…where the public didn’t have opportunity to test their candidate

Debate: Thimphu thrompon candidate Kinlay Dorjee believes that he deserves a second term in office that would allow him to complete the works that the thromde has started under his leadership.

Highlighting the reasons for re-contesting at the public debate yesterday evening, the lone thrompon candidate said the decision was taken in the interest of democracy.

The thrompon candidate reiterated some of the pledges he made during the common forum campaign. However, he said that although there are not many voters in the city, his pledges were for all residents of the city.

Kinlay Dorjee also believes that the pledges can be fulfilled and budgets have been mobilized already in most of the projects such as water project. His priorities for the next five years, he said would be ensuring reliable water supply, waste management and public transport, roads and sewerage management.

“I did everything possible to develop the city during the last five years,” he said. “I want to serve the people of the thromde again, and if elected I would strive to give the best facility possible for the residents,” he said.

High on his priority list is the online services to help people avail services at the click of a button and without having to visit the thromde office.

He claimed that most of the water problems have been solved, although residents would beg to differ.

Kinlay Dorjee said that failure to manage waste could affect environment and that it was important to solve the waste problem. At the end of the next five years, he says that only 10 percent of the city’s waste would go to Memelakha.

He said Nu 300 million has been allocated for the improvement of public transport services in the city. “A better public transport service can reduce traffic congestion in the city,” he said.

He also said that he wants to make the city a safe and peaceful place to live in. “We will discuss with bar and restaurant owners about the safety issues so that they run their business according to the rules,” he said.

As there was no contestant to debate, a Bhutan Broadcasting Service journalist asked questions. He asked the thrompon why there were no candidates to challenge him in the election. Kinlay Dorjee had no answer and took advantage of the time. “I am happy with the works I have achieved during the last five years,” he said. “And I hope the people vote for me again,” he said.

The thrompon also said that he wants to make the thromde a model city in the country.

On the issue of a small population electing the thrompon, he said that he will work for all the residents of the city and have been going from door to door to see the problems in every corner of the city.

He also urged the people who own properties to transfer their census in the city.

The 80 or so voters who braved the cold to attend the debate didn’t get an opportunity to ask questions.

MB Subba

Advertisement