends, I hoped for a different world order that is determined by the intrinsic values of interdependence, impermanence and wisdom. Only tough choices and tough decisions will testify our conviction and sincerity in GNH. Was I idealising? Maybe?

Source: Kuenselonline

Ministry of health of Bhutan to recover Nu 70-80 million worth of partial

The ministry of health is exploring means to recover Nu 70-80 million worth of partial, defective and non-supplied medical equipment from its two suppliers based in India.

A committee of six officials was formed after the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) recommended the ministry to study the government of India-funded supply of medical equipment.

The committee members visited three referral hospitals, 21 district hospitals and 18 grade-I basic health units from January to March, to review the equipment, and made a presentation to the ministry on April 5.

A member of the committee said the health ministry received about Nu 300M in 2007 to buy medical equipment for the referral hospitals in Thimphu and Mongar; and ACC, after reviewing the procurement of medical equipment, recommended the ministry to study the procurement procedure, and put in place an internal control mechanism to make it transparent and accountable. “Of the Nu 300M, Nu 200M was for JDWNRH and Nu 100M was for Mongar regional hospital,” he said.

The official also said that the ministry is exploring means to make the two suppliers supply all the equipment.

Citing an example, officials said the Thimphu national referral hospital and Mongar regional referral hospital received only six operation theatre lights of the 12 ordered. The official said that the health ministry had to recover the other six OT lights. “There are defective and partial equipment supply in physiotherapy and pediatrics department also,” he said. “We have to recover that too.”

But, with the two suppliers refusing to respond to calls and messages, the ministry is planning to send a team to talk and solve the problem.

“The two suppliers were frightened after ACC arrested and detained them,” an official said, adding, “We should have first recovered the supplies and then taken appropriate action.”

The committee also pointed out that there were inefficiencies in drugs procurement and supply division. “We streamlined the whole process to make it transparent,” an official said.

BHUs and district hospitals would now maintain an equipment inventory register, a log book to record how many times a particular equipment had been used and the problems it gives.

Unlike in the past, where the ministry decided and procured medical equipment for all hospitals, the district hospitals would identify, specify and quantify the health equipment needed in the particular district hospital and BHUs. “This is a major change in the procurement system that would save a lot of government budget,” an official said.

A committee member said the finding indicated that there is inefficiency at various levels in health system, but corruption is not institutionalised. “Those who have accused the ministry of institutionalised corruption, should be able to prove it,” the committee’s chairman, Dr Ugyen Dophu, said.

He said a few individuals are corrupted and they have been charged by ACC. “A few might be caught again, but that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone in the ministry is corrupted.”

Source: Kuenselonling

Facebook, Social Networking ban in offices in Bhutan

The recent government decision to disallow the civil service from accessing the social networking site Facebook during office hours was regularly questioned by audience members at a ‘social media and democracy’ panel discussion held in Thimphu, yesterday.

Namgay Wangchuk, a royal institute of management trainee, asked panelists on what basis the government had passed the ban, and whether any kind of research had been conducted to validate the basis.

Panelist Tenzing Lamsang, who is also the news editor of the Business Bhutan weekly, explained that the intent of the ban is to increase productivity by civil servants. He pointed out that a consequence of the ban was a perception among civil servants that the government is trying to “clamp down on opposition.” He was referring to Facebook sites, such as the ‘amend the tobacco act’ and the ‘right to information’ pages. “I think it’s somewhere in between, not entirely on either side.”

An audience member asked how banning social sites would lead to productivity. Tenzing Lamsang pointed out that, as a journalist, he has encountered how Facebook can affect the civil service. “One flaw about the civil service, not all of them, when you go there they’ll be playing their video games, they’ll be on Facebook, and they wouldn’t have time for work,” he said. “I’ve faced that many times.”

He added, “You can’t use office resources, when the office is paying the internet bill, for your own personal purposes, but what do most civil servants do? Let’s be frank about it, guys looking for girls and the girls looking for guys.” But he also pointed out that, while the banning may curb such activities, the issue still remained a grey area, when it comes to freedom of expression.

A lecturer of the institute of language and cultural studies said that, by banning the social site, the government is “moral policing”. She pointed out that the government’s role is not to be a moral police. She said that instead offices should ensure that civil servants have “work to do”.

Another issue discussed at the event included why Bhutanese are so active on online forums that allow anonymity. The questioning audience member asked whether this could be because of a lack of laws offering protection on free speech.

Panelist Sangay Khandu, who is the parliament member for Gasa dzongkhag, pointed out that the constitution of the country guaranteed freedom of expression for all Bhutanese. “In no way is a Bhutanese at threat for speaking out his or her mind,” said the MP, “given that you can substantiate with reason and logic.” He added the tendency of Bhutanese to be active on online forums is not because “of an absence of a law that protects the rights of Bhutanese to speak or express.”

A Royal Thimphu college student said that social media is only available to a minority of Bhutanese. She asked what measures existed to get majority voices included in the media.

Panelist Kinley Tshering, who moderates the ‘amend the tobacco act’ Facebook page, pointed out that the government, as a first step, is looking to connect all dzongkhags with high speed broadband internet access by this year. He added that the next step would be to explore ways to get more people to engage in social media. He said that such internet literacy needed to be created by the media, civil society organisations, and the government.

The social media and democracy event was organised by the Bhutan centre for media and democracy and Royal Thimphu college. It was held to mark World Press Freedom day, which falls on May 3.

Source: Kuenselonline

GNH og Bhutan requires a new accounting system

If the draft mineral development policy’s stated vision “Create a vibrant mineral sector that contributes to the achievement of GNH” is to be realised, then all current and proposed mining activities must be assessed in a holistic manner, and undergo a full-cost accounting that together can actually function to make the market economy much more efficient, if adopted and implemented in practice.

Internalisation of external costs
Full-cost accounting internalises ‘externalities’, such as the social and environmental impacts of economic activity, and thus assesses the true costs of production, which in turn should be reflected in market prices. If, for example, the full costs of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions were included in the cost of production, and in market prices, imported food might become considerably more expensive than locally grown produce. Externalities related to the coal industry in the USA in 2008 have been estimated at $US345 billion. That is $1,124 for every man, woman and child in the USA. These externalities included land disturbance, methane emissions, carcinogens, public health costs, fatalities, loss of productivity and climate damage. (Source: American Journal of Public Health, April 2008, Vol 98, No.4).

The economic valuation of non-market assets
Full-cost accounting recognises and accounts for the economic value of non-market assets that are not traded in the market economy, but which nevertheless have real economic value. In assessing the value of a forest, for example, a full set of natural capital accounts will include not only the market value of the timber (as in conventional balance sheets), but also the value of the forest in regulating the climate and sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, in protecting watersheds, in preventing soil erosion, in providing habitat for many species, and in providing aesthetic and recreational enjoyment.

From the perspective of a full-cost/benefit analysis, therefore, a ‘healthy forest’ is one that performs all these functions optimally. Indeed, the scientific evidence clearly shows that, when the non-market values of a forest are compromised, the quality of the wood cut also declines.

The replacement of fixed with variable costs to the extent possible
This essentially means that costs would vary according to usage. To give a concrete example, fixed annual payments for car registration and insurance provide no incentives for conservation, and no penalties for unsustainable behaviour. If payments varied by type of vehicle, fuel efficiency, and number of kilometres driven annually, they would reflect a far more accurate picture of the actual social, economic, and environmental impacts of driving.

The mineral development policy states (page 9):

“The adverse social and environmental impacts of mineral extraction can be prevented or mitigated only with effective administration and monitoring of the mining sector, for which creation of an autonomous body with a specific mandate is found very essential at this juncture.”

Thus, perhaps this autonomous body could be charged with the explicit responsibility of coordinating full-cost assessments of current or proposed mining operations. The cost of these assessments would be borne by the mining operators. By ignoring the value of natural and social capital and ecosystem services, GDP is in fact putting an arbitrary value of zero on these vital assets, which is not only far less accurate than an attempt to assign a proper value, but treats these assets as mere externalities that therefore do not get proper policy attention.

Case study: Coal mining in Samdrupjongkhar
A case study on the coalmine in Deothang was conducted as part of the Samdrupjongkhar Initiative research project, as an example of the kind of investigation required for all mining projects (details at www.sji.bt). The study is not to provide any kind of comprehensive overview of mining impacts, but to illustrate the potential dangers that can result when the full costs of mining are not properly considered.

When people working at the coal mine were asked about the working conditions at the mine, many of the villagers were simply happy to have work and did not want to complain. However, others talked about noise and dust created by the transportation of coal. One individual, who no longer lives in the area, but worked at the mine between 1997 and 2001, said that there were many health problems, mostly respiratory, associated with working there, as well as several work-related deaths. People also noted landslides, erosion, dust creation, reduction of agricultural productivity and houses being affected because of erosion and blasts.

While it was not possible to ascertain the health status of the employees at the mine, since no study has been undertaken, coal is known to be hazardous to health. According to the US centre for disease control, both surface and underground coal miners suffer from coal dust exposure and associated lung diseases such as pneumoconiosis (black lung) or anthracosis. The report states that at most risk are those, who cut the coal directly from the coal seams (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Evidence Package for the National Academies’ Review 2006-2007), as is the case of the coal mine in Deothang.

In 2008, data from communities located near coal mines in the US were analysed by University of West Virginia researchers, who found that residents had an increased risk of developing chronic heart, lung, and kidney diseases. According to the data, people, who live in coal mining communities, had a 70 percent increased risk for developing kidney disease, a 64 percent increased risk for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as emphysema, and were 30 percent more likely to report high blood pressure. One of the lead authors of the study concluded: “People in coal-mining communities need better access to healthcare, cleaner air, cleaner water, and stricter enforcement of environmental standards.” (Chronic Illness Linked to Coal-Mining Pollution, March 27, 2008).

Complaints about the dust created by the coal-carrying trucks during the dry season have led the coal mining company to water the roads daily to keep down the dust levels. However, in many places, the result may be just as hazardous to health. The water, when mixed with the spilled coal from the trucks, leaves an iridescent slurry coating the roads and filling the potholes. Invariably, this mixture washes down the hills, polluting agricultural fields, streams, and water sources.

A comprehensive cost benefit study, including both short and long-term costs associated with the existing mines, should be conducted, assessing the full costs of mining against the revenues to the state and employment. The study should also include a study of health impacts on mine workers.

Coal mining also brings to the fore another potentially catastrophic reality for Bhutan: Global warming has serious implications for Bhutan in terms of potentially devastating glacial lake outbursts. Thus, it is highly questionable whether a country committed to climate stability, by vowing to remain a net carbon sink in perpetuity, should be mining and exporting one of the greatest contributors to this global as well as national calamity. The question is particularly pertinent in a country that neither uses nor needs coal for its own development.

Source: Kuenselonline

His Majesty issues Kasho on Local Goverment Elections

During the audience granted to those who had appealed against their disqualification, His Majesty the King said that their appeal and the submissions made by the Prime Minister on behalf of the National Assembly, National Council and the two political parties, was with regard to the failure of the respective political parties to abide by the laws on procedures for de-registration in particular and on the interpretation of the laws on de-registration in general. Thus, the appeal would merit full consideration from the relevant agencies, if the individuals had themselves acted in accordance with the laws.

His Majesty said that the Election Commission of Bhutan was simply abiding by the Constitutional requirement that Local Governments must be apolitical. His Majesty said, “I have always encouraged political participation and the growth of political parties. Having heeded my request to all citizens to participate in the political process in the past, you may now, as prospective candidates for Local Government offices, be surprised that your participation in political parties have hindered your chances to run for office in Local Government. The Constitution requires apolitical Local Governments for very important reasons. Local Government responsibilities are very different from those of political parties or any other institution. Local Governments are the foundation for grassroots democracy. They must have intimate knowledge of the daily lives of the people in their constituencies; work in constant and close interaction with their people and nurture cooperation, consensus and close-knit communities. In a largely rural country Local Governments are even more important not just in carrying out vital duties towards achieving development objectives of their people, but also in bringing about a harmonious society.”

His Majesty said, “As individuals, having a preference for a political party is not bad. The majority of people will always hold certain preferences. However, in carrying out one’s duties as part of an apolitical institution, we must keep our political affiliations aside. It is as simple as carrying out one’s official duties without being biased by preference for family and friends at the cost of the larger community.”

His Majesty said that he always encouraged institutions to resolve issues on their own, through consultation. He said, “Once the Throne is involved, the Throne will protect the Constitution and the laws in place – it has no other path before it.”

His Majesty said that, “the sacred Constitutional duty of the King is to protect and uphold this Constitution in the best interest and for the welfare of the people of Bhutan. As I do so, I shall seek if necessary, the Supreme Court’s opinion, for the Supreme Court is the guardian of this Constitution and the final authority of its interpretation.”

Source: BBS

Bihar CM Visit Bhutan for 5 Days

The chief minister of the Indian state of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, is on a five-day goodwill visit to Bhutan, on the invitation of Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley.

In his meeting with Lyonchhoen yesterday in Thimphu, the chief minister said that land to build a temple, an area for meditation and a rest house - dharamsala - had been identified in Rajgir, which is visited by thousands of Bhutanese every year.

Lyonchhoen had made a request for a three-acre plot of land in Rajgir, during his visit to Bihar in September 2010 as the president of the Mahabodhi society.

An exhibition on tourism in Bihar and a cultural performance, followed by a lunch, showcasing the rich cuisine of Bihar, will be held today at the Tarayana centre in Thimphu, organised by the Bihar state tourism development corporation and the tourism council of Bhutan.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who arrived on May 1, leaves the country today.

Source: Kuenselonline

BCCB Twenty20 Final on Sunday

Team Dot Com and BTCL are in the finals of the ongoing Twenty20 tournament being played at the Jigmethang ground in Thimphu.

On Monday, Dot Com brushed aside Rigsum CC comfortably by nine wickets, while BTCL clinched a two wicket victory over Bhutan Telecom.

Choosing to field first after winning the toss proved a correct decision for Dot Com. No other batsman made an impact from Rigsum, except Manoj Adhikari, who scored 35 in 34 balls. Dot Com’s captain Jigme Singye was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Tandin Wangchuk, Lobzang Younten and Nima shared two wickets each.

At the end of their 20 overs Rigsum set a 106-run target. Rigsum brought down Kinley Wangchuk in the fifth over and, thereafter, it was all Dot Com. Leading from the front, captain Jigme Singye hit his first half century of the tournament, while Susil Sharma added a supporting 30 in 31 balls. Jigme Singye was named man of the match for his all-round performance of three wickets and 57 runs.

Later in the afternoon, Bhutan Telecom came close to winning, but it was BTCL, who ultimately passed the pressure situation, beating Telecom by two wickets. It would have been Telecom’s game, if BTCL Ugyen Dorji had not hit four boundaries in the 18th over.

Having won the toss, Bhutan Telecom elected to bat first and set a 123-run target that included 58 runs from Saijo and 20 from Damber Gurung. BTCL’s opening bowler Darjay ripped through Telecom’s opening batsmen, picking up three wickets.

In reply, BTCL scored 123 for the loss of eight wickets. Tandin top scored with 33 runs and Ugyen added a crucial 19 in 10 balls. Vijay Gurung yet again picked four wickets but couldn’t save his team from losing. Sonam Darjay was awarded the man of the match.

The finals is scheduled for May 8.

Source: Kuenselonline

Bhutan national airline Drukair is considering increasing airfares during peak seasons

With aviation fuel prices continuing to surge worldwide, national airline Drukair is considering increasing airfares during peak seasons.

Earlier this year, Drukair committed itself not to increase airfares in 2011, despite rising aviation fuel prices. But this was at a time, when the rate of increase was only around 20-25 percent.

“It has increased by almost 45 percent over one year, but we haven’t increased our fares at all,” said the airline’s commercial manager, Tshering Penjore. “So there’s pressure on the management and we need to also rationalise the amount of increase,” he said.

Between 40-44 percent of Drukair’s operating costs is on aviation fuel.

“We may be forced some time or the other to have a fuel surcharge,” said Tshering Penjore. A fuel surcharge is when an extra cost is added to the airfare to cover the increased fuel price. So far, Drukair has been able to cover fuel price increases because of traffic increase. The airline experienced a 12 percent growth in traffic last year. The airline flew 132,675 passengers in 2010, compared to 118,084 in 2009.

Tshering Penjore pointed out that Drukair is currently still “trying to resist” any increase in airfare. He said that the airline is hoping to offset rising fuel costs by attracting more travellers, which should “mitigate” any increase in airfare.

He added that an increase in airfare would only be for the peak seasons. “We find it pertinent because that’s when demand is at its peak,” said Tshering Penjore. Drukair considers the months of March and April, and September and October as peak seasons. Tshering Penjore added that the rest of the year would see no increase in airfares. He said that Drukair would also continue to maintain its regular discount schemes for both tourists and local travelers.

Source: Kuenselonline

Osama Bin Laden, al-Qaeda leader, dead - Barack Obama

Bin Laden was shot dead at a compound near Islamabad, in a ground operation based on US intelligence, the first lead for which emerged last August.

Mr Obama said US forces took possession of the body after "a firefight".

Bin Laden is believed to have ordered the attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001 and a number of others.

He was top of the US' "most wanted" list.

DNA tests later confirmed that Bin Laden was dead, US officials said.

Bin Laden was buried at sea after a Muslim funeral on board an aircraft carrier, Pentagon officials said.

Announcing the success of the operation, Mr Obama said it was "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaeda". Read More

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13256676

Bhutan: Indian helicopter carrying the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, India missing

A helicopter carrying the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, India which was reported missing since yesterday has not been found so far said the Home Minister Lyonpo Minjur Dorji. He was speaking to the Bhutanese media this afternoon. The Home Minister who is coordinating the search operation said “the entire government machinery has been mobilised and all the dzongdas (governors) of the six eastern districts have been alerted.”

The helicopter left Tawang for Itanagar, the state capital, at 9.55 a.m. with five people on board. Because of bad weather, it had to change route and attempt to fly over Bhutan.

The search has been narrowed down to three areas; Merak and Sakteng area in Trashigang district, Dungte in Trashiyangtse, and Shingkhar Lauri in Samdrupjongkhar. Hundreds of people including district administration officials, armed force personnel, local farmers, park officials, and teachers are combing the area to locate the missing chopper.

“The area is uninhabited and covered by thick forests, the terrain is extremely rough, and the weather conditions unfavourable making the search efforts difficult,” said the Home Minister.

With the Prime Minister closely involved, the Home Minister and the Cabinet Secretary Dasho Tashi Phuntshog are coordinating the efforts with Royal Bhutan Army, the Royal Bhutan Police, the Department of Civil Aviation, the Department of Disaster Management, and the Indian Embassy.

“His Majesty the King who has been informed regularly on the missing chopper is deeply concerned,” said the Home Minister.

A number of helicopters are searching the area where the chopper may have been lost. Communication problems are also hampering the search efforts.

The Cabinet Secretary said “the search will continue till the chopper is located.” Nobody is sure where it has landed, in Bhutan or in India. “Search is on, on both sides of the border,” he said.

Prayers are also being recited in the six eastern districts for the safety of the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister and other people on-board the chopper.

Source: BBS

Bhutan health help centre

A pregnant woman in Tongla village in Khenghar Mongar had retained the placenta after delivery. The health assistant, who was in the village, a two-hour walk uphill from the nearest road, dialed 112.

By the time she reached the road head, an ambulance was waiting for her and whisked her off to Mongar hospital. “We could have lost her if it hadn’t been for this service,” the health ministry’s director general Dr Dorji Wangchuk said.

Even as the health help centre (HHC) was formally launched yesterday, the centre in Thimphu was buzzing with calls from remote Bhutan.

A bull had gored a man in Lhuentse, while another call was about a woman, who was having labour pain in Bumthang. Ambulances were dispatched immediately to bring them to the nearest health facility.

Riding on information technology (IT), access to health services across the country is now just a phone call away.

Dial 112, a toll free number for emergencies, advice, and information and for an ambulance if the patient needs to be taken to a doctor.

This facility, health officials said, has now bridged the gap of accessibility and optimised the services of medical professionals, which has been difficult given the terrain and doctor shortage. Statistics show that 40 percent of the population is still an hours walk away from the nearest health center.

“The more free health care services you provide, the more inequality you create; because, while the literate make the most of it, the poor and illiterate are unable to access it,” health minister Zangley Dukpa said at the launch yesterday. “This is one of the reasons why we’re launching the ICT enabled health care service through the health help centre.”

The HHC regulates 61 ambulances stationed in 37 locations in hospitals, with 59 emergency medical technicians (EMT) posted across the country, the centre’s chief executive officer Dr NB Rai said.

Its nationwide service kicked off informally on April 4 and has since then served 2,497 cases to date. Of these, 291 were referrals between hospitals and 544 were emergencies the centre handled from all districts, except Gasa, Dr NB Rai said.

The centre also received 589 cases of healthcare management services where callers were advised, counselled and given e-prescription through SMS. The emergency physician saw 35 cases.

Prank calls have been an issue since operations started. Between February 5 and May 1, the centre recorded 6,895 prank calls, almost thrice the number of “valid” 2,479 emergency calls. On an average, the centre receives about 70 valid calls everyday.

“We even get calls from people asking for momos,” Dr NB Rai said.

Once, the centre received a call from a man who was panicking because his wife was about to deliver. “We sent an ambulance immediately with a EMT and later learnt that it was another man, who was mimicking a woman in labour pain,” he said.

In another case, the centre sent an ambulance to Hontsho only to find no one there and the cell phone switched off. “It’s shameful,” Dr Sudhakar from ProCreate techno systems, one of the consultants from India, said.

The system has back up servers and will run even during power failures, explained the consultants. Chief executive officer of Orange business services in India, Bala Mahadevan, said it is run on a very advanced system that can be scaled up according to the calls the centre receives.

An initiative under the accelerating Bhutan’s socio economic development program, the HHC is set up and operationalised at the cost of Nu 34M in nine months by a consortium of Regal information technology, Thimphu, Equant technology services and ProCreate techno systems, India.

Officials said 25 people could call the centre that is manned by 15 people and two doctors. HCC’s focal person, Gaki said data generated from the center could also be used for evidence based planning.

“The need for a specialised service provider will be optimised and with IT you save costs and provide faster and quality services,” health secretary Dasho (Dr) Gado Tshering said.

Source: Kuenselonline

Bhutan health ministry has signed a contractual agreement with India

The health ministry has signed a contractual agreement with a consortium of Bhutanese and Indian technology companies to improve healthcare service delivery by setting up a health help centre (HHC).

The HHC is an initiative, under the accelerating Bhutan’s socio-economic development program, through specific initiatives, like the healthcare helpline and emergency response system, as detailed in the performance compact signed with the prime minister in December 2009.
With the healthcare helpline, the ministry claims that patients could call a toll free number twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week to seek medication, counselling, public health information and other associated helpline. “In case of complications, a patient shall be directed to the nearest health facility adequately equipped and having capacity to attend the patient immediately,” states a press release from the ministry.

As a part of the emergency response system, patients in emergency could call a toll free 24X7 and request an ambulance at the location of the incident. The nearest ambulance would then be dispatched to the location to pick up the patient, according to the press release. “The health facility would also be intimated of the patient’s arrival, so that they are prepared to handle the case.”

Both the initiatives are to be launched by December 17.

The consortium comprise of the Regal information technology in Thimphu, Equant technology services pvt ltd and Procreate techno systems pvt ltd, both Indian companies.

Source: Kuenselonline

Bhutan people gathered for voter photo identity card

A 40-year old man from Paro emerged out of a crowd gathered at the royal academy of performing arts (RAPA) hall, rubbing his eyes that had turned red from being exposed to dust.

He said he had been waiting since April 19 to collect his voter photo identity card.

“They stopped issuing the cards after 5pm, least considerate of those of us, who waited since morning the first day,” he said yesterday. “I’m giving up. There’s no point. I’ve waited until lunch today.”

A young man from Trashigang, working with a corporate firm, claimed to have waited since 7am yesterday, only to find a long queue already formed in front of the door to the hall.

“It took me more than five hours to get my card,” he said seeming rather satisfied, adding there was no point in standing in a queue, when everyone else broke line. “You have to jostle and sharp-elbow those around you.”

In the process, a woman from Trashigang living in Thimphu said that some men were almost bound for fisticuffs.

A woman was taken to hospital, following a stampede in their struggle to get in front of the queue, although medical officials at the emergency ward said she suffered no major injuries and was sent home following a brief examination.

At the Motithang school hall, where another crowd of Thimphu residents had gathered to collect their voter cards, police officials shoved a few people back into the crowd, as they tried to force open the door.

To save people all that hassle, the police their curses and the election commission officials the strain, many in the crowd suggested that commission officials should have provided at least a week to collect the cards.

A civil servant, who left after a brief scan of the crowd, said authorities should not complain of a lukewarm response during elections later, if they made the process towards it so unfavourable.

“What’s the purpose of a voter card in the first place when we have identity cards,” she said. “Isn’t that good enough to identify our eligibility to vote.”

A businessman suggested the authority should have divided the two days into couple of hours for people of different dzongkhags depending on sizes.

“What they’re doing isn’t service to the people but an attempt to show the authorities higher up that they’re doing something,” he said.

His friend, working with an autonomous agency, said that, despite taking two days leave from the office, he was unable to fetch his voter card.

“It’s a wastage of time,” he said.

On the issue of providing more time, commission’s deputy chief electoral registration officer Sonam Tobgyel explained that they had decided on the two-day collection time from the feedback they had garnered following the general elections.

“Give them a few days or a week, they’ll still rush at the last moment,” he said, adding the cards would be distributed to each household in every chiwog.

“They have to go to their villages to vote anyway and their voter cards will be there,” Sonam Tobgyel said. “It’s for these reasons we can’t hold the cards here for more than two days.”

He also said the commission officials spent at least 12 hours a day trying distributing the voter cards to Thimphu residents from other parts of the country.

Sonam Tobgyel agreed that, while the citizen identity card would also do, he said they were mandated by their act to distribute voter cards.

“The voter card contains in detail the polling stations and the constituency of a voter,” he said.

The two-day voter card distribution for 17 dzongkhags ended yesterday, and they will be sent to their respective dzongkhags.

Voter card distribution for three dzongkhags of Punakha, Trongsa and Trashiyangtse has already been completed.

Source: Kuenselonline