Andaman News Thursday 29 November

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: Phuket police are confident of bringing in to justice soon a culprit who robbed and stabbed a Dutchman.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=215380

An Inspector from Phuket City Police visited and questioned Thomas De Klerk, a 51 years old Dutch national, who is now being hospitalized at Bangkok Hospital Phuket. The man was stabbed resulting in two wounds, one on his left rib and one on his left arm, by a robber while Mr De Klerk and his wife went shopping at a down town market in the city’s heart. The incident happened on 25th November and the man is now recovering. Police also questioned his wife who was with him. Both of them provided useful information for officers, including the culprit’s appearance. Phuket Governor Nirund Kalayanamit who paid special attention to the case, instructed police to speed up the investigation and bring the wrong-doer to justice as it was a serious crime which affects the public and tourists’ confidence. The victim said after the incident he was well taken care of by all parties concerned.

MiniVDO: The cabinet approved a minimum wage rise, with Phuket the highest rise of 7 baht per day.

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The Thai cabinet on Tuesday acknowledged the adjustment of minimum wages for 2008 as agreed by the committee to consider minimum wages. The standard rate is designated at 144 baht per day with 194 baht as the highest rate. The 194 baht rate is applicable in Bangkok, Nakorn Patom, Nonthburi, Pathum Thani, Smaut Prakarn and Samut Sakorn. Phuket’s rate rises from 186 baht to 193 baht or a 7 baht rise, which is the highest rise. Ranong’s minimum wage is now adjusted from 160 to 163 baht, Phang Nga from 159 to 162, while Krabi’s rate is up 4 baht from 156 to 160 baht per day. The new wages take effect on 1st January 2008.

MiniVDO: Phuket plans the National Environment Day on 4th December with many activities involving ‘Global Warming’ reduction.

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Many activities, involving campaigns for environmental conservation and global warming reductions, will be arranged at the Saphan Hin area in Phuket City in recognition of the Thai Environment Day on 4th December2007. The event, co-hosted by the Provincial National Resources and Environment department, the Office of Phuket City and the Environment Society of Phuket, aims at taking such opportunity to raise public awareness on environmental conservation, especially in young people. Among activities which need local participation are waste separation, tree planting activities, demonstrations on usage of recycled materials, and a contest on a motto for waste separation before the participants gather to vow to make Phuket clean and beautiful by announcing ‘Phuket Green; need for Care and Share.’

MiniVDO: New national park fees are to take effect on 1st December.

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Thailand’s new national park entry fees were announced on 22nd November and will take effect on 1st December 2007. The new fee regulation, which covers national parks nationwide, categorizes the parks into four lists, based on their numbers of visitors, natural resources, attractions, and facilities. The parks in the Andaman region are mostly rated in the 1st list. The entry fee for Surin and Similan national parks are 80 baht for Thai adults and 40 for Thai children, while foreign adults will be charged 400 baht with 200 baht for foreign children. The Lanta national park which covers Rog and Ngai islands and the Noparat Tara park plus the Phi Phi islands are listed on the no. 2 list with 40 baht and 20 baht fees for Thai adults and children, while foreign adults and children are still 400 and 200 baht.

MiniVDO: The Phuket Red Cross launches a mobile unit seeking blood donations to serve the Andaman region throughout December.

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Management, teachers and students of the Phuket Technical College yesterday gathered to donate blood for the Thai Red Cross Society, Phuket chapter. The activity was launched in tribute to HM the King for his 80th Birthday anniversary. The blood donated will be kept at the Blood bank in Wachira Hospital in Phuket in reserve for those in need in Phuket and nearby provinces. The Phuket Red Cross is scheduled to rotate around with a mobile unit for blood donations. On 5th December, donors can go to the blood bank at Wachira Hospital, on 8th December at Phuket Namsang Company, on 18th December at Prince of Songkhla University, and on 22nd December at Big C supercentre.

MiniVDO: Firefly Airline opens more flights from Malaysia to Phuket & Samui.

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After first launching its Penang-Phuket route last April, the Firefly airline, which is a subsidary of Malaysian Airlines is now providing four direct flights per week between Penang–Phuket and Penang-Samui islands, with effect from 17 November. The flights are scheduled on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday going to Penang at 4.40pm from Samui and at 8pm from Phuket in the evenings. The service links the two Thai destinations with tourists from Malaysia as well as helps link Penang and Phuket’s shared Chinese culture and heritage.

MiniVDO: Elite Card members will visit Phuket tomorrow for tourism and investment.

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The Thailand Privilege Card Company ( TPC ) are bringing down about 200 of its member card holders to an ‘Investment Network in Phuket by Thailand Elite’ seminar on November 30th (at Le Meridien Phuket). The company’s Vice President Nattaya Intarasut said the main aim of the trip is to promote networks for trade and investment. Phuket is its first regional seminar in response to over 50% out of 2,300 of its members expressing their interest to visit the island. Thailand’s representatives on trade and investment like the BOI or the Stock Exchange will present economic information, Thailand’s investment outlook for 2008 as well as Phuket’s investment potential. According to the company’s survey over 1,000 million baht was invested in Thailand by the Elite card holders mostly in golf courses and jewelries on the Bangkok outskirts while in Phuket they focus on tourism industry investment.

Ban Saiyuan in Phuket’s Rawai area boosts its self sufficiency economy amidst tourism growth

Despite the fast growing economy due to tourism, the local villagers at Ban Sai Yuan in the Rawai sub-district on the south side of Phuket still keep to their local wisdom and earn decent income. The cow skin crafting career group here products became the province’s leading community product under the ‘One Tambon One Product or OTOP’. Under the support of government agency under the ‘happiness and Wellness’ policy, the group can expand their work and marketing which the tourism helps a great deal.

Vox Pop- Phuket residents on what they like or not like about the island & Thai language

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=215372

Now we have a light hearted Vox pop. Yesterday we spoke to tourists about what they like here, so today we speak to several Phuket residents on what they like or not like about the island and whether they use Thai language much. Let’s hear what they say: ……...

Special - modern exercise machines at sports centre, Ban Ket Ho School, Kathu in Phuket

To see or download mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=214866

Apart from community aerobic exercises at the Child Development Centre at Ket Ho, (junction of roads to Kathu-Patong-Phuket city) these modern exercise machines located within the sports centre of the local school are major motivations for residents here to take an interest in exercising for health. The flexible controls on the machines can be suited to cover all gender and ages, young or old.

Every afternoon, the residents of Ket Ho and nearby gather to regularly exercise for healthy minds and bodies. This exercise runs under the community’s health promotion program which has been allocated 500,000 baht. It is expected to draw more attention from young people, to keep them away from drugs and more importantly reduce medical costs. The exercise machines are made available for the public during 5.30-8pm everyday and users pay only 10 baht each for maintenance costs. Among the popular machines are bicycles, sit ups and Homfit tools. The leader also has a plan to extend the facility by adding another room to cope with future demand.

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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, 29 Nov 2007 & http://news.prd.go.th