Trade Council Slams Govt for Flood Mismanagement

The Thai Chamber of Commerce reaffirms its position against corruption and opposes the government's move to amend the law so those convicted of corruption can be considered for royal pardon.

It also criticizes the government for mismanaging water resources and pledges to closely monitor its spending of the flood recovery budget.

Pornsilp Patcharintanakul, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the council will move forward with its anti-corruption drive initiated by late chairman Dusit Nonthanakhon.

It would also oppose the government's alleged move to amend the royal pardon decree to allow people convicted of corruption to be eligible for royal pardon.

He admitted corruption is not decreasing at all and said that from now on, the private sector will closely monitor the government's spending of hundreds of billions of baht on the flood recovery.

Pornsilp claimed that the recent flooding is the result of the government's mismanagement and it has caused extensive damage, estimated at more than a trillion baht, to businesses both within and outside the flood zones.

He expects the overall Thai economy could grow less than one percent this year while next year's gross domestic product growth could be 4.5 percent at most as the prices of several agricultural products are starting to fall.

Federation of Thai Industries, or FTI, Chairman Payungsak Chartsutthiphon said the floods are estimated to have caused 650 billion baht in damage to factories in industrial estates and additional 50 billion baht to those outside the estates.

He noted that only 30 percent of affected factories have insurance, with total claims worth 200 billion baht.

The FTI is negotiating with insurance companies to partially pay the claims first while the exact damage has yet to be calculated.

On the tourism front, Kongkrit Hiranyakit, chairman of the Tourism Council of Thailand for policy and planning, said the flood crisis has shaken the confidence of international tourists after many countries issued travel advisories against visiting Thailand.

The disaster is estimated to cost the tourism industry 50 billion baht in revenue.

CEO of Pruksa Real Estate Thongma Vijitpongpan, said the floods have suspended the transfers of properties valued at a total of 23 billion baht.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-24

How long untill the next crisis, red vs yellows???

Thai tourist industri is in for hard times.

How long untill the next crisis, red vs yellows???

Thai tourist industri is in for hard times.

As long as the Thaksin’s families think they can get away with anything

By now after the way they PM handled the flood, everyoneshould know that they have only one mission to bring back Mr. T and don’t reallycare about the Thailand or its people

Edited November 24, 201114 yr by givenall

How long untill the next crisis, red vs yellows???

Thai tourist industri is in for hard times.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN.. Man U v Norwich...?

How long untill the next crisis, red vs yellows???

Thai tourist industri is in for hard times.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN.. Man U v Norwich...?

I wish it was more Partick Thistle .

This could turn out to be one of the most unpopular governments ever. Here is a list: incompetent/inexperienced PM, flood mismanagement, government priorities to return Taksin, the poor becoming poorer, lack of transparency and sincerity, persons of questionable character in important positions, lack of support for commerce, failure to control rising prices, corruption (transport minister), failing to implement election promises.

Edited November 24, 201114 yr by MaiChai

Plenty of blame to go around for the causes of flood. Lack of effective maintenance of canals and rivers over the years, waterways must be dredged and cleaned out periodically. Waterways can't be used as a dump for all that household and industrial waste, toxic contamination/pollution and sewage or it will all clog the waterways and end up in your house during the next flood.

Edited November 24, 201114 yr by ronz28

Thank heavens for some outside criticism of the government's " handling" of the flood crisis. It had started to seem to me that the Thai apologists on TV were saying the government was doing great. and the critical comments made by bitter expats such as myself were completely wrong...... :jap:

I wish it was more Partick Thistle .

Didn't he play Captain Jean Luc Picard?

I wish it was more Partick Thistle .

Didn't he play Captain Jean Luc Picard?

All wrong. The full name of the club is Partick Thistle NIL