News Analysis
PHUKET: More than ever, for the sake of its future, Phuket needs to end corruption now. And let's face it, compromise is just a different kind of corruption.
The two-day New Year Surin and Patong beach party fiasco highlighted the kinds of issues that will arise again and again unless corruption is stamped out.
And if corruption is to be stamped out, compromise must be destroyed first.
Whenever senior officials on Phuket are faced with a difficult decision, they have two choices. They can enforce the law, or they can compromise.
Too often, people in power will say: ''Oh well, perhaps we can make this work so everybody is happy. Let's give a little here, take a little there.''
The give and take is, readers will be quick to perceive, precisely what happens with compromise . . . and corruption.
When faced with the choice between following the law and enforcing it and compromising, Phuket officials must always follow the law.
The fiasco of a massive private event being staged on a public beach in defiance of Thailand's laws has been followed within days by a blockade on Karon's beach road.
The Phuket tuk-tuk and taxi drivers don't like the look of what's happening with the continuing Russian invasion of Phuket and its tourism industry.
Phuket's taxi and tuk-tuk monopoly was built on all take and just a little give. The Russian invasion is being built around give-and-take, then take a whole lot more.
For Phuket to survive and prosper, there can be no give and take.
The strong message to all Phuket officials from the national government, if it wishes to save Phuket's tourism industry, should be: Do your job.
Enforce the law. Do it without compromise . . . or tomorrow, there will be chaos, and no tourists.
"there will be chaos, and no tourists."
sorry you wrong! Ther is already caas and no tourist.. try to ask all the people run a business in Patong or Kata/Karon -- this year -30%..
Posted by dave on January 4, 2013 11:20