U S Navy Sailors Caught In Phuket Taxi Blockade

[twominutesbuddy]

Americas great naval power cant even manage a phuket invasion.

funny

[twominutesbuddy]

personally i would up anchor and sail for the phillipines

[thaicbr]

 

Gangsters run the transport system and have government officials in their pockets apparently, so tourists and locals alike are held to ransom on this issue ALL the time, its only when a big boat turns up and it becomes newsworthy does the rest of the world find out about the extortionate manner of transport operations on Phuket. Lets just smile, say Mai Pen Rai and let the locals take us for all we are worth as usual... My friend in China said to me that the difference between Chinese and Thai is that Chinese will find the goose laying the golden egg and keep it until it can lay no more eggs then bake it up and eat it, Thai would just eat it and not worry that they lost all the eggs that might have come from it... same way they treat tourists, expecting that the ones they rip off today will be replaced by new marks tomorrow. Always enjoyable to observe the amazing Thailand experience, after 23 years it hasn't changed much 

I once read the Thais have the cunning of a fox and the strategy of a goldfish, I have since found that spot on.

 

PS: a goldfish has a 5 second memory span.

 

What was I trying to say?

 

And expats in Phuket have the memories of an Elephant. Your history follows you everywhere

Expats have the memory of elephants and the cunning of rabbits, just ask the indigenous females.

 

PS: I am not from Phuket, no real value there for me. 

 

PSS: Rabbits live in thorny bushes and get eaten by the fox

Sorry honest mistake. If you arent from Phuket then you dont really have any business posting here. How could you possibly know what goes on here if you dont or havent lived here?

Because we are avid readers of your posts

Is there a reference anywhere to to contractors not being paid?

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

[stevenl]

personally i would up anchor and sail for the phillipines

That was apparently one of the options seriously considered last night.

[stevenl]

Is there a reference anywhere to to contractors not being paid?

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

Inside information from somebody providing other services to the navy, and confirmed by the other news source that this is the cause of the dispute.

Edited May 30, 2013 by stevenl

[NamKangMan]

@ stevenl

The problem is, we don't know where the "money chain" is broken. You are assuming the money hasn't come from America. I am assuming the money made it here, but never got to the local providers.drivers.

Back to my question, what do they think anyone onboard can/will do????

What can the admiral of the ship do? He may make a few phone calls back to The States, but it's 4am over there now. What financial transaction can be completed at 4am, on the spot, if indeed, America's Department of Defence hasn't paid?

Why did they leave it to now, to blockade a ship, in an attempt to collect payment? This could have been raised through the proper channels long ago.

Yet another debarcle on Phuket.

Edited May 30, 2013 by NamKangMan

[NamKangMan]

personally i would up anchor and sail for the phillipines

That was apparently one of the options seriously considered last night.

I think they went to Singapore last time.

[stevenl]

@ stevenl

The problem is, we don't know where the "money chain" is broken. You are assuming the money hasn't come from America. I am assuming the money made it here, but never got to the local providers.drivers.

Back to my question, what do they think anyone onboard can/will do????

What can the admiral of the ship do? He may make a few phone calls back to The States, but it's 4am over there now. What financial transaction can be completed at 4am, on the spot, if indeed, America's Department of Defence hasn't paid?

Why did they leave it to now, to blockade a ship, in an attempt to collect payment? This could have been raised through the proper channels long ago.

Yet another debarcle on Phuket.

No, I am not assuming the money chain is broken in America, I said I don't know where the company is from.

However, the company mentioned in the other news source is based in Singapore.

Their only position of power is now, with the sailors on the ground wanting transportation. So yes, if you want to achieve something a position with power is the only way to go.

Edited May 30, 2013 by stevenl

[NamKangMan]

@ stevenl

The problem is, we don't know where the "money chain" is broken. You are assuming the money hasn't come from America. I am assuming the money made it here, but never got to the local providers.drivers.

Back to my question, what do they think anyone onboard can/will do????

What can the admiral of the ship do? He may make a few phone calls back to The States, but it's 4am over there now. What financial transaction can be completed at 4am, on the spot, if indeed, America's Department of Defence hasn't paid?

Why did they leave it to now, to blockade a ship, in an attempt to collect payment? This could have been raised through the proper channels long ago.

Yet another debarcle on Phuket.

No, I am not assuming the money chain is broken in America, I said I don't know where the company is from.

However, the company mentioned in the other news source is based in Singapore.

Their only position of power is now, with the sailors on the ground wanting transportation. So yes, if you want to achieve something a position with power is the only way to go.

Well, obviously the "money chain" is broken somewhere, as people have not been paid.

So, would I be correct in saying, the drivers blockading the port are holding the sailors to ransom in an attempt to force the Singapore contractor, or the contractor in Thailand, to pay?

[stevenl]

@ stevenl

The problem is, we don't know where the "money chain" is broken. You are assuming the money hasn't come from America. I am assuming the money made it here, but never got to the local providers.drivers.

Back to my question, what do they think anyone onboard can/will do????

What can the admiral of the ship do? He may make a few phone calls back to The States, but it's 4am over there now. What financial transaction can be completed at 4am, on the spot, if indeed, America's Department of Defence hasn't paid?

Why did they leave it to now, to blockade a ship, in an attempt to collect payment? This could have been raised through the proper channels long ago.

Yet another debarcle on Phuket.

No, I am not assuming the money chain is broken in America, I said I don't know where the company is from.

However, the company mentioned in the other news source is based in Singapore.

Their only position of power is now, with the sailors on the ground wanting transportation. So yes, if you want to achieve something a position with power is the only way to go.

Well, obviously the "money chain" is broken somewhere, as people have not been paid.

So, would I be correct in saying, the drivers blockading the port are holding the sailors to ransom in an attempt to force the Singapore contractor, or the contractor in Thailand, to pay?

No, IMO your wording would not be correct. They're on strike, the sailors can take a tuktuk to go where they'd like to go.

Glad to see you agree the money chain has been broken somewhere, took you only about 5 posts to come to that conclusion.

[andreandre]

@ stevenl

The problem is, we don't know where the "money chain" is broken. You are assuming the money hasn't come from America. I am assuming the money made it here, but never got to the local providers.drivers.

Back to my question, what do they think anyone onboard can/will do????

What can the admiral of the ship do? He may make a few phone calls back to The States, but it's 4am over there now. What financial transaction can be completed at 4am, on the spot, if indeed, America's Department of Defence hasn't paid?

Why did they leave it to now, to blockade a ship, in an attempt to collect payment? This could have been raised through the proper channels long ago.

Yet another debarcle on Phuket.

No, I am not assuming the money chain is broken in America, I said I don't know where the company is from.

However, the company mentioned in the other news source is based in Singapore.

Their only position of power is now, with the sailors on the ground wanting transportation. So yes, if you want to achieve something a position with power is the only way to go.

Stevenl..... Everything you are saying is based on assumptions is it not?

The scource that you quote also says that they [Glenn Marine] have indeed paid..the monies owed...so two opposing statements in the one article..

Maybe ,as suggested ,the money has simply not been paid to the individual drivers...

Edited May 30, 2013 by andreandre

[webfact]

Dispute blocks bus service for US sailors in Phuket
Naraporn Tuarob

Ao Makham taxi club leader Narong Kumban: ‘We can’t let just anyone come into the port.’

PHUKET: -- US Navy sailors are caught in the middle of a local dispute over transport to take them between the Deep Sea Port in Ao Makham and Patong.

Following a deal brokered in June 2011 after a series of blockades of the port by black taxis, custom from the Navy was split between the local taxi club and a bus company, Blue Sea.

Last night, Blue Sea threatened to cut off their service providing a shuttle service from the port to Patong because they had not been paid by the US Navy’s preferred facilitator, Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA), which has its headquarters in Singapore.

This morning, having been paid only a small amount of what he said was owed, Blue Sea’s owner, Aree Kumban, suspended the service, which provided free transport for sailors.

He alleged that GDMA owes his company around B5.5 million – B3.5 million from last October when the aircraft carrier USS Stennis stopped in Phuket, and another B2 million so far for the current visit of the Stennis’s sister ship, the USS Nimitz.

This morning, GDMA apparently tried to hire another bus company to shuttle the sailors, but black taxi drivers promptly barred any bus other than those “registered” with the taxi club from coming into the port.

The local Phu Yai Baan, Narong Kumban, a relative of Mr Aree, told The Phuket News, “If we allow just anyone to come in here when we don’t know who they are, then if anything happens to the passengers, it will be difficult to place blame. We [local taxi club] might be blamed for letting them in.”

Mr Aree said that he had had some discussions over the phone with GDMA, but now his phone calls were going unanswered. “I’m going to put it in the hands of my lawyers now,” he said.

The Phuket News twice called Pornpun Settaphakorn, general manager of GDMA Thailand, for her response to Mr Aree’s allegations. On both occasions she declined to comment.

In the meantime the sailors from the USS Nimitz are deprived of their free shuttle service and are having to pay local taxis and minivans to get to and from Patong.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/dispute-blocks-bus-service-for-us-sailors-in-phuket-39777.php


-- Phuket News 2013-05-30

[NamKangMan]

@ stevenl

The problem is, we don't know where the "money chain" is broken. You are assuming the money hasn't come from America. I am assuming the money made it here, but never got to the local providers.drivers.

Back to my question, what do they think anyone onboard can/will do????

What can the admiral of the ship do? He may make a few phone calls back to The States, but it's 4am over there now. What financial transaction can be completed at 4am, on the spot, if indeed, America's Department of Defence hasn't paid?

Why did they leave it to now, to blockade a ship, in an attempt to collect payment? This could have been raised through the proper channels long ago.

Yet another debarcle on Phuket.

No, I am not assuming the money chain is broken in America, I said I don't know where the company is from.

However, the company mentioned in the other news source is based in Singapore.

Their only position of power is now, with the sailors on the ground wanting transportation. So yes, if you want to achieve something a position with power is the only way to go.

Well, obviously the "money chain" is broken somewhere, as people have not been paid.

So, would I be correct in saying, the drivers blockading the port are holding the sailors to ransom in an attempt to force the Singapore contractor, or the contractor in Thailand, to pay?

No, IMO your wording would not be correct. They're on strike, the sailors can take a tuktuk to go where they'd like to go.

Glad to see you agree the money chain has been broken somewhere, took you only about 5 posts to come to that conclusion.

Quote stevenl: "I am not assuming the money chain is broken in America" :)

I stated all along, I bet Thai's are screwing Thai's.

However, if it is true what you say, that the sailors can still catch a tuk-tuk anywhere, now that changes things.

I wouldn't be surprised if they have been paid, but are complaining that they haven't, BUT the tuk-tuks are here to take you all where you want to go - at 6000 baht a journey. :)

[stevenl]

@ stevenl

The problem is, we don't know where the "money chain" is broken. You are assuming the money hasn't come from America. I am assuming the money made it here, but never got to the local providers.drivers.

Back to my question, what do they think anyone onboard can/will do????

What can the admiral of the ship do? He may make a few phone calls back to The States, but it's 4am over there now. What financial transaction can be completed at 4am, on the spot, if indeed, America's Department of Defence hasn't paid?

Why did they leave it to now, to blockade a ship, in an attempt to collect payment? This could have been raised through the proper channels long ago.

Yet another debarcle on Phuket.

No, I am not assuming the money chain is broken in America, I said I don't know where the company is from.

However, the company mentioned in the other news source is based in Singapore.

Their only position of power is now, with the sailors on the ground wanting transportation. So yes, if you want to achieve something a position with power is the only way to go.

Stevenl..... Everything you are saying is based on assumptions is it not?

The scource that you quote also says that they [Glenn Marine] have indeed paid..the monies owed...so two opposing statements in the one article..

Maybe ,as suggested ,the money has simply not been paid to the individual drivers...

Just please read. I have said the cause seems to be a payment dispute, with the drivers accusing the company organising transport in the whole of SEA as the culprit. Whether or not they are the cause or somebody inside Thailand is the cause remains to be seen, although with the company organising the transport in Pattaya not getting paid points to the likely cause being the company organising the SEA transport is the culprit.

I'm glad to see TV has updated the story and is now also looking at buses in stead of tuktuk's.

Edited May 30, 2013 by stevenl

[Jimi007]

This morning, GDMA apparently tried to hire another bus company to shuttle the sailors, but black taxi drivers promptly barred any bus other than those “registered” with the taxi club from coming into the port.

Ah, now illegal taxis are in charge. When is the lame assed governor of Phuket going to do something about the turf wars and taxi gangs on Phuket. This is just ridiculous. I hope the US Navy doesn't send another ship here until they are guaranteed this won't happen again. Which will be never!

[oldsailor35]

Sorry to burst your bubble guys but it was mini van drivers blockading the port. The tuk tuks and taxi drivers dutifully transported the sailors to Patong

And how much were the fares ?

[IrishIvan]

Sorry to burst your bubble guys but it was mini van drivers blockading the port. The tuk tuks and taxi drivers dutifully transported the sailors to Patong

And how much were the fares ?

400 baht each when the tuk tuk filled up with 5 people. Not much at all for a sailor on leave

[oldsailor35]

The US navy bouncing checks? No wonder Bout never did business with them

No, US Navy has contracted local transport for the whole of SEA through 1 company, don't know where they are from. This company contracts local operators, local operators contract minibusdrivers. The first SEA contractor so far has defaulted and not paid anybody in Thailand for months already.

It has to happen in Thailand of course. Talk about a nation of crooks !

[Jimi007]

Sorry to burst your bubble guys but it was mini van drivers blockading the port. The tuk tuks and taxi drivers dutifully transported the sailors to Patong

And how much were the fares ?

According to the article above: "In the meantime the sailors from the USS Nimitz are deprived of their free shuttle service and are having to pay local taxis and minivans to get to and from Patong." And as IrishIvan stated the rip off tuk tuks were charging 400 Baht a piece with five passengers on board.

Edited May 30, 2013 by Jimi007

[NamKangMan]

@ stevenl

The problem is, we don't know where the "money chain" is broken. You are assuming the money hasn't come from America. I am assuming the money made it here, but never got to the local providers.drivers.

Back to my question, what do they think anyone onboard can/will do????

What can the admiral of the ship do? He may make a few phone calls back to The States, but it's 4am over there now. What financial transaction can be completed at 4am, on the spot, if indeed, America's Department of Defence hasn't paid?

Why did they leave it to now, to blockade a ship, in an attempt to collect payment? This could have been raised through the proper channels long ago.

Yet another debarcle on Phuket.

No, I am not assuming the money chain is broken in America, I said I don't know where the company is from.

However, the company mentioned in the other news source is based in Singapore.

Their only position of power is now, with the sailors on the ground wanting transportation. So yes, if you want to achieve something a position with power is the only way to go.

Stevenl..... Everything you are saying is based on assumptions is it not?

The scource that you quote also says that they [Glenn Marine] have indeed paid..the monies owed...so two opposing statements in the one article..

Maybe ,as suggested ,the money has simply not been paid to the individual drivers...

Just please read. I have said the cause seems to be a payment dispute, with the drivers accusing the company organising transport in the whole of SEA as the culprit. Whether or not they are the cause or somebody inside Thailand is the cause remains to be seen, although with the company organising the transport in Pattaya not getting paid points to the likely cause being the company organising the SEA transport is the culprit.

I'm glad to see TV has updated the story and is now also looking at buses in stead of tuktuk's.

"This morning, GDMA apparently tried to hire another bus company to shuttle the sailors, but black taxi drivers promptly barred any bus other than those “registered” with the taxi club from coming into the port." - we must be reading different news articles.

Edited May 30, 2013 by NamKangMan

[Soupdragon]

This morning, GDMA apparently tried to hire another bus company to shuttle the sailors, but black taxi drivers promptly barred any bus other than those “registered” with the taxi club from coming into the port.

Ah, now illegal taxis are in charge. When is the lame assed governor of Phuket going to do something about the turf wars and taxi gangs on Phuket. This is just ridiculous. I hope the US Navy doesn't send another ship here until they are guaranteed this won't happen again. Which will be never!

Ironically the Governor is touring Europe doing research on deep water ports and how they are run there.

[oldsailor35]

you would be excluding a very heavy percentage of TV posters, if real experience was a requisite for having an opinion.

personally i would up anchor and sail for the phillipines

That was apparently one of the options seriously considered last night.

I think they went to Singapore last time.

If the USN have any balls they will up anchor straight away and head for Singapore, this might make the Thais wake up.

[NamKangMan]

Sorry to burst your bubble guys but it was mini van drivers blockading the port. The tuk tuks and taxi drivers dutifully transported the sailors to Patong

And how much were the fares ?

400 baht each when the tuk tuk filled up with 5 people. Not much at all for a sailor on leave

2000 baht a journey = nearly a week's salary for a Thai on minimum wage of 300 baht a day.

Sad to see a Thai lady cleaning hotel rooms for 10 hours a day, or in a hot kitchen for 10 hours, for 300 baht, and these tuk-tuk drivers can do this. It's a disgrace.

I bet the cost goes up even more when they have to get back before curfew.

Edited May 30, 2013 by NamKangMan

[Jimi007]

This morning, GDMA apparently tried to hire another bus company to shuttle the sailors, but black taxi drivers promptly barred any bus other than those “registered” with the taxi club from coming into the port.

Ah, now illegal taxis are in charge. When is the lame assed governor of Phuket going to do something about the turf wars and taxi gangs on Phuket. This is just ridiculous. I hope the US Navy doesn't send another ship here until they are guaranteed this won't happen again. Which will be never!

Ironically the Governor is touring Europe doing research on deep water ports and how they are run there.

LOL! I know! Conveniently scheduled to avoid the visit from the Chinese Ambassador, who had several complaints to talk with him about and the visit from the US Navy.

[webfact]

No blockade: Phuket taxis called to the rescue [Video Report]
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Following the confusion at Phuket’s Deep Sea Port this morning (story here), it has come to light that the hundreds of taxis, tour vans and tuk-tuks at the gate of Phuket’s key port facility were called to the rescue of the thousands of US Navy servicemen and women looking to enjoy shore leave on the island.

The armada of local transport vehicles were called in after the regular bus organized to transport the sailors to popular tourist areas across the island failed to show up.

“Just because there are a lot of taxis here doesn’t mean we are blocking the port. We are actually just trying to help out,” said local village headman Narong Kumban.

“I found out that the Blue Sea Tour bus wasn’t going to be running at about 6:30am, so I called in about 100 taxis to ensure sailors had transportation from the port,” he said.

The US Navy serviceman tasked with being today’s bus coordinator, who asked to be

named only as Glen, explained to the Phuket Gazette that he reported for duty dockside this morning to find hundreds of sailors queuing up to board the bus, which still had not arrived.

“I’ve not been informed if or when the bus will come. Some sailors simply don’t care to wait, and even though the bus fare would have been covered [by the US Navy] for them, they are free to go on their own if they don’t want to wait,” he said.

As soon as word got out that there might not be a bus coming any time soon to pick them up, sailors quickly started dispersing in small groups, on foot and en route to the exit gates, where they were met with just as eager chauffeurs.

When the Gazette arrived at the scene shortly after 10am, the area in front of the port entrance was choked by about 200 “black taxi” drivers [regular citizens providing taxi services] standing beside their sedans, tuk-tuks and dozens of vans.

US Navy serviceman Nicholas, accompanied by five comrades, told the Gazette that he was thankful for these taxis, as they were “reasonably priced and friendly”.

“Yesterday, a friend and I took an all-day tour with our chauffeur, Mr Wat, who we met out here [outside the port gates]. We went to Patong and Phuket FantaSea, and he brought us back here all for only 1,000 baht,” he said.

However, the taxi drivers inside the port area were charging much higher fares.

Nicholas, whose group was planning to do another day-tour around Phuket before returning to the ship tonight, said that he was initially quoted 5,000 baht from one “green plate” [legally registered] taxi inside the Deep Sea Port for a one-way trip to Patong.

“We thought we might find cheaper fares [outside] at the Deep Sea Port entrance, so we walked the quarter mile or so out the gates,” he told the Gazette.

Explaining his cheaper fares, Mr Wat told the Gazette, “These [here outside the gates] are my friends… We give a fair price and we do not cheat. Most of us are just local poor people.”

The cheaper fares suited Nicholas, who said he and his friends were on a budget of US$150 a day during their Phuket shore leave.

“Some of our friends, however, have budgeted to spend US$600 to US$700 a day,” he added.

Phuket Marine Office chief Phuriphat Teerakulpisut explained to the Gazette the bus failed to show up at the port this morning following a dispute between Blue Sea Tour and the company contracted by the US Navy to locally organize such services.

“However, I am more than glad to help moderate the situation and help them find a solution,” he said.

The Gazette has been informed that several high-ranking Phuket authorities are at the port today to find a solution to the dispute.

The supercarrier USS Nimitz and the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton, comprising total crews of about 6,000 sailors, will haul anchor and set sail from Phuket on Sunday.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/No-blockade-Phuket-taxis-called-to-the-rescue-Video-Report-21196.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-05-30

[andreandre]

@ stevenl

The problem is, we don't know where the "money chain" is broken. You are assuming the money hasn't come from America. I am assuming the money made it here, but never got to the local providers.drivers.

Back to my question, what do they think anyone onboard can/will do????

What can the admiral of the ship do? He may make a few phone calls back to The States, but it's 4am over there now. What financial transaction can be completed at 4am, on the spot, if indeed, America's Department of Defence hasn't paid?

Why did they leave it to now, to blockade a ship, in an attempt to collect payment? This could have been raised through the proper channels long ago.

Yet another debarcle on Phuket.

No, I am not assuming the money chain is broken in America, I said I don't know where the company is from.

However, the company mentioned in the other news source is based in Singapore.

Their only position of power is now, with the sailors on the ground wanting transportation. So yes, if you want to achieve something a position with power is the only way to go.

Stevenl..... Everything you are saying is based on assumptions is it not?

The scource that you quote also says that they [Glenn Marine] have indeed paid..the monies owed...so two opposing statements in the one article..

Maybe ,as suggested ,the money has simply not been paid to the individual drivers...

Just please read. I have said the cause seems to be a payment dispute, with the drivers accusing the company organising transport in the whole of SEA as the culprit. Whether or not they are the cause or somebody inside Thailand is the cause remains to be seen, although with the company organising the transport in Pattaya not getting paid points to the likely cause being the company organising the SEA transport is the culprit.

I'm glad to see TV has updated the story and is now also looking at buses in stead of tuktuk's.

Yes ..i can read and as i said everything you said is based on assumptions..here is another one from you''..Pattaya not getting paid points to the likely cause being the company organising the SEA transport is the culprit.

[This is an assumption OK]

Maybe you just don't understand the meaning of the word ''assumption''

Until it is confirmed that Glenn have not actually paid...everything else quoted as fact can only be an assumption of the truth..Yes?

[IrishIvan]

Sorry to burst your bubble guys but it was mini van drivers blockading the port. The tuk tuks and taxi drivers dutifully transported the sailors to Patong

And how much were the fares ?

 According to the article above: "In the meantime the sailors from the USS Nimitz are deprived of their free shuttle service and are having to pay local taxis and minivans to get to and from Patong." And as IrishIvan stated the rip off tuk tuks were charging 400 Baht a piece with five passengers on board.

 

 

 

Whats a rip off about 400 baht? Its a decent journey from the deep sea port to Patong

[oldsailor35]

Hope no aggressive neighbour decides to attack Thailand at 6 am., coming in through Phuket. Everybody will still be standing around argueing a couple of hours later.

[stevenl]

No, I am not assuming the money chain is broken in America, I said I don't know where the company is from.

@ stevenl

The problem is, we don't know where the "money chain" is broken. You are assuming the money hasn't come from America. I am assuming the money made it here, but never got to the local providers.drivers.

Back to my question, what do they think anyone onboard can/will do????

What can the admiral of the ship do? He may make a few phone calls back to The States, but it's 4am over there now. What financial transaction can be completed at 4am, on the spot, if indeed, America's Department of Defence hasn't paid?

Why did they leave it to now, to blockade a ship, in an attempt to collect payment? This could have been raised through the proper channels long ago.

Yet another debarcle on Phuket.

However, the company mentioned in the other news source is based in Singapore.

Their only position of power is now, with the sailors on the ground wanting transportation. So yes, if you want to achieve something a position with power is the only way to go.

Stevenl..... Everything you are saying is based on assumptions is it not?

The scource that you quote also says that they [Glenn Marine] have indeed paid..the monies owed...so two opposing statements in the one article..

Maybe ,as suggested ,the money has simply not been paid to the individual drivers...

Just please read. I have said the cause seems to be a payment dispute, with the drivers accusing the company organising transport in the whole of SEA as the culprit. Whether or not they are the cause or somebody inside Thailand is the cause remains to be seen, although with the company organising the transport in Pattaya not getting paid points to the likely cause being the company organising the SEA transport is the culprit.

I'm glad to see TV has updated the story and is now also looking at buses in stead of tuktuk's.

Yes ..i can read and as i said everything you said is based on assumptions..here is another one from you''..Pattaya not getting paid points to the likely cause being the company organising the SEA transport is the culprit.

[This is an assumption OK]

Maybe you just don't understand the meaning of the word ''assumption''

Until it is confirmed that Glenn have not actually paid...everything else quoted as fact can only be an assumption of the truth..Yes?

I am not assuming Glenn has not paid, I am stating there is a dispute and it seems (see that word, understand it?) likely that Glenn has not paid. So I am not assuming anything.

I'd bet on it though.

Edited May 30, 2013 by stevenl

[Jimi007]

Sorry to burst your bubble guys but it was mini van drivers blockading the port. The tuk tuks and taxi drivers dutifully transported the sailors to Patong

And how much were the fares ?

According to the article above: "In the meantime the sailors from the USS Nimitz are deprived of their free shuttle service and are having to pay local taxis and minivans to get to and from Patong." And as IrishIvan stated the rip off tuk tuks were charging 400 Baht a piece with five passengers on board.

Whats a rip off about 400 baht? Its a decent journey from the deep sea port to Patong

Because 400 Baht times five people is 2,000 Baht for a 20 KM trip in a Daihatsu mini pickup truck.

Edited May 30, 2013 by Jimi007