Boater

Up to 3,000 Britons have poured up to £250 million of their savings into a controversial Caribbean property scheme which is facing the threat of legal action.

Several investors say they fear financial calamity after being persuaded by pension advisers to put large sums into projects run by Essex-based Harlequin Property. It has promised to build 6,000 luxury villas in St Lucia, St Vincent, Barbados and the Dominican Republic. So far only 300 have been constructed.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has issued an ‘alert’ about the company and the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has been asked to investigate.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2283474/3-000-Britons-fall-victim-250million-fantasy-villa-fiasco-Holiday-home-scheme-promoted-Pat-Cash-investigated-fraud-police.html#ixzz2M0kSPxV4

This was the same company involved with the following developments in Pattaya - Forest View, Phoenix Gardens, Compton Gardens 1 and 2 and Emerald Palace

Mom and pop stores will have a booming trade day !

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Interesting article below about the service charges in the uk , which are identical in Thailand

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2283179/The-20-tip-diners-forced-pay-Top-hotelier-speaks-daylight-robbery-service-charge.html

Now , what I didn't know is you can ask for the service charge to be removed in the uk ! , can this be done in Thailand ? Or to much lose of face ? ... Many a time I have receive bad service / rubbish food only for the bill to come with a 20% service charge ...

To the above post , as we all know the Thais love and will always turn a blind eye to anything deemed illegal if in benefits them in one way or another , so assiting the local rescue service will hardly warent a case to be deported , But most probably asset you should something happen in the future !

People who volunteer to help should really stop worrying ! Has there ever been a reported case of a foreigner volunteering for a government back agency being deported or getting into trouble for having an incorrect visa ? No !

I believe most of the state schools do have native English speakers ... But nothing is stoping people for going to their local state school and asking the head if they can help with the English lessons ! ( but not to sure on the criteria or checks needed , as a pedo could use this to target kids )

Guess you are correct there ! but nothing ventured, nothing gained. And no one should be allowed to be alone with the kids. I am surprised that most state schools have native English speaking teachers, as you say !

I know the state schools where some friends send there kids have , but then only 1 or 2 for 500 kids ! So really you can never have to many ... But with the tides of Russians and chinese , maybe the Russian community could assit on basic russian lessons for the Thai kids to help them ...

There is so much the expat community can give to the local comunity in one way or another to asset to make samui a better place ( one could even be driving lessons ! )

You could always try the pharmacies in nathon

I believe most of the state schools do have native English speakers ... But nothing is stoping people for going to their local state school and asking the head if they can help with the English lessons ! ( but not to sure on the criteria or checks needed , as a pedo could use this to target kids )

Wasn't there a storage company in the south of the island ? Maybe they could help

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There are more 'branded' counterfeit products on Sukumvit Road than I can ever remember seeing in my almost 10 years here. While previously there was a veiled attempt at hiding direct imitations, that is not the case today. The packed tables of Viagra, Valium, etc etc are a relatively new thing too. Only been around 12 months or so.

True , 4 years ago I was in mbk and couldn't get what I wanted as it wasn't there , roll onto a year ago and they now have 3 floors dedicated to what I was after !

Without pointing the obvious , you should always lock all your windows and doors before living the house as you become less of a target ! ( most break ins I here about in samui are caused by just that .. Unlocked doors and windows ) , it maybe an island paradise , but there are still burglers outnthere

There is to much vetted interest in the land there for anything to be moved ... Maybe a new and improved night spot at soi regga and maybe some new higher class bars at centara , but green mango will stay green mango for many years to come

This biggest change I have noticed, is the number of Chineese travelling independently. They used to stick to organised tours, now they are travelling by themselves. Renting bikes, eating in noodle shops and running into trouble wherever there is any water.

The good thing is that they spend money in the local shops, and my hotel has had a massive upturn in f&b and spa, where as before they had prepaid everything and no one got a slice of the pie.

I remember a koren agency stating the Koreans would pay around 50 k just to be in a group , maybe the same with the Chinese , so with that , maybe they now realise the guides are needed

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don't know swing bar, but the other 3 are here for years, nothing new and all of these 4 are miles away from each other. New Ibiza would be at least 10 Club Resorts at the same area,

Not really as a lot of the Ibiza places are spread out , more of a concentration of clubs together

What would make samui the Ibiza is cheap flights and a good public transport system

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Yes, I just saw last night's Crimewatch. For those who cannot watch look at the image apparently the last photo taken of Danny.

Danny is the one arrowed far right. If you recognise yourself (particularly the two chaps centre frame) please call the (UK) number on screen.

On the middle guy , is that a tattoo or dirt ?

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what Club Resorts? didn't notice that. Where? which kind of clubs?

Ark bar , Nikki beach , beach republic , swing bar .....

These 2 guys look like they mean business.Body language speaks volumes.

I am not to sure why crime watch highlighted these people , maybe the uk police believe they where somehow involved ...

Working in the theory of ' 6 degrees of separation ' maybe Thaivisa could do a mailer to the database highlighting this picture to see if any members regonise these people ?

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Bangkok airways has a promotion sale starting 18th for flyerbonus members that reside in Thailand.

http://www.flyerbonus.com/ffp/promotion_detail.aspx?id=219&type=news_en

Like the from price ! Interesting to see what the prices will actually be from/to samui plus taxes ect

And will the big one due in around 12 hours really just pass earth ? Or is this just the start of many more to come today

Following on fro this topic which is archived

They have just had a follow up on this case on crime watch ( bbc1 uk prime time tv ) , as they are still looking for the people on the island that day to get in contact with the uk police as the case is still very much open in the uk ..

What's an apology from a psychopath worth? It's only words as they do not have the capacity to feel remorse or guilt.

Face

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I am going to miss the Sudoku and crossword. It's hard to find good bathroom material over here.

Tesco sells toilet paper!

actually now I think about it the editor /owners of SE are from the Philippines not USA .... or was that the other paper?

Think you're right Jimmy, Express, Philippines, Gazette American although Patrick Roxas (a Philippino) moved from the Express to the Gazette as chief reporter/editor or similar title.

]They all move around, he now moved to another paper Southern News? Gazette was up for sale , an interest ( Philippino ) put a deposit but nothing else happened as far as I know.

Rupert Murdoch should have put an offer into buy

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I would have put the expectations at 500 tickets !

This is wrong on many levels , how do we know the guy is even guilty ? We all know the police are quick to point the finger at someone when needed ! He should of at least had a fair trail before forcably admitting guilt in front of everyone ... And a judge could in fact even throw the case out against him due to this stunt !

Regardless , everyone should be offered a fair trail ( that is the one basic human right we should all have )

I sort of wonder why they bother to actually publish a "hard copy" of this paper in this day and age!!! Especially when it takes that long to publish....

Why not just a web version, (it's not that bad as a web newspaper now, in layout etc! )

.... Surely that could be kept much more current?

You have phuket wan and pattaya 103 who have daily news online and no paper , probably more add revenue online as well

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having called rescue services on Koh Phangan after watching a Russian kid break his neck while driving his motorcycle pissed and calling the police, rescue services and a private hospital to assist and subsequently watching him die in the hour it took any of them to arrive, I would say it doesn't really matter who you call.

Would agree here , best thing to do is find a Thai person and try to explain and get them to call ... Even if you get through ( most times no one answers the above lines ) they won't understand or giving directions / locations is me impossible unless you are fluent in Thai

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