People’s Democratic Party questioned the government’s decision on nominating Tenzin Lekphell, one of the founders of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa, as a candidate for the post of next Secretary-General of Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). Questioning the candidate’s experience in international relations and diplomacy the party issued a news release yesterday urging the government to review its decision on the nomination of the candidate.
PDP opposed the government’s decision based on three grounds.
According to the news release, since the establishment of its Secretariat in Dhaka, Bangladesh, BIMSTEC had two Secretary Generals both of whom were ambassadors and experienced diplomats prior to their appointment.
The party goes on to state that while Bhutan is not bound by practices of other countries in nominating a candidate for Secretary-General of BIMSTEC, the nomination by Sri Lanka and Bangladesh of experienced diplomats and ambassadors as Secretary Generals of BIMSTEC speaks volumes on the importance attached to the role of the Secretary-General. PDP says Tenzin Lekphell lacks demonstrated experience in regional and international relations and diplomacy to assume the role.
The party also reasoned that position of Secretary-General of BIMSTEC is too critical to be handed out as a political favour and that it could send out wrong signals that important posts remain in the domain of political parties which could demoralise civil servants. The party calls on the government to “nominate a candidate that would not only be in the best interests of the country but also appointed in a manner that does not favour nepotism over merit and experience.”
Tenzin Lekphell served as the General Secretary of DNT and was the party’s candidate from Bartsham-Shongphu during 2013 and 2018 parliamentary elections.
Foreign Minister Dr Tandi Dorji said Tenzin Lekhpell is a capable candidate, a potential ministerial candidate in the Cabinet had he won the elections in 2018.
Foreign secretaries of the member countries, during the 21st session of BIMSTEC Senior Officials Meeting held recently, accepted the government’s nomination of Tenzin Lekphell as the next Secretary-General.
BIMSTEC issued a news release on 2nd September stating that the Foreign Secretaries of the member countries welcomed Tenzin Lekphell for the position of next Secretary-General of BIMSTEC. BIMSTEC Secretariat will be proposing a meeting of foreign ministers to endorse the nomination.
Phub Gyem
