Andaman News Wednesday 13 Feb

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: Police in the Upper South prepare for the senatorial election.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216260

Provincial police chiefs and heads of 112 stations in upper south Thailand gathered to learn the policy for safety measures from the Commander–In-Chief of Police Region 8 Pol. General Thani Tawitsri. The move is in preparation and as pre-caution measures in the pre-election and during the senator election to take place on March 2nd. Pol. Lt. General Thani said the police have laid out action plans for security which include when candidates campaign. It was also announced during the meeting that the Police Director General Pol. General Seripisut Temeyawes will visit Phuket to lay the foundation stone for the head quarters of Police region 8 in Mai Khao, north of Phuket airport on February 28th. The office is being re-located from Surat Thani.

MiniVDO: A seminar to tackle waste issues in Phuket aims at sustainable management.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216258

Government officials, local government representatives and business people plus community leaders gathered at Phuket Merlin hotel yesterday to share and discuss ways to ease the garbage problems in Phuket. The seminar learnt the amount of waste generated each day is averaging just over 500 tons with a 15-18% rise expected in the next 3 years. The participants suggested reducing from the sources or households, laying out applicable and realistic action plans and pinpointed that the waste is Phuket’s urgent problem which all local governments must join hands in management under the central government’s support. The seminar yesterday was part of the activity today which includes a seminar at Phuket Merlin hotel and the recycling campaign which takes place at Surin Beach Park in Thalang during 2 – 5 pm.

Interview - Dr Monthip Taburanon, Director General of the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216257

Our interview is with Dr Monthip Taburanon, Director General of the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, about the special waste separation & recycling event open to public today at Surin Beach Park, Phuket, where you can bring your waste glass for rewards & prizes; she also talks about the Phuket Municipality Incinerator at Sapan Hin, which has a capacity of 400 tons per day, but the input is now sometimes 600 tons, causing problems requiring other solutions. She also considers new rules as Phuket also suffers from growing noise pollution (trucks, karoke, planes) & visual pollution (signs, adverts). But first she talks about today’s event: …….

Four southern provinces discussed how to ease road accident rates.

Representatives from agencies concerning road safety and road accidents met in Phuket to share and discuss ways to reduce road accident rates. The participants were from 4 provinces in southern Thailand. They are Ranong, Trang, Pattalung and Songkhla. They focused on participation of all stakeholders and responsible agencies for traffic. The meeting also revealed a previous study which indicated that road accident prevention measures have been negligent. They include drivers & motorcyclists going in different directions against the flow, and not abiding by the helmet law.

The Phuket Chamber of Commerce president supports the Tourism Minister’s policy to seek business participation in tourism development direction.

Welcoming the new tourism minister, the Phuket Chamber of Commerce president Eam Thavornwongvong praised Mr. Surat Kowsurat as he gathered tourism information before announcing his policy. He also welcomed the minister’s idea to meet and listen to local tourism businesses input before presenting his policy. In doing so Mr. Eam said it would lead to better spending for any activities including marketing. He also suggests that mega projects like an international exhibition centre should be promoted in Phuket as well as promoting Phuket as an international water sports venue.

MiniVDO: Malaysia launches its Visit Malaysia 2008 year.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216254

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi led foreign ambassadors, diplomats and press members plus travel agents from many countries including Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Russia to witness the celebrations of its Chinese New Year at the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The festival featured spectacular parades reflecting Chinese culture and tradition. At the same time in the country’s northern state of Kelantan they celebrated the launch of Visit Malaysia year 2008 to promote 3 major tourist states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah which boost the culture, local lifestyle and natural resources as selling points.

MiniVDO: 89% of local people agree with the plan to transfer Ban Nabon School to be under the PPAO’s management.

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216253

After having 3 local schools transferred to be under its responsibility, the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization or PPAO is now in a process of acquiring another school, Ban Nabon to run under its umbrella. The organization’s education committee has briefed its readiness to manage the school to the Assessment committee from the Basic Education Office. Eight criteria are considered as key indicators to assess whether the PPAO is capable to take the school. They include local participation in education provision, the previous support of the local government before the transfer, ratio of its revenue to spend to education as well as public and stakeholders opinions on the education provision. The PPAO is reported to have passed all indicators while 81% of people under its public survey agreed with the transfer due to the efficiency. The PPAO has been running 3 local schools. They are Munag OR BOR JOR Phuket, OR BOR JOR Ban Thalad Nua and OR BOR JOR Ban Mai Reab schools.

Phuket imposes strict safety measures for fun parks.

The Phuket authority has ordered all districts to check entertainment park or playground equipment and report to the provincial authority within 15 days. This follows the ministry of Interior’s instruction asking every province to be strict with safety at theme parks or playground equipment, especially those which are over 10 metres high. They must be in safe and strong condition. Phuket vice governor Worapot Ratasrima held a meeting with a local committee to oversee the issue. The meeting was also attended by representatives from district offices and local government. They laid out the checking measures both for equipment and services to assure highest safety for public.

Vox Pop - residents views on Valentines Day

To see or download mini-video, go to http://news.prd.go.th/news_detail.php?newsid=216251

We have a vox pop to ask some residents, at QSI International School in Phuket, what they want to do or get on Valentines Day, 14 February which is tomorrow in case you forget! Let‘s hear what they think: ......

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from Andaman News TV11 (VHF dial) at 8.30am & local Cable TV channel 1 + maybe FM90.5 Radio Thailand 6pm, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, & possibly FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket, Wednesday 13 February 2008 & http://news.prd.go.th