PM Jigmi Y. Thinley

May 10: The parliament session yesterday saw the Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigmi Y. Thinley, the Opposition Leader Tshering Tobgay, Chairperson of the National Council and other parliamentarians addressing the house.

May 10: Drukyul- a Bhutanese park in Austria’s capital Vienna is attracting Austrians enquiring about Bhutan.

May 9: His Majesty the King graced the first session of parliament under democratic constitutional monarchy yesterday.

May 9: The construction of hostels for the Ugyen Wangchuck Environment and Forestry Institute in Bumthang has been delayed. The work began in June last year.

May 9: A Rural Development Training Centre has been opened in Zhemgang.

May 8: The government has decided to set up a public grievance cell in the Prime Minister’s office to provide direct access to the public to express their grievances relating to government policies, laws, rules, and regulations, public service delivery, governance and other matters.

May 8: The Cabinet has decided to establish a medical college within the next two years to address the shortage of medical professionals and staff hospitals with adequate medical doctors and health workers.

May 8: To address the acute teacher shortage, the Education Ministry will be recruiting 222 additional graduates as temporary teachers, reinstate retired teachers who possess the capacity and capability to function efficiently on contract basis, and accept more UN volunteers in teaching.

May 8: The Hontsho Community School in Thimphu remained closed yesterday so that teachers, parents and education officials can sit together to discuss the acute classroom shortage that the school is facing.

May 8: Samtse town will soon have a proper sewerage system.

May 8: With several farm and feeder roads coming up in Pemagatshel, the demand for orange saplings has increased.

May 8: Contractors from across the country met in the capital yesterday for the 10th Annual General Meeting of Construction Association of Bhutan. The daylong meeting discussed issues ranging from the delay in bill payment to contract rate negotiations.

May 9: The Royal Government will be establishing a pilot IT Park in the country. The eight million US dollar World Bank funded project will be established on a five acre government land at Wangchutaba in Thimphu. According to Sangay Wangmo, the project manager, the infrastructure will be developed by the government. After that the government will float proposals internationally for foreign investors who will design, operate, and develop the park. She said the IT Park will have both international and national IT companies and create about 700 jobs. The construction of infrastructure is expected to complete in 2010. A news release from the Cabinet Secretariat says the development of ICT will be one of the priority programs for the 10th five year plan.