Classic Ray

Every worker I have ever had work at my house has had to borrow tools, ladders etc from me. The same seems to happen on roads where contractors possess a minimum of safety equipment which they are reluctant to deploy. This is probably as their fellow contractors would nick it. Makes me cry to see the lack of concern about safety and their fellow inhabitants in Thailand.

Bail for murder (especially where the involvement is so clear cut) is almost unknown in the U.K. The opportunities to flee the jurisdiction, interfere with witnesses or dispose of evidence are too great to allow suspects to regain their liberty. But here, money truly talks.

Provided she has paid all the relevant tax on her income, no one can complain. I am sure the Revenue Department will be able to confirm this.

There is no official support for the banning of passengers in pickup beds as all the likely victims are poor, and thus of no consequence. Same for seatbelts and child seats. The rich and well educated will use them (except for the arrogant) but the poor, who really need telling of the consequences, will not through ignorance and apathy. Their children will be the victims.

Planning and risk assessment are sorely lacking in Thailand, with the notable exception of the railway industry of which I have experience. If the same standards were applied to the entertainment and other industries, quality and safety would soar. The problem is it costs money and affects greedy shareholders.

The agents could not operate without collusion from some officials. Whilst the envelopes keep flowing, nothing will change. Get Big Joke to sort it out.

In this case the teachers should be disciplined and/or disbarred if they do this. But when does it ever happen?

Back in the day I as a U.K. police officer used to join the fire officers when we inspected any licensed premises that had been constructed or altered. We used to look for any safety issues, including escape routes, places which could not be easily supervised by bar staff, materials etc. The brigade were very thorough and we used to refuse the bar liquor licences until they met the standards. i believe some years ago these inspections were curtailed. In Thailand it appears these have never been carried out as health and safety are two of the dirtiest words.

Nothing to do with it being peak holiday season in Europe so many might be visiting their offspring rather than attending Parliament?

I am surprised (not really) that maintenance work should be carried out above live lanes. I suspect they wanted to close lanes/carriageway, but were told to carry on to avoid traffic disruption and construction delay. As a result, people died.

Guinness used to be brewed both in Park Royal, London and in Dublin. The water of course was different, so some said the Liffey gave the Dublin brew a better taste. Now Park Royal has closed so U.K. Guinness comes only from Dublin.

In a country where everyone has a mobile phone or three, couldn’t the teacher have called or messaged (by text not Line) the parent?

Interesting to see the other day that drunk driving only counts as three of your twelve demerit points on the driving licence, so you can drive drunk four times in a year and still not be suspended from driving. Only if you drive for a fifth time and are caught will you be disqualified for 3 months. Ridiculous leniency that will not discourage the drunks.

This feeling encouraged by the Government who consequently can avoid responsibility to provide better education, training and enforcement to reduce the collisions. After all the vast majority of victims are poor people, who cares about them?

Someone I know well works for a Thai Govt department doing admin. Her job could be done completely from home but there is no remote connection available to their records system, plus all her work arrives on paper, not electronically. The quality of the IT professionals employed by the Thai Govt can be seen in the on again/off again online 90 day reporting, the inability to submit a tax return online in English (only in Thai) and the paper only visa/extension system. There is little incentive to computerize as people would lose their jobs for life with medical and pension benefits. This goes through Govt, including land offices, banks and utilities which all rely on people processing paper. The only parts that have been developed efficiently online are payments to get the money in quickly. There will be no changes whilst the education system discourages questioning of officialdom, and that will not happen soon.

I agree plus could have traffic lights with cameras, needed to stop drivers ignoring them. Also could extend use of red flags (originally from Japan) to establish pedestrian precedence, in holders each end of the crossing.

Headline - the word is extort.

The term hero is much misused and maligned. These two men and the team they worked with, including the Thai diver who gave his life, truly reflect the meaning of the word.

Same civil contractor is responsible for the construction of the forthcoming Pink and Yellow Monorail systems in Bangkok.

Wonder if the prospective purchases of oil from Russia and Iran will be on the agenda?

Cheap? It’s certainly not that any more with the increases in energy esp electricity and fuel, all imported products and freight costs, rise in basic staples like chicken and pork (and beer!) This will be reflected in tourist restaurant prices and souvenirs. Flights have rocketed in price, entry and mask requirements as opaque and changeable as ever. As others have pointed out, European destinations are much more pleasant, affordable and short flying times.

I am sure the Government are concerned both by regulation and taxation. Allowing a free market has never been possible with alcohol or tobacco and the large companies with vested interests must be protected.

They’ve looked at Singapore, previously vehemently morally opposed to gambling, now raking it in from their casinos. I wonder how long it will be before UK style betting shops or Aussie pokies will dot every street corner in the Land of Smiles and Debt.

Police corruption is a product of severe underfunding by Government even for salaries, station running costs, personal cost for uniforms, guns etc. Coupled with the selling of promotable posts for senior officers and the lack of any will to investigate or reduce corrupt acts, it leads to the police being treated as a money making business, with excess profits generated by lower ranks being kicked up the chain. The few corruption cases we do hear about are probably the result of not kicking the profits up as required. The only answer is a complete change of culture from the top down, large salary increases funded by increased public taxation, and the formation of an agency similar to Hong Kong ICAC (formed under British rule) to investigate and deal with corrupt officers. The tax increases would be a vote loser, and I don’t see any will to upset the gravy train either from the Government or the police commanders.

This sounds like an extreme lovers tiff which happens in gay, straight and trans relationships. Hopefully the forensics will prove or disprove the explanations.