Ex-Aussie Hon Consul praises taxi, tuk-tuk raids
Claire Connell

PHUKET: -- Retired Australian Honorary Consul Larry Cunningham has praised the recent taxi mafia crackdown on the island, saying developments have been “marvellous” and he is in full support of the proposed “baht bus” transport system for Patong.

Mr Cunningham, who stepped down from his diplomatic role in September 2013 after eight years, spoke to Phuket News TV about the recent developments this week.

Last week, an 150-strong task force, comprising both police officers and government officials from Kathu and Patong, could be seen over the weekend in Patong, Kalim, Cherng Talay, Surin Beach and Mai Khao demolishing dozens of taxi ranks built illegally on public land.

The force, comprising both police officers and government officials, was led by Region 8 Police Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Panya Mamen, Phuket Vice-Governor Jamroen Thippayapongthada and municipal leaders.

Seventy-three taxi drivers were arrested in the original swoop that took place across the island on June 4, out of a total 108 people wanted on 111 arrest warrants. The remaining drivers turned themselves in to police.

One partial solution to Patong’s tuk-tuk problems was offered by the new Mayor of Patong, Chalermluk Kebsap, who floated the idea of reorganising the town’s thousands of tuk-tuks to create a hop-on-hop-off public transport system.

Mr Cunningham, known for his outspokenness about the island’s problems with taxis, tuk-tuks and jet-skis, said the raids over the past week or so had been “marvellous, particularly regarding the transport situation”.

Wearing a T-shirt that said, “Against Corruption” in Thai, he told Phuket News TV, “I think the spinoff from that... I’ve already seen the new mayor of Patong [Chalermluck Kepsab] is talking about introducing baht buses, similar to what they have in Pattaya. Which would be marvellous.

“It would be marvellous for two things. One, it would help the people in Patong, but the other thing [is] it would show that the power base of these tuk-tuks and taxis has been broken. That has been the main thread throughout this whole point, it’s been power.

“We need taxis in Phuket in certain areas, we need tuk-tuks reasonably priced, but these people have so much power, like the jet-ski operators – they were untouchables. You couldn’t get close to them.

“And they had people of dark influence making billions of baht out of them and it made it very difficult for change.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/ex-aussie-hon-consul-praises-taxi-tuk-tuk-raids-video-46827.php


-- Phuket News 2014-06-13

Marvelous!

If the system is reorganized, just make sure the old drivers are not part of the new one. Along with the jet ski men, they need to be deported from Phuket, preferably into the sea.

Larry has been very passionate about the safety and welfare of Australians while holidaying in Phuket but I tend to think he’s not allowed for the newly appointed Australian Honorary Consul–Michelle Hawryluk to weigh in first on how she thinks the taxi, tuk-tuk raids have been handled so far.

Love the anti corruption T Shirt.......where can we buy one....?

what does the new HOn Con say???

Larry has been very passionate about the safety and welfare of Australians while holidaying in Phuket but I tend to think he’s not allowed for the newly appointed Australian Honorary Consul–Michelle Hawryluk to weigh in first on how she thinks the taxi, tuk-tuk raids have been handled so far.

As a private citizen and a very good man he has every right to comment. I doubt the Canadian will.