· October, 2006

Stories about Governance from October, 2006

Bermuda: PLP Election

  28 October 2006

GS at Pondblog offers an assessment of the results of last night's Progressive Labour Party election in Bermuda, in which Premier Alex Scott was beaten by Ewart Brown: “It wasn't a surprising outcome – Scott is an odd, dithering sort of man who ruled the roost, according to party insiders,...

India: Right to Information

  28 October 2006

Balancing Life on the right to information and meeting a campaigner for the same. “I was surprised to learn that the Right to Information was declared a fundamental right in 1976 by the Supreme Court, as embedded within the right to freedom of speech. That was 30 years ago. But...

Sri Lanka: Pay less if you're a local

  28 October 2006

London, Lanka and Drums reflects on the practice in Sri Lanka of charging higher fees from tourists. “The Sri Lankan economy gains more revenue, many of the poorer local people are able to see sights and do things that they would never be able to if they had to pay...

Bangladesh: In the elections

  28 October 2006

Drishtipat takes a look at the forthcoming elections and makes some predictions. One of the more grimp scenarios – “There will be no check and balance. And in government there will be same atrocity, corruption and nepotism. Because there will be nothing but the same old wine in a new...

Bangladesh: A change in Government

  28 October 2006

Rezwan on Bangladesh caught in the routine of changing governments. “The Bangladesh government led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the four party alliance ends their five year tenure today. Tomorrow the power would be handed over to the Caretaker Government. Controversial Chief Justice KM Hasan is scheduled to take...

Nicaragua: Total Abortion Ban

  27 October 2006

Jennifer Woodard Maderazo covers the controversial (and unanimous) decision by Nicaragua's parliament to implement a total ban on abortion. Costa Rican blogger Julia Ardón has reprinted a public letter signed by the Nicaraguan Association of Writers (ANIDE) [ES] demanding that exceptions be reinstated for women whose lives are threatened by...

Uganda: Anti-Corruption Week

  27 October 2006

I Have Left Copenhagen for Uganda writes about the Anti-Corruption Week in Uganda, “The theme for this year’s Anti-Corruption Week (ACW) is “Tackling Corruption in Universal Primary Education (UPE)”. The Anti-Corruption Week 2006 will take place between the 30th October and 5th November.”

Indonesia: Rise of Democracy

  26 October 2006

Adam's Gecko in Bangkok looks at the rise of democracy and de-centralisation of power in Indonesia. The blogger has interesting perspectives from a trip to Indonesia in 1992, just after a pro-democracy movement in Thailand.

Jamaica: When Prime Ministers doodle. . . .

  26 October 2006

Ria Bacon offers an update to an earlier post in which she discussed the matter of a close-up photograph of the Prime Minister's notepad taken during a debate on a no-confidence motion, and run on the front page of one of Jamaica's news dailies: “The upshot is that journalists will...

Africa: $5 Million for the Best Head of State

  26 October 2006

Sanaga Peregrinations writes (Fr): “A $5 million prize for the best African head of state. The prize was created by Sudanese billionaire Mo Ibrahim … The winning head of state will have to leave power democratically, will have to have managed his country properly when it comes to security, health,...

Voices from Central Asia and the Caucasus

  26 October 2006

Alpine Pastures – Jailoo (c) Christopher Herwig, www.herwigphotos.com It's time to strike our tents (or Kyrgyz yurts in the Jailoo in this case), the summer is over (although in Kazakhstan's capital Astana there's snow even in August…). Which also means more time for Central Asia buffs to spend in front...

Voices from South Asia

  26 October 2006

Bangladesh: - What does Bangladesh need now for a better future? Angelmorn has a ten point prescription. - Rifat of Close your eyes and try to see is critic about the noise pollution in Bangladesh, especially using the loudspeakers. - Shafiur of imperfect world | 2006 informs that many of...

Trinidad & Tobago: Farewell, Basdeo Panday

  25 October 2006

The Manicou says an offhand good-bye to Basdeo Panday, former Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition of Trinidad & Tobago, who vacated his seat in parliament after being convicted of fraud.

Armenia: Healthcare

  25 October 2006

Onnik Krikorian recounts some horror stories from the Armenian medical system, saying that seeking medical care in Armenia might be more dangerous than Russian roulette.

New Round of Violence in East Timor

  25 October 2006

In her latest post from East Timor, blogger Timorsunshine writes about the latest incident in Dili. Apparently the gang war ranging in the airport area has become so bad that the Comoro bridge was blocked off and the airport actually shut down, and attacked by the people living in the...

Bahamas: Violence in cabinet

  24 October 2006

Sir Arthur Foulkes is highly critical of the handling by the Bahamian Prime Minister of a fight between two members of parliament in the Cabinet room.

Costa Rica Bloggers on CAFTA and other issues

  24 October 2006

The Tico Bloggers are posting on two main subjects this past week: the two day long CAFTA protests and the bill the government is writing which would ban weapon production in Costa Rican territory. Other topics are political corruption up high and the power of a musical request.