PHUKET: Many problems involving corruption and low moral standards on Phuket will now be fixed by Thailand's military rulers, a reliable source with Army connections told Phuketwan tonight.
He said that Phuket appeared to have an exceptionally high level of bribery.
''Phuket has many problems,'' the source said. ''There are no morals here at all. Asking for tea money ''is almost expected on every occasion.''
The military would act to fix corruption and improve the holiday island's moral standards, he said.
''We have to use law enforcement. Phuket still has important issues that the Army must sort out.''
Phuket is reckoned by many observers to be the most corrupt province in Thailand.
Retailers and entertainment outlets in the west coast holiday hub of Patong at one stage a few years ago asked the governor and the Phuket police commander to organise a one-stop system for payment of corrupt money.
A public meeting was told in Patong about the same time that there are now 17 organisations that take regular bribes on Phuket to allow laws to be bent. The bottom line is that the tourist pays for most of the corruption.
The coup command has so far acted to sort out Phuket's taxi and tuk-tuk mafia that has created a public transport monopoly on the island with excessive fares being enforced by extortion and intimidation, especially in Kata-Karon, Patong and at Phuket International Airport.
Shorefronts along the popular west coast have been invaded by profit-taking restaurants and beach clubs that are now being forced off public land at Surin, Kamala, Laem Sing, Bang Tao, Layan and Laypang beaches.
Vendors who sell space on loungers at beaches are also being ordered off the sand, with action likely to restrict the future of jet-ski operators who have scammed tourists for years.
Encroachment by entrepreneurs on public parkland using fake title documents is likely to be high on the military's list of Things to Do. It's anticipated that the ''Phuket model'' for fixing tourism will quickly be rolled out in Krabi, Phang Nga, Samui and Pattaya
He said that Phuket appeared to have an exceptionally high level of bribery.
''Phuket has many problems,'' the source said. ''There are no morals here at all. Asking for tea money ''is almost expected on every occasion.''
The military would act to fix corruption and improve the holiday island's moral standards, he said.
''We have to use law enforcement. Phuket still has important issues that the Army must sort out.''
Phuket is reckoned by many observers to be the most corrupt province in Thailand.
Retailers and entertainment outlets in the west coast holiday hub of Patong at one stage a few years ago asked the governor and the Phuket police commander to organise a one-stop system for payment of corrupt money.
A public meeting was told in Patong about the same time that there are now 17 organisations that take regular bribes on Phuket to allow laws to be bent. The bottom line is that the tourist pays for most of the corruption.
The coup command has so far acted to sort out Phuket's taxi and tuk-tuk mafia that has created a public transport monopoly on the island with excessive fares being enforced by extortion and intimidation, especially in Kata-Karon, Patong and at Phuket International Airport.
Shorefronts along the popular west coast have been invaded by profit-taking restaurants and beach clubs that are now being forced off public land at Surin, Kamala, Laem Sing, Bang Tao, Layan and Laypang beaches.
Vendors who sell space on loungers at beaches are also being ordered off the sand, with action likely to restrict the future of jet-ski operators who have scammed tourists for years.
Encroachment by entrepreneurs on public parkland using fake title documents is likely to be high on the military's list of Things to Do. It's anticipated that the ''Phuket model'' for fixing tourism will quickly be rolled out in Krabi, Phang Nga, Samui and Pattaya
And about bloody time!!!!!
Posted by Elizabeth on July 1, 2014 05:47