Bhutan

Lyonpo Thinley Gyamtsho

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Focus Area(s)
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2
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Rohan Mukherjee
Name
Lyonpo Thinley Gyamtsho
Interviewee's Position
Chairman
Interviewee's Organization
Royal Civil Service Commission
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Bhutanese
Town/City
Thimphu
Country
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract

Lyonpo Thinley Gyamtsho traces the history of the Royal Civil Service Commission in Bhutan and describes the shift from having ministers serve as members of the commission to having commissioners serve as independent secretaries to the government. He outlines the roles, responsibilities, and budget process of the commission, and he describes the Good Governance exercises, the Position Classification System, and efforts by the commission to the revise the Bhutan Civil Service Rules and Regulations of 2006. Gyamtsho discusses some of the controversies surrounding the Position Classification System and the new requirements that were instituted. He points to specific challenges involved in performance evaluation and in implementing a system of metrics for promotions. He details the different types of training offered by the commission as well as the selection process for these training programs, and he explains that brain drain is not a significant problem for Bhutan. He discusses steps to implement incentives among the civil servants to improve performance, and he describes specific goals for the civil service. He notes the importance of technology in improving the efficiency of the civil service and allowing the government to do more with fewer resources.

Profile

At the time of this interview, Lyonpo Thinley Gyamtsho was the chairman of the Royal Civil Service Commission in Bhutan. From 2003 until 2008, he served as minister of education, and from 1998 until 2003, he was the minister of home and cultural affairs. Prior to serving in the cabinet, he was the secretary of the civil service commission for several years. His public-service experience covered more than three decades. 
 

Full Audio File Size
59MB
Full Audio Title
Lyonpo Thinley Gyamtsho- Full Interview

Kunzang Wangdi

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Focus Area(s)
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8
Critical Tasks
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Rohan Mukherjee
Name
Kunzang Wangdi
Interviewee's Position
Chief Election Commissioner
Interviewee's Organization
Bhutan
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Bhutanese
Place (Building/Street)
Election Commission of Bhutan
Town/City
Thimphu
Country
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract
Kunzang Wangdi explains how, in his role as chief election commissioner of Bhutan, he set up and ran the country’s first democratic elections in 2008.  Wangdi explains the process that led up to the first election, including drafting laws and operationalizing the constitution, creating and managing a voter-registration process, training election workers and educating citizens on their role in a democratic process.  He discusses working with international observers and the media, reaching voters in remote areas, using electronic voting machines and moving forward for future elections.  Wangdi touches on the issue of security during the election and also explains Bhutan’s use of a mock election in 2007 to prepare election workers and voters for the electoral process.
Profile

At the time of this interview, Kunzang Wangdi was chief election commissioner of Bhutan.  In that capacity he set up and ran Bhutan’s first democratic elections.  Prior to his appointment as commissioner in 2005, Wangdi served as auditor general of Bhutan’s Royal Audit Authority.  He was also director of the Royal Institute of Management.  Wangdi began working for Bhutan’s civil service in 1977.  He received a bachelor’s degree in English from St. Stephens College in India and completed a master’s degree in public administration at Penn State.

Full Audio File Size
74MB
Full Audio Title
Kunzang Wangdi Interview

Karma Tshiteem

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5
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Rohan Mukherjee
Name
Karma Tshiteem
Interviewee's Position
Secretary
Interviewee's Organization
Gross National Happiness Commission of Bhutan
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Bhutanese
Place (Building/Street)
Gross National Happiness Commission
Town/City
Thimphu
Country
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract

Karma Tshiteem, secretary of the Gross National Happiness Commission of Bhutan, discusses the creation of the commission and the four pillars of the gross national happiness philosophy: sustainable socioeconomic development, preservation and promotion of culture and traditions, good governance, and conservation of the environment. He explains how the commission has set out to measure gross national happiness and the effect those indicators have had on policy decisions.    

Profile

At the time of this interview, Karma Tshiteem was secretary of the Gross National Happiness Commission of Bhutan. Prior to his appointment, he was deputy secretary of the Policy and Planning Division of the Ministry of Finance.  Tshiteem began his career in government in 1989.

Full Audio File Size
31MB
Full Audio Title
Karma Tshiteem Interview

Sonam Tobgye

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4
Country of Reform
Interviewers
Rohan Mukherjee
Name
Sonam Tobgye
Interviewee's Position
Chief Justice
Interviewee's Organization
High Court of Bhutan
Language
English
Nationality of Interviewee
Bhutanese
Place (Building/Street)
High Court
Town/City
Thimphu
Country
Date of Interview
Reform Profile
No
Abstract

Chief Justice Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye of Bhutan details the process through which Bhutan drafted its first constitution.  He discusses the successes and challenges of that process, as well as the difficulty of balancing the use of other countries as models with the unique requirements of Bhutan.  Tobgye also touches on the involvement of Bhutan's king in the constitution-drafting process and the many judicial reforms during his tenure as chief justice, including efforts to make judicial proceedings more efficient and to increase access to justice across the population.   

Profile

At the time of this interview, Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye was chief justice of the High Court of Bhutan, a position he had held since 1991.  He was appointed chief justice of the Supreme Court in December 2009.  Tobgye oversaw the drafting of Bhutan’s first constitution and a number of judicial reforms.  From 1986 to 1991, he simultaneously held the positions of auditor general of the Royal Audit Authority and secretary of the Royal Civil Service Commission.  During that time he implemented a number of civil service reforms and drafted the rules and regulations for both the civil service and the Royal Audit Authority.  Prior to those appointments, Tobgye served as a judge on the High Court.  In 2001 he received the Medaille d’Honeur from the Court de Cassation of France for his contribution to the cause of justice in Bhutan.

Full Audio File Size
67MB
Full Audio Title
Chief Justice Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye Interview