PHUKET: Bangkok intervention was necessary to solve Phuket's problems because the island would never have been able to manage improvements on its own, Phuket Governor Maitree Intrusud said today.
He was speaking exclusively to Phuketwan on a dramatic day in which two Crime Crisis Centres opened on Phuket and ''The Big Cleanup'' began in earnest.
In perhaps the most telling indicator, the chief of the Department of Special Investigation named 11 Phuket people and groups suspected of ''abuses'' of tourists.
For his part, the governor said: ''In the past, we've had no agenda for tackling the big issues.
''On Phuket the administration is kept busy with 80 events each year when other provinces manage with one or two at most.''
He said that over the years, a succession of Phuket administrators had been attempting to sort out the problems, ''but we really needed powerful support.
''We needed the staff, the budget and the equipment,'' he said, noting that Phuket still did not have the police force it needed or the annual funding for its large population.
The push for dramatic change had been building under his predecessor, Governor Tri Augkaradacha.
The Phuket honorary consuls' meetings were an outlet for the complaints of residents and tourists.
Then came a key meeting of European Union ambassadors on Phuket in June highlighting Phuket's deficiencies.
After a seminar, ambassadors noted that they were pleased with what the governor had told them in private talks.
With the backing of Tourism and Sport Minister Somsak Phurisisak and the Director of the DSI, Major General Tharit Pengprasert, 'The Big Cleanup' is underway.
.. An efficient and fairly priced public transport system in Phuket which is available to foreign tourists and residents alike.
.. An end to intimidatory and violent behavior by an element of tuk-tuk and taxi drivers.
.. Strict enforcement of marine safety standards, including flags on beaches to indicate when it is safe to swim.
.. Strict enforcement of standards of behavior for public officials, including police and Immigration, to ensure that foreign visitors and residents feel protected, treated in a fair way and never at risk of extortion.
.. An end to scams involving hiring of equipment such as jet skis or motorbikes.
.. Strict enforcement of road safety regulations.
.. Promotion of environmental issues, including monitoring of water quality.
.. Increasing airport arrivals, poor infrastructure
.. Traffic
.. No controlling strategy, development occurring all over
.. Environmental degradation
.. Attacks on beaches and public land
.. Garbage mounting
.. Bad water
.. Tourists' and residents' safety and security
.. Rip-offs (timeshare touts etc.)
.. Tour guides
.. Authorities at odds with private sector
.. Taxis and jet-skis
.. Zero baht tours
Corruption Start a well-promoted public campaign to end corruption on the island and prosecute any official caught taking bribes. Investigate all allegations about Immigration officers and police. Create a corruption-free Phuket model for other provinces.
Sustainability Begin an investigation into what's required to keep Phuket a natural and appealing destination and set limits on development and tourist numbers based on the results of that investigation. Save the reefs and the beaches. Create a Phuket Beach Authority.
Transport Require all tuk-tuk and taxi drivers to register again and to meet international standards of service before being given new licences. Reduce their numbers by 10 percent a year for three years, offering alternative training. Introduce a call centre and abolish double-payment for journeys passengers don't make.
Crime Provide an extra 500 police for Phuket based on its actual population. Take up the Australian ambassador's suggestion of obliterating all illegal weapons and make the island a no-guns, no-knives zone.
He was speaking exclusively to Phuketwan on a dramatic day in which two Crime Crisis Centres opened on Phuket and ''The Big Cleanup'' began in earnest.
In perhaps the most telling indicator, the chief of the Department of Special Investigation named 11 Phuket people and groups suspected of ''abuses'' of tourists.
For his part, the governor said: ''In the past, we've had no agenda for tackling the big issues.
''On Phuket the administration is kept busy with 80 events each year when other provinces manage with one or two at most.''
He said that over the years, a succession of Phuket administrators had been attempting to sort out the problems, ''but we really needed powerful support.
''We needed the staff, the budget and the equipment,'' he said, noting that Phuket still did not have the police force it needed or the annual funding for its large population.
The push for dramatic change had been building under his predecessor, Governor Tri Augkaradacha.
The Phuket honorary consuls' meetings were an outlet for the complaints of residents and tourists.
Then came a key meeting of European Union ambassadors on Phuket in June highlighting Phuket's deficiencies.
After a seminar, ambassadors noted that they were pleased with what the governor had told them in private talks.
With the backing of Tourism and Sport Minister Somsak Phurisisak and the Director of the DSI, Major General Tharit Pengprasert, 'The Big Cleanup' is underway.
European Union Ambassadors' List of Seven Phuket Needs
.. An efficient and fairly priced public transport system in Phuket which is available to foreign tourists and residents alike.
.. An end to intimidatory and violent behavior by an element of tuk-tuk and taxi drivers.
.. Strict enforcement of marine safety standards, including flags on beaches to indicate when it is safe to swim.
.. Strict enforcement of standards of behavior for public officials, including police and Immigration, to ensure that foreign visitors and residents feel protected, treated in a fair way and never at risk of extortion.
.. An end to scams involving hiring of equipment such as jet skis or motorbikes.
.. Strict enforcement of road safety regulations.
.. Promotion of environmental issues, including monitoring of water quality.
Minister for Tourism and Sport's 13 Topics
.. Increasing airport arrivals, poor infrastructure
.. Traffic
.. No controlling strategy, development occurring all over
.. Environmental degradation
.. Attacks on beaches and public land
.. Garbage mounting
.. Bad water
.. Tourists' and residents' safety and security
.. Rip-offs (timeshare touts etc.)
.. Tour guides
.. Authorities at odds with private sector
.. Taxis and jet-skis
.. Zero baht tours
Phuketwan's List
Corruption Start a well-promoted public campaign to end corruption on the island and prosecute any official caught taking bribes. Investigate all allegations about Immigration officers and police. Create a corruption-free Phuket model for other provinces.
Sustainability Begin an investigation into what's required to keep Phuket a natural and appealing destination and set limits on development and tourist numbers based on the results of that investigation. Save the reefs and the beaches. Create a Phuket Beach Authority.
Transport Require all tuk-tuk and taxi drivers to register again and to meet international standards of service before being given new licences. Reduce their numbers by 10 percent a year for three years, offering alternative training. Introduce a call centre and abolish double-payment for journeys passengers don't make.
Crime Provide an extra 500 police for Phuket based on its actual population. Take up the Australian ambassador's suggestion of obliterating all illegal weapons and make the island a no-guns, no-knives zone.
Nothing to do with honorary consuls, or European ambassadors.
The person we have to thank for all this is the plain-speaking Chinese ambassador.
Posted by sir burr on August 10, 2013 06:32