June 27: Observers including media personnel in the National Assembly were taken aback when the house decided to postpone the discussions on the Parliamentary Entitlement Bill which was scheduled yesterday.

Most observers have been waiting for this day. They wanted to see how the parliamentarians will argue and debate for their own entitlements. But they were in for a disappointment.

The discussion on the bill was postponed following submissions from the members of the National Assembly. Raising the issue, the Labour and Human Resources Minister Lyonpo Dorji Wangdi said it does not make sense to discuss the entitlement bill since the Pay Commission is working on their entitlement. He asked if the discussions on the bill could be postponed until the Pay Commission is ready with the report.

Several other members got up one after another requesting the house to postpone the discussions. They said it would be not be appropriate to discuss their own entitlements with the public watching them live on BBS TV.

However, the Opposition Leader Tshering Tobgay said the discussions should be continued as scheduled. He said while their concerns are genuine, the members should discuss the bill without any reservation.

Namgay Wangchuk, the National Assembly member from Lingmukha-Toewang constituency in Punakha said it would be better to discuss the bill with representatives from the National Council first and then send the recommendations to the Pay Commission.

The Speaker Tshogpoen Jigme Tshultim said the National Assembly as the highest decision making body need not wait for recommendations. He said the bill should be discussed as scheduled so that recommendations could be made to the Pay Commission. He said the assembly has a representative in the Pay Commission.

Several other members including the Health, Economic Affairs, Finance, and Agriculture ministers said before they begin discussions on the bill, the National Committee on Parliamentary Entitlement should be formed in keeping with the provisions of the bill.

The speaker said he will ask for a meeting with the Opposition Leader, the Finance Minister and the National Council Chairperson to discuss the matter.

The house will discuss the Public Election Fund Bill today.