March 29: The appointment of the five members to the National Council was announced yesterday.

They are the Director of the Centre for Bhutan Studies Dasho Karma Ura, Drangpon Kuenlay Tshering of the High Court, the Director of the Standard and Quality Control Authority Karma Yezer Raydi, senior trade officer in the Ministry of Economic Affairs Karma Damcho Nidup, and the head of the policy and planning division of the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources Tashi Wangmo.

Adding to the 20 elected members, the five nominated members now bring the National Council to its complete 25 members in accordance to the Draft Constitution.

A news release says the appointment of the five members reflect His Majesty’s vision of broadening leadership among the young people.

It says in the past, His Majesty has said tomorrow’s citizens and leaders must be nurtured. Young people must be made a part of the important decisions of the nation. They must play a part in determining the future that they will live in. Giving opportunity to young leaders is also a means of nudging the government to look towards creating large numbers –in fact an entire nation –of strong dynamic, motivated, and good citizens.

It says His Majesty has said for a small country like ours, we cannot rely on a handful of people whether in school or at the highest level of government. Every Bhutanese must excel if our small nation is to succeed. The only way to achieve this is to give the opportunity.

The news release says there is already a rich diversity of professions and experiences, including journalism, education, management, literature, planning, military, business studies and agriculture among the 20 elected members of the National Council.

The nominated members complement these professional competencies with their back grounds in law, engineering, public policy and trade. All nominated members have post graduate degrees.

They are aged between 35-48 years and have work experience of ten to 20 years.