16th SAARC summit concludes

Source: BBS

April 29: The 16th SAARC summit ended today with the adoption of the “Thimphu Silver Jubilee Declaration- Towards a Green and Happy South Asia.”
In his closing speech, the Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley described the deliberations as most instructive and productive. But he said the true test of the success of the summit lies in the difference the decisions will make to the lives of the millions of the poor and deprived in SAARC countries.
The summit decided to develop a vision statement by a South Asian Forum. The forum will provide a platform to debate, discuss and exchange ideas on South Asia and its future.
It came out with the Thimphu Statement on Climate Change which is expected to provide a strong impetus to the SAARC efforts to address issues relating to Climate Change.
The SAARC Foreign Ministers signed two instruments, the Convention on Cooperation on Environment and the Agreement on Trade in Services.
The agreement on trade in service will help boost trade and promote people to people contact. The agreement on environment will help address issues related to climate change. It will also enable SAARC to have a common voice in climate change negotiations in national, regional and international level.
The SAARC Development Fund has become operational and its First Chief Executive Officer appointed. It will finance regional and sub-regional socio-economic development programmes and projects.
The South Asian University in New Delhi has also become operational. The university will open in August and will become the Centre of Excellence for Higher Learning in South Asia.
The Prime Minister also thanked the delegates for allowing Bhutan to introduce the concept of Gross National Happiness. An inter-governmental workshop will be organised later this year to look at the relevance of this concept in our region.
The President of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed said that there are sufficient ingredients to achieve the SAARC objectives. There was a sense of togetherness and commitment from the countries to achieve the common goal. However he said there are also challenges that need to be overcome.
The next SAARC summit will be held in the Maldives.

Saarc adopts silver jubilee declaration

Source: Bhutan Observer

30 April 2010

The principal outcome of the 16th Saarc summit, the 36-point Thimphu Silver Jubilee Declaration, was adopted yesterday by the eight leaders of the Saarc countries. Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the founding of Saarc, the declaration charts the future course of the association to make it an even more effective and a robust body.

“The true test of the success of this summit lies in the difference the decisions will make to the lives of millions of the poor and deprived in our countries. We, therefore, need to be focused and act on the decisions,” said the Saarc chairperson, Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley. The leaders highlighted the need for more efficient, focused, time-bound and people-centric activities and called for appropriate reflection of all the Saarc decisions in the national policies and programmes of member states.

They resolved that the year should be commemorated by making Saarc truly action-oriented by fulfilling commitments, implementing declarations and decisions, and operationalising instruments and living up to the hopes and aspirations of one-fifth of humanity. The Maldives will host the 17th Saarc summit in 2011.

Pacts signed

The leaders signed the Saarc Agreement on Trade in Services, which is expected to further deepen the integration of the regional economies. The convention on cooperation on environment was also signed. They called for an early ratification of the agreements. However, the proposal on disaster management rapid response mechanism could not be agreed upon since the leaders felt the need for more expert studies. The 15th summit declaration stressed the need for timely provision of relief in humanitarian emergencies. The declaration directed the creation of a natural disaster rapid response mechanism under the aegis of the Saarc Disaster Management Centre.

Saarc agreement on Trade in Services will enable the realization of the region’s immense potential in service areas such as health, hospitality, communications, computer, information, and air transport.

The Saarc Convention on Environment is expected to promote cooperation among the member countries in the field of environment and sustainable development.

Regional cooperation

The leaders agreed to form a South Asia Forum for generation of debate, discussion and exchange of ideas on South Asia and its future development.

The forum would provide inputs based on a comprehensive understanding for charting out the future course of Saarc. They stressed the need to reach out to different sections of the South Asian community, particularly its students and youth, private media, private sector, think tanks, civil society, and institutions of economic development.

Gross National Happiness

The leaders emphasized a greater focus on people-centric development with due emphasis on socio-cultural progress and upholding traditions and values. The concept of GNH was noted. They welcomed Bhutan’s offer to host a Saarc workshop on GNH in 2010.

Poverty alleviation

The leaders emphasized deepening regional efforts on poverty alleviation. They called for expeditious mainstreaming of the Saarc Development Goals (SDGs) in the national processes and completion of the mid-term review of the SDGs. They welcomed Nepal’s offer to host the third Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation in 2011.

E nvironment

The leaders welcomed climate change as the theme for the summit and reaffirmed their commitment to address this challenge. They emphasized that global negotiations on climate change should be guided by the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

They underscored the need to initiate the process to formulate a common Saarc position for COP16 and beyond.

They also called for focus on water management and conservation, and development of cooperative projects at regional level.

The leaders reiterated the importance of sustainably managing environment and development through adoption of eco-friendly approaches and technologies.

They called for effective regional programmes in early warning, preparedness and management.

Women and youth

The leaders welcomed the announcement by the Maldives to nominate a Woman Secretary General as the tenth Secretary General of Saarc.

They directed the development of a Saarc Youth Action Plan to guide regional cooperation.

Saarc Development fund (SDF)

The leaders welcomed the ratification of the SDF Charter and inauguration and operationalization of the permanent secretariat of the SDF in Thimphu.

They emphasised the need for the member states to take full advantage of the mechanism of the SDF through clearance and implimentation of the projects and programmes.

South Asian Free Trade Agreement (Safta)

The leaders reiterated their commitment to implement Safta in letter and spirit. They emphasized the need to realize the full potential, through reduction of the size of the sensitive lists, acceleration of trade facilitation measures, and removal of non-tariff, para- tariff and other barriers.

Education

The leaders emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation in education and directed greater interaction among the universities in the region towards undertaking of joint programmes on collaborative research and exchange programmes.

Connectivity

The leaders called for collaborative efforts to achieve greater intra-regional connectivity and endorsed the recommendation to declare 2010-2020 as the Decade of Intra-regional Connectivity in Saarc. They agreed on the need to expedite negotiations with a view to finalizing the two agreements on motor vehicles and railways.

They underscored the need for promotion of tourism to enhance greater people-to-people contacts in the region and called for the creation of tourism-friendly environment.

Food security

The leaders directed the Saarc agriculture ministers to vigorously pursue regional cooperation in agriculture covering all sub-sectors to enhance overall agricultural productivity. They directed early consideration of the concept of a regional seed bank, regional testing and certification of seeds, and a framework for transfer of plant genetic material and seeds.

Energy

The leaders emphasized the need to undertake studies to develop regional energy projects, promote regional power trade, efficiency, conservation and development of labeling and standardization of appliances, and sharing of knowledge and technologies.

Terrorism

The leaders reiterated their firm resolve to root out terrorism and recalled the Ministerial Declaration on Cooperation in Combating Terrorism. They emphasized the need to strengthen regional cooperation to fight terrorism and transnational organized crimes.

By Sonam Pelden

Never too old to learn

Cheten, Dorji Wangchuk and his youngest brother (From left)

 

 

 

 

 

27 April, 2010 - Dorji Wangchuk blushed recalling his first day in school as a 15-year old. Now 22, the student from Gongdi under Silambi gewog, Mongar, is in class six at the Pangthang community primary school.
“I was as tall as my teacher,” said Dorji. “But my fingers couldn’t scribble the letters which other students did with ease,” recalled Dorji whose hands were hardened by ploughing and digging the fields.

But no one could beat him singing nursery rhymes. “I enjoyed them more than learning the lessons,” he said. It helped him forget the difficulties at home.

Instead of going to school Dorji stayed home looking after the cattle and his five younger siblings. Then seven years ago dungkhag authorities convinced his parents to send him to school.

Dorji’s father died last year and since then he has shouldered the responsibility to meet school expenses for himself and his brother, who goes to the same school. His elder brother and a sister work in Haa and Samtse.

“I worked on neighbours’ farms during weekends and holidays on wage. In the winter I sold oranges,” said Dorji. He needed Nu 4,000 a year as school expenses for himself and his brother.

Dorji’s friend Cheten, also from Silambi, carried oranges and walked for more than four days to Tsenkari in Nganglam and back to cover school expenses. He earned Nu 450 for every trip.

Cheten dreads visiting his past. His mother died while he was an infant and his father abandoned him soon after. Since then he lived with his elder sister.

The 18-year old from Medan, is studying in class five in Daksa community primary school. “I wondered how it’d be like, when I saw my friends going to school while I looked after cattle,” said Cheten.

He fancied their uniform, their books full of pictures and the songs they sang. “I wished one day I could go to school,” he said. His dreams materialised when the dungkhag authorities convinced his family to send him to school.

Both students exhibit exemplary discipline and are good in studies according to their teachers. They have served as school captains for years now. They also share the ambition of becoming doctors in future.

The two students have been selected to receive the annual kidu educational allowance.

By Tshering Palden

SAARC leaders arrive in Bhutan

 

SAARC : 27 April, 2010 - Six SAARC leaders have arrived in the country ahead of the 16th SAARC summit that begins tomorrow in Thimphu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top down: Bangladeshi Prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, President Mohamed Nasheed of Maldives, Prime minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani of Pakistan and Prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal of Nepa

A coming of age summit

Source: Kuenselonline

Opportunity to showcase Bhutan as an emerging nation

Dry Run: A rehearsal all the way from Paro Airport

23 April, 2010 - The main gate at Babesa that welcomes visitors into the capital city stands tall.

First come the flags of SAARC member states affixed to the necks of street lamps along the 6.5-km expressway. This is followed by portraits of the heads of eight SAARC member nations also fastened to lamp-posts.
An alternate succession of flags and pictures of leaders continues until the end of the expressway at Lungtenzampa.

Thimphu city looks much cleaner and its residents are eager to witness the motorcade of heads of the region pass through the main streets.

Bhutan is ready to host the 16th SAARC Summit.

“It’s a special privilege and opportunity to showcase and demonstrate our country as coming of age,” Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley told Bhutanese journalists at a press conference in the “grand” assembly hall in Thimphu.

While journalists were seated on chairs behind semicircular tables, designated for delegates from member nations with their country name-plates, the prime minister sat below the platform, where the heads of states will stand, during the inaugural ceremony, behind the long table, spanning the platform, with podiums at either end.

A privilege, he continued, to showcase an economy that is growing and an ecology, which though fragile, is well preserved and will continue to be so.

He also said it was an opportunity to showcase an emerging democracy, which started in a unique way and will thrive.

“As a harmonious society and a country that is committed to regional cooperation that has now the political will and intelligence to host such a major regional event,” Lyonchhoen said.

A country like Bhutan, Lyonchhoen said, needed such an event to project its image as a sovereign, independent and a unique nation.

“Never has Bhutan played host to so many important delegations and never will it be exposed to the outside world as this event might,” he said.

The country would be playing host to some 800 delegates, of which 50 would be observers from nine observing nations and more than 300 media people.

The press conference was held after Bhutanese journalists were given a tour of the principal areas where the dignitaries would meet, be entertained and stay during the Summit.

Lyonchhoen said hosting the event brought with it the responsibility of chairmanship, which going beyond hospitability, meant being more knowledgeable on all deliberations of issues.

Apart from upgrading airport facilities, erecting a new gate at Chunzom and sprucing up the city, the government had to also refurbish the interiors of the summit hall in parliament.

The prime minister said the lights had to be changed, because it was timely and necessary from threats posed by wires.

The banquet hall will serve as the convention centre, where the programming committee, standing committee and council of ministers meeting would be held. It now has 15 chandeliers.

“The speaker’s room has been done up and called the Raven Room, where heads of government will meet before and after meetings at the Summit hall,” Lyonchhoen said.

The Bhutan house at SAARC Village will serve as a central facility to facilitate all bilateral meetings for heads of government, should they feel the need to meet on neutral grounds.

Besides that, it would also be used as a place of retreat for leaders of delegations for informal “frank exchanges” without their aids or anyone with official status.

SAARC, Lyonchhoen said, had a vast potential, the key to which was in the development of an atmosphere of understanding, trust, removal of doubts and suspicion among member states.

Lyonchhoen said he was confident that the summit would contribute to furthering confidence, which in turn was useful in furthering the interest of the countries of the region.

“The fact that they’re all coming here is an indication of that common interest,” Lyonchhoen said. “We all know the importance of SAARC.”

Lyonchhoen also appealed to the public to bear with the inconveniences the summit proceedings would cause them and to be mindful about littering.

By Samten Wangchuk

Touching hearts and lives

Source: Touching hearts and lives | Bhutan Observer

23 April 2010

His Majesty’s visit to some of the remotest parts of the kingdom in the east is rede fining the people’s percep­tion of a monarch like never before.

The rural people are now describing His Majesty as “an enlightened being”.

“He didn’t sound like a king up there in his speech,” said Atta Chiloo from Zoar in Kengkhar Gewog, Mongar. “He sounded like a lama tell ing us to be good human be ings.”

Villagers, school chil dren and civil servants are increasingly opening their hearts to him.

Until recently, farmers, especially in remote areas, would not dare to be seen or stand along the trail taken by the royal entourage. Dorji Wangchuk, Director of the Royal Office for Media, said His Majesty has been able to win the people’s hearts. “I myself grew up running away when we heard the pi lot siren,” he said.

“Within a short span of time, His Majesty has defi nitely changed the people’s perception of the monarch,” he added.

Earlier, people ran away upon a rumor of an immi nent visit of the dreaded gar pas (court officials). Today, everyone stands and waits patiently for the motorcade. His Majesty dutifully stops by even for a single soul standing by the roadside.

In the past, villagers ran away from court officials, who were known to impose heavy taxes on them.

Some village sources say that, in a year, more than five garpas visited the villages to collect taxes. Cattle, pigs and chicken were slaughtered for the garpas. Villagers bore all the expenses of their stay and hospitality.

“I remember villagers weaving Pangkhep Sari (a towel-like piece of cloth) in my childhood,” said Rinchen Wangdi in his fifties. “Villag ers would tell me that it was given as a tax to Jakar Dzong in Bumthang.” Rinchen also remembers people weaving another kind of textile called Reepay Thagra to be given as another kind of tax called Thraigong.

Ata Chiloo recollects vil lagers hiding in the forests on hearing a rumour of gar rpas’ arrival. They also hid their properties and valu ables away from their hous es. Kengkhar was once the highway for the kings and dzongpoens moving from Bumthang to Dungsam (present-day Pemagatshel and Samdrupjongkhar area) and Assam.

Some communities in the eastern Bhutan even left their native villages to avoid heavy taxes. One such place is Kur toe in Lhuntse Dzongkhag. Long time ago, some 18 households were known to have abandoned their village to avoid heavy taxes, which also included doae (labour tax that involved carrying government consignments).

Villagers say that two peo ple from every household would be out doing doae. Numerous taxes were levied on different villages depend ing on what they grew. Some common taxes included sath rey (land tax), laneru threy (vegetable dye tax) and sing si grapa (vegetable oil tax).

According to Atta Chiloo, different garpas were de ployed to collect different taxes. Throughout the year, the villagers remained both ered by tax collectors. The garpas were locally named after the tax they collected. First came Lanee Garpa fol lowed by Singsi Garpa. Then came Yoma Garpa (to col lect butter and cheese tax) followed by Thritha Garpa (to collect textile tax) and Thraizong Garpa.

Present day Kengkhar Community Primary School (KCPS) premises were used for the garpas’ night halt. Known as Gumnang Brang sa, the villagers used the ground to keep their cattle. Ata Chiloo still remembers presenting live cattle to gar pas for meat. Now, Atta Chiloo and Rinchen Wangdi see the past being replaced by a present. The present they are seeing is the affection of a king for his people. Ata Chiloo rec ollects the slaughter of his neighbour’s bull in the same field.

Today, they are witnessing a king placing his service for the betterment of his peo ple. “I take it as my sacred responsibility to address the problems of my people,” said His Majesty.

Time has definitely changed, said Shacha Dor ji from Yangmalashing in Pemagatshel.

“Now we need not have to offer anything to the King; instead, he gives us every thing,” said Rinchen Wang di.

Today, meeting the king has become a life-long dream for many. A villager from Pam in Gongdu Gewog in Mongar said seeing the king was a life-time oppor tunity. “Earlier, forget see ing the king, in a place like Gongdu, you could not even see a dzongda,” said Yeshey Namgay.

“Today, you don’t have to go to Thimphu; the King walks into your village, and into your house,” he added. “He treats his people like his family members”.

Tshering Gembo, a class V student in Daksa Community Primary School (DCPS), was thrilled by His Majesty’s in vitation to play football with him.

“It was fun playing with His Majesty,” he said. “He was one of us.”

People say His Majesty not only provides the edu cational allowance to needy students, but has almost ad­opted them individually.

His Majesty’s education scheme has around 3,000 children in Bhutan.

His Majesty drinks from the humblest of man and woman. According to senior officials in the royal entou rage, His Majesty’s love for the people is genuine and very moving.

Any news of His Majesty passing through villages and towns attracts hundreds of people. Some of them just come to catch a glimpse of him. “People wait for hours, and some for days, under scorching sun or beating rain,” says Dorji Wangchuk.

Abi Rinchen, 77, from Bephu village under Thrim zhing Gewog, who dragged herself for a day to stand by the roadside as the King drove from Dewathang to Trashigang, said, “Seeing the King cleanses us of bad karma and we can hope for a better reincarnation. I have never seen a King and now I can die in peace.”

By Tempa Wangdi

Bhutan and Afghanistan establishes diplomatic relations

Source: Kuenselonline

21 April, 2010 - Bhutan and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan have established formal diplomatic relations from April 20 this year.
The joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations was signed between ambassador and permanent representative of Bhutan to the United Nations in New York, Lhatu Wangchuk, and the ambassador and permanent representative of Afghanistan Mr Zahir Tanin at the permanent Mission of Bhutan in New York.

With the diplomatic relations with Afghanistan established, Bhutan now has diplomatic relations with all member countries of SAARC.

The two ambassadors exchanged views on areas of the mutual cooperation and expressed the desire of their governments to cooperate closely in areas of mutual benefit.

Bhutan now has diplomatic relations with 24 countries and the European Union

Wamrong: Rising from the ashes

Source: Kuenselonline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back In Business: Rinzin Wangchuk in his new shop

19 April, 2010 - “My family was totally shattered,” was Tenzin Drukpa’s immediate response after the October 8 fire razed 12 houses in the town last year. “The flames took everything we ever had,” he said.
Today, six months after the fire, Tenzin is back to running a fully stocked general shop in a house he can call his own.

On March 31, the 12 shopkeepers of Wamrong town, who lost everything to the fire, resumed business when the 12 semi permanent structures, built by the Gyalpoi Zimpon’s office, were consecrated and handed over to them.  Each house was built at a cost of more Nu 300,000.

Tenzin now runs a general shop from a four-roomed semi permanent house. The goods to establish their shops were also transported free by the Zimpon’s office.

The new houses, granted as a kidu from His Majesty the King, have been built opposite to their burnt shops across the Trashigang-Samdrupjongkhar highway.  It becomes more convenient for them, when they start rebuilding their homes. “We can run the shop and also look after the rebuilding of our homes,” said Rinzin Wangchuk, one of the fire victims.

His Majesty on April 16 also granted land kidu of 2.24 acres to 19 commercial and 42 residential beneficiaries.  The land altogether is worth more than Nu 4.3M.  His Majesty signed the decree, granting the land , sitting on the highway amidst the beneficiaries.

The land kidu has fulfilled a long held wish of the shopkeepers and residents, who have waited many years for a town plan.

Most of the shops in Wamrong town that sprouted in the late 1960s were built on government land.  The town serves as a lunch point for the travellers plying the Trashigang-Samdrupjongkhar highway.

“Until now, we worried the government might ask us to move any time.

There was no peace of mind,” said Dechen Wangdi, who runs an eatery in Wamrong town. “Now we can focus on our business alone and try all means to do better hereafter.”

The land kidu beneficiaries are going to start rebuilding after the rainy season.

The shopkeepers now look back at the fire incident with pain, but are happy that it brought a solution to an uncertain future for the town and its residents.

By Tshering Palden

PM in Japan

From: Kuenselonline.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

17 April, 2010 - Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley meets Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at the latter’s official residence in Tokyo yesterday

Tuesdays – Walk to office day?

Source: Walking to work on Tuesdays? | Kuenselonline.com

Two years after the HEHE initiative, the jury is out on its catching on

 

 

 

 

 

On foot: Lyonpo (Dr) Pema Gyamtsho and staff on the way to office

14 April, 2010 - The HEHE walk, initiated by the agriculture minister, Lyonpo (Dr) Pema Gyamtsho, may not have encouraged all Thimphu office-goers to walk to office, but is slowly gathering pace.
Almost two years after the initiative, the minister said that officials of the anti corruption commission, national environment commission and even some private business people have started walking to office every Tuesday. “We aren’t forcing people to walk, it’s purely voluntary,” said the minister, adding that he has experienced great advantages by walking to office, at least one day in a week. “The walk will save fuel, reduce noise and air pollution and encourage people to stay healthy,” said the minister. “There’s more interaction with people when you walk to office.”

The minister added that, by encouraging people to stay healthy through physical exercise like walking to office, the pressure on hospitals from unhealthy habits would be reduced.

HEHE was started as a small initiative to fight rising fuel cost and increase in carbon emission. To ensure that the initiative is not hampered, any meetings or official functions scheduled on Tuesdays are postponed. “We can save two to three litres of fuel in a day,” said one of the officials, who walked on Tuesday from Lanjophakha.

Lyonpo Pema Gyamtsho has also realised the driving culture of Bhutanese drivers. “In many countries, priorities are given to pedestrians, but not here,” he said, adding that everybody is rushing without considering the pedestrians.

Meanwhile, the minister said that the 16th SAARC Summit theme, “Climate Change - Towards a green and happy south Asia” is an important issue that would raise discussions about global warming and its effects, natural disasters like flood, earthquake, and how to prepare for a disaster like glacier lake outburst flood. “Climate change won’t only affect Bhutan, but the entire SAARC region,” he said.

By Karma Tashi Wangmo

Traffic restrictions in and around capital

Source: Kuenselonline.com

SAARC Summit12 April, 2010 - Vehicle owners in Thimphu can expect to be stopped and directed by traffic police to take another route when VIPs are on the move on April 28 and April 29, said traffic division officials.
During the arrival of SAARC delegates on April 26 and 27, as well as their departure on April 30, traffic will be stopped on Norzin lam, starting from the taxi parking up to Chubachu.

However, for public convenience, the movement of public transport, like buses and taxis, will be allowed and restrictions lifted from 8 pm to 7 am.

Besides stopping traffic plying from Thimphu to Paro on April 26 and 27, police will also stop vehicles coming from Wangduephodrang and Punakha at Semtokha. Those coming from Haa will be stopped at Chuzom, and those from Phuentsholing at Damchu.

Traffic superintendent (SP), major Passang Dorji, said that the movement of vehicles would be stopped until all delegates reach Thimphu. On April 26, 28 and 30, only last digit odd number vehicles will be allowed to ply in Thimphu, while those with an even number as their last digit will be allowed to ply on April 27 and 29.

“Those violating this rule will be penalised, with the traffic police grounding their vehicles until April 30,” major Passang Dorji said. “The timings, if there are any, will be informed to the public later.” Traffic officials said that all preparations for the summit are in place. “The only thing we need is the public’s support for a few days,” the traffic SP said.

By Sonam Pelden

Criticism about McKinsey

Source: Bhutan Times forum posted by Che

The firm itself will not discuss specific client situations and maintains a carefully crafted and low-profile external image, which also protects it from public scrutiny of the results of its involvement, making an assessment of its client base, its success rate, and its profitability difficult. This secrecy also helps conceal McKinsey's prices.
Client confidentiality is maintained even among former employees, and as a result, journalists and writers have had difficulty developing fully informed accounts of mistakes McKinsey consultants may have made, such as with Enron, which was headed by McKinsey alumni and was one of the firm's biggest clients before its collapse.[12][13] Jeff Skilling, sentenced to 24 years in federal prison, was a partner at McKinsey and "loyal alum." Another notably troubled company associated with McKinsey is Swissair, which entered bankruptcy.[14]. Other client companies that ultimately filed for bankruptcy include Kmart and Global Crossing.
McKinsey's reputation has come under scrutiny several times in recent years:
* Misguided analysis, such as its recommendation in 1980 to AT&T that cellular phones would be a niche market[15]
* Overemphasis on shareholder value, often at the price of investment and long-term strategy. For example, this may have doomed the British railway company Railtrack, which collapsed after a series of accidents, allegedly after following McKinsey's advice to reduce spending on infrastructure and return cash to shareholders instead.[16][17]
* Concerns from teachers and parents regarding their consultation for public school districts. Recently, McKinsey worked for the Minneapolis Public Schools, where the firm recommended that the district cut "high costs," such as teacher health care, and recommended converting the 25 percent of schools that scored the lowest on standardized tests to privatized charter-school status (a plan under which schools receiving public funds are run by independent charter associations, or for-profit entities, and operate outside the authority of local school boards). Teachers in Seattle passed a resolution of non-compliance with McKinsey's study of the Seattle Public Schools in protest of their record of favoring privatization, high-stakes testing, and other tactics associated with the No Child Left Behind Act.[18]
* Anil Kumar, a senior McKinsey consultant, pleaded guilty in January 2009 to the charge of accepting USD$1.8 million to provide the New York based hedge fund Galleon Group with inside information. He eventually earned $2.6 million from this dealings with Mr Raj Rajaratnam, the former head of the group. [19]
* Partially responsible for the demise of Swissair after they recommended The Hunter Strategy
Among other books and articles, The Witch Doctors, written by The Economist journalists John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge, presents a series of blunders and disasters alleged to have been McKinsey's consultants' fault. Similarly, Dangerous Company: The Consulting Powerhouses and the Businesses They Save and Ruin by James O'Shea and Charles Madigan critically examines McKinsey's work within the context of the consulting industry.
McKinsey is cited in a February 2007 CNN article with developing controversial car insurance company practices used by State Farm and Allstate in the mid-1990s to avoid paying claims involving a soft tissue injury. This is done, the article alleges, because these types of injuries are hard to verify by X-ray or other common examination methods other than surgery.[20]
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair faced criticism in the Financial Times for hiring McKinsey to consult on the restructuring of the Cabinet Office. A top civil servant described McKinsey as "people who come in and use PowerPoint to state the bleeding obvious."[21]
McKinsey is a named defendant in Hurricane Katrina litigation. Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti's suit accuses McKinsey of being the "architect" of sweeping changes in the insurance industry, starting in the 1980s. The suit alleges McKinsey advised insurers to "stop 'premium leakage' by undervaluing claims using the tactics of deny, delay, and defend.

Hydropower, spirituality, ecology nexus

From: Bhutan observer

9 April 2010

Bhutan Power Corporation’s 20 mw hydropower plant in Begana-Dodena area in Thimphu has raised environmental and spiritual concerns among the public. The power plant, which will be built in the sacred vicinity of Chari Monastery, overlaps Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP). The diversion dam will be located about 3.5 km from the road head within the park. The power house will be located in Begana.

Tranquillity threatened Once the construction of the plant starts, approach road will be built and heavy machinery deployed. Chari monks say that the resulting noise will disturb the monks in retreat at the drubdey. Tuelku Ngawang Jigme Namgyal from Chari Drubdey said the power plant would not only disturb the monks in retreat, but also sanctity of the place where gods and deities reside. The outskirts of Begana after Janay Bridge are considered sanctified. The truelku said that the vicinity of Tango Shedra and Chari Drubdey has been used by religious practitioners for hundreds of years to pursue a life of austere retreat and meditation.

Click to read more

Controlling alcohol

Source: Now to cut down on alcohol | Kuenselonline.com

Also, a raft of measures to combat drug addiction

Bhutan Narcotic Control Agency 9 April, 2010 - The Bhutan narcotic control agency (BNCA) has given itself two months to draw up a strategic plan to combat excessive consumption and production of alcohol, an age-old malaise in Bhutanese society.

Narcotics control board (NCB) members, led by the health minister, Lyonpo Zangley Dukpa, discussed on April 7 the 2009 survey on consumption of alcohol, which showed that people across the country consumed almost 13 million litres of alcohol a year.

BNCA officials said that they are yet to decide on whether to have an independent agency to ensure reduction in alcohol cases. “We’re working on an actual strategy on control of alcohol, as it’s a complex matter,” said the agency’s joint director, Chador. “We hope to come up with the plan within two months.”

The agency, as directed by the cabinet and NCB, will look at the alcohol taxation system, export and import system, volume of alcohol consumption.

With increasing number of drug abuse cases, especially in urban centres, Lyonpo Zangley Dukpa told the media that a proposal, to have a joint task force from Bhutan and India at all border towns to regulate together the distribution and drug traffic, was underway.

He said that the chief minister of West Bengal made the proposal during the border district coordination meeting in February 2010.

“The chief minister would soon send his officials from narcotic control bureau in West Bengal for regular vigilance on the supply of drugs from Jaigaon to Phuentsholing, and then to other parts of the country,” Lyonpo Zangley Dukpa said.

BNCA, during the board meeting, also proposed to establish drop in centres (DIC) in Paro, Mongar, Bumthang, Samtse and Samdrupjongkhar, to enhance monitoring in other dzongkhags. “We’re working on a detailed proposal for the drop in centres,” a BNCA official said.

The board also directed BNCA to take immediate action on prevention of drugs in the country, referring to memorandum of understanding (MoU), which was signed in December 2009. The MoU was signed between the governments of Bhutan and India on control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

Members, at the meeting, also discussed the ongoing plan to set up a rehabilitation centre for women, in collaboration with the existing male rehab centre in Serbithang, Thimphu.

The youth development fund (YDF), with support from the government and BNCA, will be setting up a women’s rehab in Tseluna village in Thimphu instead of Gidagom, about 20 km away from Thimphu. “We have requested government for land while we’re also continuing survey before we start the rehab,” said a YDF official.

Meanwhile, BNCA has a new legal officer, who will directly prosecute cases in court against illicit drug traffickers and distributors, alongside the attorney general’s office.

By Yangchen Choden Rinzin

Contractors’ submission

Source: kuenselonline.com

A compendium of comments and requests

McKinsey reforms 9 April, 2010 - Of the eight areas that McKinsey proposed reforms in the construction sector, Bhutanese contractors submitted their comments on three of them, along with three other requests to the government yesterday.
The first was concerning the new point-based system of awarding projects to contractors that generated lengthy debate, since contractors learnt of McKinsey’s proposal to incorporate the system in its reform measures.

While most contractors agreed that the system appeared comprehensive and convincing, they feared its feasibility in view of the perfection and professionalism the system required of them.

“The new system may be more appropriate to be introduced in the future,” the submission read. Possible risk of corruption, compromise on quality of work and ethics were among other risks they foresaw under the new system.

The existing pass-fail system, which awards works to lowest bidders was tried and tested for a year and, having proved fair enough, contractors favoured it, besides its simplicity and transparency in terms of application.

Read more

His Majesty the King in remote Bhutan

Source: Kuenselonline.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 April, 2010 - His Majesty the King walked for seven hours from Kengkhar to Jurmey, Mongar. His Majesty is on a tour of some of the most inaccessible parts of our country

635 households in Jurmey Geog receive land Kidu

Source: Bhutan Broadcasting Service

April 6: His Majesty the King granted land Kidu to 635 households including 4 religious institutions of Jurmey Geog in Monggar today. The land Kidu totals about 1,075 acres amounting to over Nu. 12 million.

His Majesty the King said that he will visit every nook and corner of the country to meet and talk to the people and resolve their land issues. Some of the Kidu beneficiaries told BBS that they are extremely happy and grateful to His Majesty the King for resolving their land issues.

Some of the people had walked for more than five hours to see His Majesty in person.

His Majesty also granted Kidu to 13 needy students including five new needy students.

His Majesty arrived in Jurmey Geog from Kengkhar last evening after walking for more than six hours.
Jurmey Geog is one of the remotest Geog in Monggar Dzongkhag with 20 villages. It was separated from Kengkhar Geog in 1998.

His Majesty is on the 5th day of his tour to the eastern Dzongkhags. While the tour is fixed to Samdrupjongkhar, Pemagatshel, Monggar, Trashigang, Trashiyangtse and Bumthang Dzongkhags, His Majesty will finalise land issues in Monggar, Trashiyangtse and Trashigang Dzongkhags.

Endangered mammal spotted

Source: Rare mammal found Bhutan Observer

5 April 2010

A rare and endangered mammal has been found at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck  National Park.

Spotted in Domipangchung in Gasa, the spotted linsang (Prionodon pardicolor) takes the number of mammals within the park to 37. The spotted linsang is a medium-size nocturnal mammal. Solitary, mysterious, and living in trees, it is rarely seen during daytime. It is of ochrebrown to deep buff colour depending on seasons. It measures between 37 cm and 43 cm and weighs between 0.6 and 1.2 kg.

Spotted linsangs are carnivores, and they prey on small animals, usually rodents and birds. Their hunting skills are enabled by their ability to jump and climb with grace and power.

This mammal is found in Nepal, Sikkim, India (Assam), upper Burma and southern China. It is on the list of endangered species in some parts of these countries.

Phuntsho Thinley, the park manager of the national park, said the number of cryptic and small mammals might increase drastically at the end of their detailed survey on them, which starts July, 2010. This new and rare mammal was spotted by Leki Wangdi, a park guard, on January 3, 2010.

By Eshori Gurung

Early rain - a good start for farmers in eastern Bhutan

Source, Farmers welcome early rains in east (Bhutan Observer)

4 April 2010

The early rains this year have signalled a good start to the farming communities in the east.

Most farmers in the eastern part of the country, who grow maize as their staple crop, often go through jittery times when monsoon rains are erratic.

For Wangchuk, a farmer in Pemagatshel, who takes up share cropping of maize in his neighbour’s field each year, delayed monsoon rain is nightmarish. Not this time. Most farmers in the east, who grow maize, would have sown their seeds weeks back.

Farmers in Pemagatshel sow maize by the second week of February, right after the festivities of lunar New Year. Wangchuk said, “Timely rain is crucial for the crop, but we have to keep faith and start sowing it even if there is no sign of rain on the horizon.

It is a bit of a gamble.” According to him, last year, the summer maize nearly failed in Pemagatshel because of lack of rain during the crucial growth period. A last-minute shower saved the crop from wilting to the point of no return.

This year is altogether a different story. The monsoon has hit the region early. Farmers, however, say that while they are happy at the moment, excessive rains do not spell well for the crop. It has been raining in the region for the last two weeks, and there is no sign of respite.

Rainfall records since the late 1990s show that this March is, by far, one of the wettest in two decades. Pemagatshel received more than 104 mm of rain in March this year. 2009 recorded about 41 mm of rainfall in the corresponding period.

Another farmer, Sherab, said that the beginning of monsoon is normally accompanied by hailstorms, but there was minimal storm this year which is also a relief for the farmers. “Hailstorms normally mark the beginning of the rainy season. Such storms often wipe out mandarin and mango blossoms leading to poor yields, but such a storm has spared us for the moment,” he said.

Other eastern dzongkhags are also experiencing similar rainfall this year. The persistent rainfall has caused some minor roadblocks, but the roads in the region are still open. Despite the continuous rainfall for days, there were no reports of serious roadblocks in the east so far.

However, meteorological sources say that the entire north-eastern region of the sub-continent can expect more rains in the coming four to five days. This is surely an indication of the arrival of early monsoon this year.

It spells well for the farmers in general. Early monsoon is also an indication of a wet year ahead.

By Gyembo Namgyal

Kidu houses handed over

Source: BBS

March 31: After almost six months since the devastating fire incident in Wamrong town in Trashigang, the victims finally received their temporary houses. The Kidu houses were handed over today to the victims. The fire in October last year gutted 14 houses belonging to local and business community.
Our reporter, Kinga Penjor, says that people were excited as they entered into their newly constructed houses.
Dorji Wangmo is one among the 14 who lost her home to the fire. She said, had it not been for His Majesty the King, she would have never been able to reconstruct her house.  “I was really worried,” she said.

She said her worries soon disappeared when His Majesty the King commanded to construct Kidu houses for the victims.
Like Dorji Wangmo, the other Kidu beneficiaries expressed gratitude to His Majesty the King.

Billows of Disaster

Source: Bhutan Today

A terrific windstorm which lasted half an hour blew through Pemagatshel at 8 PM on March 30, affecting four gewogs and injuring a mother and child.

The gewogs affected by the disastrous winds were Shumar, Zobel, Yurung, and Chongshing. A maximum of fourteen households were affected in Shumar including two lhakhangs.

Zubel had 8 affected households, Chongshing had one and Yurung had two.

The two casualties in cluded Tshewang Dema, 37, from Bartseri village under Shumar gewog, and her 3 year old son who were admitted in Pemagatshel hospital at around 9.30 pm with minor injuries on the forehead.

Dorji Duba, a hu man resource officer, in Pemagatshel said that the victims were injured by falling stones on account of the strong winds.

However, the assis tant clinic officer in Pemagatshel hospital, Rin chen Phuntsho said that their condition is stable at present.

“The boy has been discharged with minor stitches, but the lady is still undergoing treatment and she will have to stay at the hospital for at least 3-4 days under observation,” he said.

According to the assis tant administrative officer, Samten Wangchuk, there were no major damages to the two houses in Khang ma village under Yurung gewog.

“Only the roofs of the houses have been blown away,” he said.

Again, at 3 PM yesterday, the strong winds resumed, damaging one more house in Chongshing.

Due to the remote loca tion of the gewogs, it takes 1-2 days of walking to reach them, hence the full extent of damages have not been estimated by the dzongkhag officials.

“The investigation is still going on,” said Dorji Duba.

“Strong winds are still blowing. The level of dam ages may increase if the winds do not stop,” added Samten Wangchuk.

By Pema Denkar in THIMPHU

Lacuna between bill and ballot

Source: Kuenselonline.com


Without delimitation, elections do not have a constitutional leg to stand on

Local Government Elections1 April, 2010 - With His Majesty the King granting last week his assent to the local government bill, there is growing expectation that the long overdue local government elections will be held at the earliest.

We’ve asked the chief election commissioner, Dasho Kunzang Wangdi, to see if elections could be held before the monsoon starts,” said the speaker, Tshogpon Jigme Tshultim. The LG bill was endorsed by Parliament in December 2009.

The speaker said that not conducting the elections was violating the provision of the constitution, which states that there should be a local government.

“Without an elected government at the local level, present local leaders could be complacent with government plans because they aren’t sure of their position,” said the Tshogpon. “The problem in the past was with the release of budget, now the problem is with implementation,” he said, adding that Nu 830 mn was refunded from the dzongkhags for not implementing activities in the first year of the 10th Plan.

But the delimitation of dzongkhag, gewog and yenlag thromdes are yet to be completed which, according to election commission officials, is necessary to hold elections.

“Should the local elections have to wait for the complete demarcation, it’ll take another 15 to 20 years,” said the speaker. “Even the parliamentary election was conducted based of election bills.”

The Haa MP, Ugyen Tenzin, said that there are already demarcated throms like Thimphu, Phuentsholing and Gelephu where elections can be held. Ugyen Tenzin added that, if all the 20 dzongkhags were to have thromdes tshogdes, there would be problem because it’s not clear which gewog or village falls under the thromdes. This will take time.”

In the last session of parliament, the works and human settlement ministry had proposed thromdes be categorised into Class A, Class B and yenlag thromdes, based on the criteria set by the local government act, 2009. However, no decision was taken, as most of the dzongkhags couldn’t even qualify for a yenlag thromdes.

Speaking to Kuensel, CEC Dasho Kunzang Wangdi said the ECB would help the government expedite the election process. But, even if the government decides to go ahead with the elections without the delimitation of thromdes, a LG election in the near future looks impossible.

The CEC said that, even with a final plan, there is a lot of work before the election can be conducted. “Even if the local government constituencies are finalized, we have to prepare election material, train returning, presiding and polling and security officers and prepare another round of voter photo identity card (VPIC) for the local elections, which would have more polling stations. Candidate nomination would also be a long process and chiwogs are not yet defined.

“We couldn’t complete delimitation in 2008 and will have to prepare VPIC for all eligible voters,” said the CEC.

Will the local election go ahead without the delimitation of thromdes? “It will be incorrect on our part to not go by the law,” Dasho Kunzang Wangdi said.

As of now, the election commission is waiting for a list of dzongkhag thromdes, yenlag thromdes and gewogs with clear boundaries demarcated.

By Ugyen Penjore