Invite To Meeting For Residents Of Kamala & Phiphi

[NBT TV Phuket]

from Andaman News TV11 PHUKET FOR 3 ANDAMAN PROVINCES & FM90.5 Phuket 8.30am Tuesday 20 September 2005

Special - Invite to foreign & local residents of Kamala & Phi Phi

Communities are at the frontline of disasters. Over the last two decades it has become apparent that top-down approaches to disaster risk management alone fail to address the specific local needs of vulnerable communities, often ignoring the local capacities and resources.

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (or ADPC) which is a non-profit organization supporting the advancement of safer communities and sustainable development, believes that community action for disaster risk management is a crucial element in promoting a “culture of prevention” and creating safer communities.

Therefore, last week an ADPC team led by its consultant, Dr Pichit Rattakul, ex Governor of Bangkok, visited and talked, mainly in Thai, to the Andaman coastal communities, and in particular Kamala villagers in Phuket, and Phi Phi island in Krabi. They discussed local plans and developments and will return next Monday the 26th and in November, to put those plans into action, but Dr Pichit told us that they would also like to invite and involve the foreign residents of Kamala and Phi Phi, whether they speak Thai or English:

“Very much. Even with ’farang’, Muslims, Buddhists, students, hotel owners.. form association – these people are responsible for plan drawing up. We invite them all on the 26th.”

The meeting will be held from 9am to 5pm at the College of Disaster Prevention & Mitigation Office on Thekrasatri Road, in Thalang, Phuket or you can ask for more details at the local Or Bor Tor also known as Tambon or District Administration Organisation’s offices in Kamala or Ao Nang for Phi Phi in Krabi, but this is a rare chance for foreign residents, who care about their community, and not just complain, to really take part in local plans & projects for their community’s future protection.

As we saw last weekend, British Curriculum International School students, and foreign residents helped clean up Kamala beach, but again worthy as that was, it needs more continuous and involved participation by foreign residents, to really help local communities develop in harmony and practical matters.

After all foreign residents also pay local taxes, and should expect to also have a say in how those taxes are spent. But it’s not just a matter of money, or expecting the central or local government to come up with funds or staff to solve problems themselves. The ADPC can help financially the local organizations but they mainly guide and advise, and get people together.

Dr Pichit is also not afraid to bring up sensitive topics which foreigners are interested in, but usually cannot get involved in – like that of the relandscaping plans and encroachment by private operators on public land, especially the beach area:

“The Nayok Or Bor Tor (Mayor of District Administration Organisation) talked about this. About 20 metres of the landscaping remodeling of Kamala. There are some obstructions. He has worries about the hotel resort, already put up a fence, also some kind of activity on the beach already”

Or to talk about Phi Phi’s lack of early warning system:

“They might have in the pipeline to put up an EWS in Phi Phi but we didn’t see anything, ASAP. Anything we can help..Governor red tape. Obstructions not able. We’ll find out.. Very important area..”

So residents of Kamala or Phi Phi, whether foreign or Thai, this is your chance to help your community and help yourselves together by meeting on the 26th in Phuket.

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Andaman News TV11 PHUKET FOR 3 ANDAMAN PROVINCES & FM90.5 Phuket 8.30am Wednesday 21 September 2005

The Ministry of Culture invites residents and tourists to join in Phuket Cultural Street revitalisation.

The old and historical roads of Thalang, Krabi and Dibuk in Phuket City will be full of life for seven weekends Friday to Sundays, during 5 to 11pm, starting from this Friday September 23rd until Sunday November 6th. The seven week event aims to revive the tourism as well as highlight the island’s rich culture, especially the unique Sino-Portuguese architectural style buildings.

Among interesting activities are local gourmet food, traditional ceremonies, the golden era of prosperous culture and customs, and Hokkien Baba weddings when couples are invited to join in with applications open until September the 30th.