Staff Reporter

The Opposition Party (OP) yesterday alerted the government about the pledges the Party made during the election period.

While acknowledging the progress made by the new Lhengye Zhungtshog in fulfilling the pledges such as the waiver of pedestrian fees at the Phuentsholing Pedestrian Terminal, establishment of the Economic Development Board with the Prime Minister as chair, among others, the Opposition Party called for faster implementation in other pledges.

OP claims that after more than 90 days since inception of the government, the tangible development of the remaining nine pledges outlined remains pending or unfulfilled.

What are the pledges?

The Opposition Party lines them up so:

Making Saturdays ‘off-days’ for teachers and students.

Commission a comprehensive review of the business regulatory processes, including at the exit and entry gateways; requirement of the review to be submitted in three months with concrete recommendations to remove all barriers, and ease the conduct of the businesses.

Instruct relevant agencies to revise the FDI policy 2019 to make it business friendly and to attract FDIs in large numbers, including FDI in small and medium sectors.

Instruct the Ministry of Education and Skills Development to review the IWP and develop a performance measurement system specific to the needs of the teachers in consultation with the Royal Civil Service Commission.

Review the SDF regulation for tourists in the southern border towns to explore possibility of allowing tourists from the bordering towns without the levy of SDF.

Issue office order to all the Bhutanese embassies abroad to submit recommendations and ideas on how the embassy can promote inbound tourists to Bhutan.

Issue office order to relevant agencies to develop a separate action plan to achieve in-bound tourist number to 300,000 annually.

Establish a sub-committee of Lhengye Zhungtshog with working members from relevant agencies to work on regularisation of contract employees.

Instruct relevant agencies to undertake feasibility study for the construction of five airstrips in strategic locations across the country.

The Opposition Party said: “We cannot overlook the crucial importance of maintaining the integrity of promises made by the political parties … The failure to uphold and fulfill these pledges undermines the very foundation of trust, casting a shadow not only on the government but on the broader concept of governance itself.”

The Party said that in light of accountability to the citizenry, the government must engage in transparent communication with all relevant stakeholders, and the people. “It is imperative that the status of the aforementioned pledges (damchas), be disseminated openly and comprehensively to the Bhutanese populace.”