Andaman News Tuesday 22 Jan

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: Former elected senator re-runs for the senator seat in Phuket.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216037

The first day of applications for senator candidates in Phuket was not active with only one candidate submitting an application. Thanyarat Atchariyachai, local hotelier and former senator elected before the September 2007 coup, submitted her application early Monday morning and received number 1. Mrs. Thanyarat said she is confident to win the seat as she has been visiting people in communities, but it is up to the voters. She however said she will carefully study Election Commission’s regulations on seeking votes and emphasizes that her specialty will be in the tourism field. Tanyarat’s family runs large hotels in Phuket and Samui plus tourism related businesses.

MiniVDO: Two Tsunami detecting buoys will be deployed in the Andaman Sea with a 165 million baht fund.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216036

The Advisor of Thailand National Warning Centre or NDWC Dr. Smith Dhammasaroj stated during his trip to Phuket that two Tsunami detecting buoys are planned to be deployed near the Andaman and Nicobar islands. He stresses that the new buoys will be just 250 – 300 kilometres from the Andaman coast in Thailand. The 165 million baht equipment is now under procurement process carried out by the Meteorological Department. Touching on the existing 79 warning towers, Mr. Smith said they are not sufficient and surveys indicate many more are needed. He also suggested that evacuation drills should be conducted twice a year. The NDWC is now preparing to install warning systems in 20 schools located in vulnerable locations with better sound ranges.

MiniVDO: 10 evacuation routes on Phi Phi Island in Krabi are now completed to lead people to higher ground incase of emergencies.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216035

3 years after the Tsunami incident, evacuation routes directing people to higher ground in case of a Tsunami on Phi Phi Island are now completed. According to the provincial Town and Country Planning chief Sati Polyium, the routes are branches from different directions and lead to a safe site or evacuation shelter. The routes, built with 17 million baht, are well paved for residents and tourists safety with clear signs posted. Krabi Governor Siwa Sirisaowaluck is scheduled to attend the handover ceremony from a contractor this Friday. For this fiscal year of 2008, the Krabi provincial office is also allocated around 15 million baht to build an evacuation shelter on Phi Phi Island.

MiniVDO: 2 teams from Rajaphat University and Phuket Vocational College won the rice cooking contest for southern Thailand and will take part at the national level in Bangkok.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216034

Twenty teams from various organizations on Saturday competed in a rice cooking contest to make their to a national contest in Bangkok. The rice cooking contest was held at Central Festival in Phuket where organizers assigned each team to cook rice according to their own techniques and the winners were decided by judges. They had to cook with electric rice cookers and the conventional way using charcoal. This was the southern regional championship with the national championship scheduled to take place in May in Bangkok. 2 teams from Rajaphat University and Phuket Vocational College won the contest and received 10,000 baht cash prizes each. The event is held nationwide in honor of HM the King.

MiniVDO: In 2007 the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation collected over 65 million baht in taxes from hotels.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216033

Phuket Provincial Administration Organization or PPAO earned over 65 million baht from hotel room tax collection in 2007, exceeding its target of 60 million baht. The CEO of PPAO Anchalee Vanitch Theppabutr pointed out that the increase in revenue is a result of the explanation to hotels and their participation. This year the PPAO targets the same revenue for tax at 65 million baht. She however admitted that around 30% of hotels in Phuket are not paying such fees to the PPAO. They are mostly in Kata, Karon and Patong. Anchalee detailed the revenue being spent on tourism promotion activity, overseas road shows, improving services at Chalong pier, as well as having beach guards stationed at beaches for tourist safety.

MiniVDO: Banking employees in Phuket are trained on techniques to spot fake foreign bank notes.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216032

Officers and banking staff from different monetary institutes in Phuket were educated on how to examine foreign bank notes to ensure that they are not fake. Thanachart Bank’s international trading manager Aditus Hubchaba stated that fraudsters are found to usually imitate the US dollars as they are widely used, especially in the tourism industry. Mr. Aditus however points out that the bank notes can only be 95% imitated. Asked how to spot the fakes, he said people should observe the texture which banking staff will be particularly trained for. If people find any fake banknotes or are suspicious, they should report to police or try to delay the user, as it helps authority to further investigate or lead to useful clues.

MiniVDO: An Orchid fair will be held in Krabi next month.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216031

The 5th Orchid Fair is scheduled to be held during February 12 – 16 , at a ground in front of Krabi provincial hall. The fair will be co-hosted by the Krabi Provincial Administration Organization and Krabi Orchid Farming Club aiming at promoting Thai orchids and their conservation, especially the Lady Slippers in pursuing the work of HM the Queen.

MiniVDO: An art exhibition on ‘Unforgettable Faith’ is being held in Phuket city.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216030

Over 30 pieces of art, oil paintings on canvas are being displayed at Number One Art Gallery on Yaowarat road in Phuket city. The art exhibition under the theme ‘Unforgettable faith’ reflects the northern artist’s 20 years of experience in his profession, one of which is Bhuddhism. Interested people can visit the gallery on Tuesday to Sunday at 10.30 am – 7.30 pm until March 16th.

MiniVDO: The Employment Office explains guidelines for work permit renewal by employers who hire alien workers.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216029

More than 500 employers in Phuket attended a meeting held by the Employment Office to explain rules and procedures for work permit renewals for migrants or foreign laborers from Burma, Laos and Cambodia. This follows the cabinet’s resolution which allows foreign laborers of the three nationalities to renew their permits for another year. The authority asks those with work permit expiring on February 28th to seek permission from February 1st - 28th and those with permits expiring on June 30th to apply by the expiry date. In the past year of 2007, Phuket had 31,079 registered foreign laborers.

Special Report - Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation Beach & Reef clean up last Saturday

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216028

The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation is launching new projects this year to show its environmental commitment. The Foundation was launched in March 2002 during the grand opening celebrations of JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa to raise funds and awareness of the endangered leatherback turtles which nest on the Mai Khao beach area. Over the recent years, the Foundation has broadened its environmental projects to not only conservation of the leatherback turtles but also the environment. Several village, reef and beach clean ups have been conducted in collaboration with the local community, schools and universities.

Following the success of last year’s “Clean Beach White Sand” project, the Foundation in conjunction with JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa and Phuket Rajabhat University launches its “Environmental Awareness and Solutions Project”. One of the first activities in the Foundation’s events for 2008 was the Mai Khao Beach and Reef clean up last Saturday 19 January. Senior hotel staff, volunteers, and students from 5 schools Ban Maikhao, Thatchchai, Hongyok Bamrung, Banko-en, and Makprok, as well some divers, met up early and then divided into groups, collecting and separating the rubbish. John Webb, GM of JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa told us about some of the background of the Foundation: He also explained about the cleaning and sorting activities, including some coral reef cleaning that was also taking place: He couldn’t put a figure on the target weight of rubbish expected, but promised it would be enough to clean it up: They will keep a record of the rubbish collected to use as a database to report to communities so that more awareness is raised for the future. Associate Professor Somchai Sakultap from Rajaphat University expects participating students to learn where the rubbish comes from, how many types and the separation process. Of course the other main aim is to help educate residents and visitors about removing rubbish that endangers turtles on one of the few remaining Phuket beaches they still nest on,as John concluded: Later this year in March, the Foundation arranges a Turtle Fun Run and Educational Day; in May a Tree Planting Project; in July a Managing Our Beach Environment Workshop; in September an Earth Hour – Save Energy for Just One Hour; and in November a Managing Our Community Environment Workshop. For more information about the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation, you can visit their website www.maikhaoturtlefoundation.com or contact Michelle their Coordinator, via telephone 081-893 6001.

The Rawai Progressive International School in Phuket also just informed us they will be making a trip to Mai Khao Beach overnight tonight to participate as volunteers watching out for any sea turtles coming to shore to nest. While there, they’'ll be having a lesson about the turtles from the local village head.

Not just the Foundation and students, but also all of us who live here or visit Phuket need to help keep our beaches and sea clean of plastic rubbish, and educate others who don’t, if we want to attract back the rare turtles to Phuket beaches via the sea and not as freight on aeroplanes from other cleaner locations.

Interview part 2 - Charn Wongsatayanont, benefactor of the Kathu Tin Mining Museum

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216027

This is a short part of an interview we could not show earlier with Charn Wongsatayanont, MD of Phuket Jet Tour & benefactor of the Kathu Tin Mining Museum, which is due to open later this year. The Museum is located east of Loch Palm Golf Club, west of British International School, in Kathu, as Charn explains more: ……. Contact: www.KathuTin.com (in Thai) Tel 08 66829698 fax 076 322134

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from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) & KPP Cable TV at 8.30am + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, possibly FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket, Tuesday 22 January 2008 & http://news.prd.go.th