Taxi drivers complain to Phuket governor over ‘eviction’

[Lite Beer]

Taxi drivers complain to Phuket governor over ‘eviction’

Nattapat Tuarob

The taxi drivers had banners made up specially for their meeting with the Governor.

PHUKET: Taxi drivers ordered out of the Phuket Bus Terminal on Thepkrasattri Rd by the Mayor of Rassada went to the Provincial Hall this morning (April 7) to complain about what they saw as a move to deprive them of their livelihood.

The eviction notice, signed by Mayor Phudit Raksarat, and dated April 3, gave the 57 members of Phuket Bus Terminal Cooperative Ltd (PBTC) seven days to get out.

Today 30 of the taxi drivers went to appeal to Governor Nisit Jansomwong for help.

The group, led by Yod Sae-Lee, vice president of PBTC, gave the Governor a copy of the notice which stated that the municipality wants to re-organise the bus terminal, and told them they had seven days to move out of their space at the back of the terminal.

But Mayor Phudit arrived and explained that the Municipality would like to re-organise the bus station to be neat and well organised, and he just wanted to move the PBTC drivers from the back of the bus station to the front.

Gov Nisit told the taxi drivers, “I’ll take care of this case. You’ll have an answer within a couple of days. I will assign Vice-Governor Somkiet [sangkhaosutthirak] to convene a meeting between all sides tomorrow. You are invited.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/taxi-drivers-complain-to-phuket-governor-over-eviction-51775.php

-- Phuket News 2015-04-07

[Costas2008]

Am I missing something here?

He want's to move them from the back to the front and tells them to get lost

I would be in arms, also.

I think the guy has a communication problem.

[Happy Grumpy]

Explain that it's all just a misunderstanding, and what they're protesting about isn't the case at all.

But Mayor Phudit arrived and explained that the Municipality would like to re-organise the bus station to be neat and well organised, and he just wanted to move the PBTC drivers from the back of the bus station to the front.

Promise to take care of it.

Gov Nisit told the taxi drivers, “I’ll take care of this case.

Delay your answer and responsibility.

You’ll have an answer within a couple of days.

Assign a subordinate to deal with.

I will assign Vice-Governor Somkiet [sangkhaosutthirak] to convene a meeting between all sides tomorrow. You are invited.”

Get your driver to whisk you off to the office as the mia noi and a few envelopes from the land department are due there.

Thai governance, and in essence, how Thais deal with unpleasant situations.

Smiles, fake empathy, lies, deflections, then leave without addressing any of the issues you're responsible for.

Edited April 7, 2015 by Happy Grumpy

[clockman]

Integrity, unknown in Thailand!

[webfact]

30 Taxi Drivers in Phuket Protest Eviction Order

Around 30 taxi drivers went to Provincial Hall today to ask for help from the government. The taxi drivers are facing an eviction order that will see more than 50 taxi drivers forced out of Rassada’s main bus terminal.

The group is asking Phuket’s governor, Nisit Jansomwong, for help.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/815622-30-taxi-drivers-in-phuket-protest-eviction-order/

[steelepulse]

Go make them wait in a holding lot offsite, then come when called. No need to loiter about braying out " taxi. taxi" every 30 seconds. I'm so tired of these louts thinking they are special because they pay tea money to the "association" to be above the law.

[alfalfa19]

Oh boo hoo, cry me a river. These poor misunderstood and undervalued fellows, my heart weeps for them.

[godden]

Couldn't happen to better group of people

[BestBitterPhuket]

Good riddance! They need to get rid of all these taxi cooperatives. Taxis should wait at designated taxi stands and not clog up a bus station.

[monkeycountry]

I think this taxi driver gathering is an excellent opportunity to arrest a whole bunch of criminals in one swoop. Hopefully the taxi drivers will one day be evicted from all of Phuket as the scum they are.

[Daniel Ingalls]

The bus station is on private property, and the owner can evict who he chooses of the property temporarily until the restructuring of the bus terminal is completed. These taxi drivers must realize parking in the terminal is a privilege for their business and not a governmental right!

[stevenl]

The bus station is on private property, and the owner can evict who he chooses of the property temporarily until the restructuring of the bus terminal is completed. These taxi drivers must realize parking in the terminal is a privilege for their business and not a governmental right!

Is that true, is the bus station on private property?

Oh, and why can't the Thai Visa news section use local photo's?

[hansgruber]

Whole lot of complaining and not much working.

If thais focused their self entitled energy into something positive they could actually make something of themselves.

[Suffinator]

It's kind of funny because the taxis, just like the jet skis, have always caused a lot of problems in Phuket. This problem exists not just because the authorities bow down to their every need but more importantly stupid people use their services.

The truth is that the public should stop moaning about these issues and simply refrain from using them ... do you honestly think that the taxis and jet skis could survive long without any customers?

It's a very simple solution to an very long and on-going situation and it'll continue until the people take a pro-active stance.