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Phuket Sea Gypsy cultural centre threatened with demolition
Nattha Thepbamrung


Rassada Municipality officials and village leaders discuss the fate of the abandoned Sea Gypsy Cultural Centre in a meeting at Rassada Municipality offices on Monday (Oct 20).

PHUKET: -- Sea gypsy village heads met with Deputy Rassada Mayor Pawat Suppasuwan at the municipality offices yesterday (Oct 20) to discuss what to do with the abandoned Sea Gypsy Cultural Centre at Baan Laem Tukkae village, Koh Siray, which has fallen into disrepair since it was handed over to the municipality two years ago.

Built between 2010 and 2011 using a combination of natural and high-tech environmentally-friendly building materials, the cultural centre was designed to be a self-sustaining 'living' museum dedicated to preserving the area's sea gypsy culture and traditions while providing local villagers with a source of income from visiting tourists.

Construction of the Sea Gypsy (Urak Lawoi) Cultural Centre was initially commissioned by the Phuket Office of Public Works at a cost of B5.4 million and hailed as 'the first of its kind in Asia'.

Just over B2 million in funding was allocated from the 2010 provincial budget. The remainder was provided by the 2010 Thai Khem Khaeng (Strong Thailand) financial stimulus package instigated by the former government under then-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

When construction was completed in 2012, the Phuket Office of Public Works officially transferred management and financing of operations at the cultural centre to Rassada Municipality, which had plans to rejuvenate the area and turn it into a tourist attraction.

At Monday's meeting, Deputy Rassada Mayor Pawat complained that the center was built 'inappropriately' and left unfinished.

The existing structures are weak and not sustainable. The building was not even finished when it was handed over; lacking the doors, a stage and toilets that were promised in the beginning, said Mr Pawat.

The deputy mayor said the municipality has already spent B1 million on upkeep of the centre and another B1 million has already been approved but in his opinion it was just a waste of money.

“The center can be fixed but it will be damaged by the weather again. We stopped a year ago as there was no one using it,” he said.

The deputy mayor suggested building a completely new facility instead, which would require an additional, unspecified budget.

Village chief Opas Jitpaen expressed his agreement with the deputy mayor.

“The center has never been finished. Now it is falling apart and useless. It is the toilet for dogs and a place for drug addicts,” said Mr Opas.

“At first I had plans for the museum to showcase our history and culture with traditional shows such as Rong-Ngeng but the centre was not built the way they promised us,” he said.

Deputy Mayor Pawat said provincial authorities would seek ways to support the sea gypsies with opportunities from mass tourism.

“The Cultural Centre should be included in package tours, like in other countries, where tourists buy tickets for boat trips from the village to other islands. Tours of the centre and traditional shows can be part of a package. This will be a source of income for villagers and help the community in general,” said Pawat.

Pawat concluded that a budget of B1 million will be available at the end of the year if it is decided to only carry out repairs, but further discussions would be held to decide the fate of the project.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-sea-gypsy-cultural-centre-threatened-with-demolition-49261.php


-- Phuket News 2014-10-21

[bassman]

"Built between 2010 and 2011 using a combination of natural and high-tech environmentally-friendly building materials, the cultural centre was designed to be a self-sustaining 'living' museum dedicated to preserving the area's sea gypsy culture and traditions while providing local villagers with a source of income from visiting tourists.

Just over B2 million in funding was allocated from the 2010 provincial budget. The remainder was provided by the 2010 Thai Khem Khaeng (Strong Thailand) financial stimulus package instigated by the former government under then-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva"

Sounds like a building made of bamboo and grass at a cost of 2 million baht, somebody made money.