Pattaya City Mayor addresses viral photos of massive food donation charity lines in the city on social media

[webfact]

 

Pattaya-The Pattaya City Mayor addressed the current situation in the city after photos of hundreds of needy people sitting down on Pattaya beach in queues waiting for food went viral on Thai and English social media last week.

 

The Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunpluem told The Pattaya News, “Photos of needy people and those needing charity have gone viral on social media. Many people replied with negative comments and claim the city is not trying to help or resolve the vaccination situation or reopen force closed businesses (due to Covid19 restrictions) and that is not true.”

 

“However these photos do show that many people have been affected from the Covid-19 crisis in Pattaya, having lost jobs and income due to measures that have had to be taken to protect the health of the overall community while we resolve the Covid-19 crisis. If we see the positive side, many people have also opened their hearts and pockets and are still donating food to the needy. They are helping each other and showing a true sense of community to those in need in Pattaya.” The Mayor noted.

 

“In the most recent viral photos people who donated food specifically contacted my office to see how they could help and the event was put together with social distancing and city municipal staff to assist . 

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/07/05/pattaya-city-mayor-addresses-viral-photos-of-massive-food-donation-charity-lines-in-the-city-on-social-media/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-07-06

[sammieuk1]

You wanted another sandbox you got one for the world to see, hope now to see faces drop off at the humiliation in this wrenched government .  

[Ralf001]

Good to see they are wearing masks and social distancing.

[jacko45k]

That is awful.... it is unbearably hot these days and having these people sit out of the hot sand, well what can one say. 

[Denim]

2 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

That is awful.... it is unbearably hot these days and having these people sit out of the hot sand, well what can one say. 

 

I think 

TIT

about covers it.

[johng]

3 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

these people sit out of the hot sand,

if only they hadn't cut all the large old shade trees down.

[MasterBaker]

a sandbox allright

[edwinchester]

8 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

That is awful.... it is unbearably hot these days and having these people sit out of the hot sand, well what can one say. 

Gotta see how far you can push the poor when you give them something for free seems to be the way.

[tonray]

When you rely on the largesse of foreign tourists in buying booze and sex instead of developing real economic opportunities for your citizens...this of course is the result.

[Surelynot]

His response was reasoned, measured and constructive......weird?

[thailand49]

Shame on you and your leaders Pillsbury Dole boy!  These are you people!  Open your dream to the world when and if they come this is what they will see!  Stop all the construction in your City particularly the drain work that never shows any improvement take all that money by-pass your leaders and concentrate you affords in fighting the virus, means equipment, bed, food, housing for your poor and sick get some vaccine on your own do this and one day you won't have to kiss butt they will be kissing yours which is what you and your father always wanted.

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

28 minutes ago, tonray said:

When you rely on the largesse of foreign tourists in buying booze and sex instead of developing real economic opportunities for your citizens...this of course is the result.

I've had many smart, beautiful M6 (final grade of high school) students, writing insightful papers with their curiosity and concerns about the world, motivated to go out and make a change, full of excitement and ambition.

 

But then as I've walked by to check their work, I've occasionally seen them with bank applications open, looking at transfers. Then after school I've seen them hop into new pickup trucks and luxury cars, with 50 yr olds I doubt are their dads. They're already someone's mia nois.

 

The typical path to success, good grades, good university, good career, has been severely limited at each step due to many factors. From an early age this lack of options becomes clear, and thus they quickly learn of the more viable alternative, this country's pervasive, pay-for-play culture.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, tonray said:

When you rely on the largesse of foreign tourists in buying booze and sex instead of developing real economic opportunities for your citizens...this of course is the result.

Correct, the sex industry has died and so have the inhabitants, nothing else to offer in Pattaya.

[Kerryd]

29 minutes ago, tonray said:

When you rely on the largesse of foreign tourists in buying booze and sex instead of developing real economic opportunities for your citizens...this of course is the result.

Or,
when you decide to forego the largesse of the foreign tourists who were buying booze and sex and instead try to rely on hordes of other tourists that spend little or no money during their time here, this is the result.

As well, when you decide to only fund schooling to grade 8 level and then every year unleash 10s of thousands of poorly educated people into the workforce who have few options for employment, this is the result.

Every place that relies on tourism as a main revenue source has had issues since the covid crisis started. We see it here because it is "local" news. It is happening in other places as well, even in "Western" countries. The difference is, those countries are generally more affluent and able to fund better social services (often by increasing their national debt and budget deficits).

In some places it seems the people have gotten so used to getting paid to do nothing, employers are having a hard time getting people to come back to work ! Gee, I wonder why ?

Considering how many "poor" people there are here and the low level of social assistance, it's a wonder you aren't seeing thousands of people at such line-ups instead of hundreds. I know a lot of people went back to their home villages where they can get by on a lot less thanks to the generosity of their family/friends.

When the crisis first started and Thailand put the halt in incoming tourists, there were a lot of such charity hand-outs. Then they dried up as there didn't seem to be end to the crisis.

Lot of people with their fingers crossed that they will start seeing tourists return in October. I've been telling my friends not to expect things to change quickly, as it could be a couple years before they see "pre-covid" levels of tourists on the streets again, but a lot of them would be happy to see even a small amount. At least then they could see some light at the end of the tunnel instead of just seeing a tunnel that appears to be getting longer and longer.

[Rimmer]

A troll post from the usual suspect has been removed

[mickyr55]

The amazing opportunity it's given for people to show their generosity by giving out food and succour to those in need, namely the despised foreigner, meanwhile the country's ruler make sure that all the "important " amongst the population have their protection as a priority. ????????

[Mickeymaus]

Many people will come if they get something for free even if they are not suffering. Imagine how many would come if there would be free booze. So to say that the beach is full of needy people might perhaps be an attempt by some to change the restrictions of the Covid policy for their own benefit?!

 

Such a photo like the one above with so many "needy" people doesn't look good in the national and international press. 

 

So how many on this photo were needy and how many greedy? 

 

Edited July 6, 2021 by Mickeymaus

[Cake Monster]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

If we see the positive side, many people have also opened their hearts and pockets and are still donating food to the needy.

So how much has the Super Wealthy Khunpluem Clan donated from their own deep pockets to help the needy

An answer would be good Mr. Mayor.

[lopburi3]

16 minutes ago, Mickeymaus said:

So how many on this photo were needy and how many greedy? 

They are Thai - sitting on the beach - in the noonday sun.  Greedy?  I don't think so.  

[Mickeymaus]

1 minute ago, lopburi3 said:

They are Thai - sitting on the beach - in the noonday sun.  Greedy?  I don't think so.  

I think actions like these are a lot of show. They don't address the real problem and the people who really need help. 

[leba]

2 years and they still don't know how to organize food lines...

 

 

 

[Burma Bill]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

people sitting down on Pattaya beach in queues waiting for food

 

What food - SAND wiches????

[mikebell]

Every photo should be published in every major newspaper in the West.  Thais do little until shamed into it by loss of face - the disappearing cables are down to Bill Gates' intervention.

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

Every photo should be published in every major newspaper in the West.  Thais do little until shamed into it by loss of face - the disappearing cables are down to Bill Gates' intervention.

 

 

Yeah cause food lines is only happening in Thailand aye...

[mikebell]

21 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

 

Yeah cause food lines is only happening in Thailand aye...

This is Thaivisa where people express their feelings about Thai matters.  My outrage is about 'the city is not trying to help or resolve the vaccination situation or reopen force closed businesses'.  Are you outraged about this or are you going to point out that vaccination shortages happen elsewhere in the world?

[Ralf001]

13 minutes ago, mikebell said:

This is Thaivisa where people express their feelings about Thai matters.  My outrage is about 'the city is not trying to help or resolve the vaccination situation or reopen force closed businesses'.  Are you outraged about this or are you going to point out that vaccination shortages happen elsewhere in the world?

Its actually Asean Now which covers more than just Thailand.

[Leaver]

On 7/8/2021 at 7:50 AM, mikebell said:

Are you outraged about this or are you going to point out that vaccination shortages happen elsewhere in the world?

Elsewhere in the world, vaccination shortages are not causing food shortages, but they are in Thailand.  

[mikebell]

9 hours ago, Leaver said:

Elsewhere in the world, vaccination shortages are not causing food shortages, but they are in Thailand.  

Rapid phone surveys done by the World Bank in 48 countries show a significant number of people running out of food or reducing their consumption. 

https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/food-security-and-covid-19

[lopburi3]

25 minutes ago, mikebell said:

Rapid phone surveys done by the World Bank in 48 countries show a significant number of people running out of food or reducing their consumption. 

https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/food-security-and-covid-19

Indeed - but most are not being asked to sit on a beach in the noonday sun of Thailand to receive private donations.

[Leaver]

8 hours ago, mikebell said:

Rapid phone surveys done by the World Bank in 48 countries show a significant number of people running out of food or reducing their consumption. 

https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/food-security-and-covid-19

The food handouts here are from donations, not the government.  An absolute disgrace, and failure of government.