Andaman News Tuesday 27 November

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: Motorbike taxi drivers in Phuket participated in election campaign to encourage voters to exercise their rights.

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Around 300 motorcycle taxi drivers gathered at the Community Hall in Phuket to pledge their good deeds by actively campaigning for eligible voters to come out to exercise their rights for the general election. Their means of publication are the bright yellow safety helmets inscribed with the messages ‘Do good deeds for the King by no vote-buying’ for this election. The activity was put together by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization and the Provincial Election Commission seeing that the motorcycle drivers go into local communities. So from now on, these groups of motorbike taxis will go around the island with their yellow helmets on in support of the nation’s general election.

MiniVDO: Phuket steps up safety measure in coping with the high season.

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In accommodating the increasing number of tourists during this year’s high season, the Phuket Vice Governor Worapote Ratasrima suggested that the Immigration service at Phuket International Airport increase its service counters from 9 to 13 for faster and more efficient services. He also told taxi and airport limousine drivers to make safety their main priority while also asking police to be strict with speeding drivers to ensure the highest safety for tourists. On the police side, the Kathu Police Superintendent Pol. Col. Krissak Song-moon-nak instructed his officers to work with civil volunteers to check on major tourist locations like Patong with more check points set up, especially during festive festivals like Loy Krathong, Christmas and News Year celebrations.

MiniVDO: Senior officials from the PM’s Office followed up public complaints in Phuket.

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Senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office last week visited Phuket to follow up the resolution of complaints by the public from local authorities. 27 issues of complaints from Phuket were reported to the PM’s Office via various channels, 12 of which have been resolved. They include the lack of water supply at Srisuchart Grand Ville and Loch Palm compounds and assistance for 30 communities. Seven issues were reported to be under a process of pursuing. They include a resort project, some parts of which are reported to be built on public land, and smells from a chicken farm in Paklok. The Phuket Provincial authority assigns responsible agencies to report the resolution to the provincial authority within November 30th.

MiniVDO: An inspection was made of Tesco-Lotus construction site in Phuket’s Cherng Thale sub-district but they yet to have another meeting.

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Thalang District Chief Chaiwat The-pee led officials from the provincial Town and Country Planning Office and land officials to inspect the construction site of the retail store of Tesco Lotus in Cherng Thale of Thalang District in Phuket. This followed the local residents’ and local store operators’ complaints and objections against the project citing the Interior Ministerial regulations for the size allowed, as the new development building for retail businesses is larger than what the law allows. After the site inspection, the committee held a meeting with representatives from local villagers and local government there, but no clear conclusion was reached. The next meeting is scheduled on November 28th at the Thalang District Office.

MiniVDO: The Andaman Water Park at Patong Bay’s license was renewed while the plastic floating pier application in Mai Khao was rejected by a Phuket provincial committee.

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The provincial committee on coastal activities and construction has approved a renewal of a license for a water park in Patong Bay under the condition that its license will be promptly revoked if the environment and safety doubts arise. The decision was concluded after the committee’s meeting to consider the requests of three projects. The other two are public complaints filed against the Chalong marina project citing that the new development would affect marine resources like sea grass and local fishermen’s way of life. The meeting agreed that it would wait for the Marine Department’s input as the project falls under its responsibility. The 3rd project considered was a proposed floating pontoon or pier for boat passengers in Mai Khao sub-district. The meeting did not approve the request as it contradicted building control acts which forbid any construction in the sea at Mai Khao beach.

MiniVDO: The Phuket International Marine Expo or PIMEX Exhibition Hall is fully booked while the organizer invites the public to visit the event at Royal Phuket Marina.

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The organizer informed Andaman News that with just 10 days to go to this 5th year of the Phuket International Marine Expo or PIMEX, the Exhibition Hall is now virtually sold out. A few spaces are left in the in-water display but with 35 yachts already confirmed, they are expected to be filled. Over seventy exhibitors and over one hundred brands make PIMEX the biggest Boat Show in Asia. A new feature on the website www.phuketboatshow.com is the products page showing some yachts that will be at PIMEX on display. The Expo is officially supported by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Board, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Sport and Tourism. The Expo is open from Thursday 6th –Sunday 9th December at Royal Phuket Marina. Adding a touch of drama and excitement, the inaugural Phuket International Dragon Boat Challenge Cup will take place in the marina basin on Sunday 9 December. Targeting up to 42 teams of 16 people to compete in heats leading to the Grand Final, the winner will be sponsored to enter the Dragon Boat World Championships in Penang in Summer 2008. For more information visit www.phuketdragonboat.com

MiniVDO: The new Karon Municipality office was opened at Kata beach.

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The new office building for the Karon Municipality was officially opened by Phuket Governor Nirund Kalayanamit last Thursday. The office is situated near the beach side of the beautiful Kata Yai Beach. The new four storey building cost just over 63.4 million baht, accommodating a large meeting room and underground parking lots for visitors. The Karon Mayor Thawee Thongchaem said the new facility will enable his organization to better serve the public and tourists alike. The meeting room facility is also available for the community’s benefit.

MiniVDO: A new ICT Centre will be officially opened in Phuket.

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The new ICT centre at Sapan Hin in Phuket city is scheduled to be officially opened on December 5th to coincide with HM the King’s Birthday. Launched by the Office of Phuket City, the news IT facility is divided into four zones including one library with Thai and foreign language books, and printed media, training section with hi-tech computer, and Good Net zone, well equipped with 70 computers set with Hi-speed Internet access. The Activities Zone can handle around 200 people. The new ICT centre is built with a 25 million baht budget, 15 million from the Office of Phuket City, while another 10 million baht was allocated by the Software Industry Promotion Agency, Phuket office, for acquisition of computers and accessories. Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana said Phuket is one of the three pioneer provinces to establish an ICT centre to be a learning centre for young people and the general public.

MiniVDO: The US Red Cross plans more projects in support of Tsunami affected areas.

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Three projects to be carried out in the tsunami affected areas in Phuket are preparedness programs to handle disasters in Thailand 2008-10, First Aid and young Red Cross volunteers and a project to enhance services on overall basic health care for tsunami affected people. The programs were presented and explained to Phuket Governor Nirund Kalayanamitr by the US coordinator for tsunami recovery programs during their recent meeting. This aims to contribute to the people’s livelihood improvement of their quality of life. Mr Nirund told the coordinator to work with agencies concerned for comprehensive and sustainable operations.

MiniVDO: A property auction is scheduled on November 29th in Phuket.

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Property, mostly houses and land plots, totally worth over 66 million baht, will be put up for auction on November 29th at the Office of the Legal Execution Department in Phuket. The Office Director Santas Prasarnwan invites interested parties to participate. He furthered explained that in the fiscal year of 2007 which ended on 30th September this year, over 400 million baht’s worth of property was auctioned from 180 cases and in October 2007 only property from 21 more cases worth over 50 million baht falls under the office’s care.

Special - 4th Asian Regional Conference on Safe Communities hosted by Thailand in Phuket

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Foreign academics, disaster prevention officers and those who work towards the safety of communities, including medical experts from 7 countries visited Phuket and Phang-Nga on their Tsunami site visit program. The trip was part of the 4th Asian Regional Conference on Safe Communities hosted by Thailand during November 21st – 26th. The conference took place in Bangkok before the participants were led to the Andaman coastal provinces to see and learn themselves about disaster experiences, the local management and improvements plus preparedness for communities gearing towards safety as the main issue. Professor Joon Pil Cho, Chair of Asian Safe Community Network explained that the Safe Community networks have been growing rapidly since 2005 and that the conference in Thailand contributed towards more network establishments.

In Phuket, the group was presented with Phuket province’s crisis management during the Tsunami period, relief, rehabilitation and rebuilding people’s careers. After that active campaigns for safe community with local participation became the main focus, both for responsible agencies and even the media including television Channel 11 in Phuket, whose director was invited to share their experiences with the participants. The Deputy Chief of the EMS or Emergency Medical Services by the provincial Public Health and local government management led by Deputy Mayor of Patong also gave speeches. Being pleased with what she has learnt and visited in Bangkok and nearby provinces, Prof. Lu Pai, Chair of Taiwanese Injury Prevention & Safety Promotion Association said she was pleased with the efforts in Bangkok and Phuket. She also hopes that international Safe Communities are designated in Thailand.

After the indoor presentation and discussion, the group visited Patong where they were briefed and demonstrated on sea rescue operations by a helicopter of the Royal Thai Navy right in front of the early warning tower. They observed a situation with supposed victims in distress at deep sea, then the helicopter was sent to rescue. It started with dropping smoke to identify locations and wind direction checks, then came back using hoists to lift survivors up. Both conference participants and tourists relaxing on the beach were impressed with the operation. This included Professor Leif Svanstrom, Chairman of World Heath Organization or WHO Collaborating Centre on Community Safety Promotion.

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from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) 8.30am + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, both broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket & Phuket Cable TV Channel 1 at 7, 10.30 or 11pm, Tuesday 27 November 2007 & http://news.prd.go.th