PHUKET: After a brief stint on Phuket, Phuket Director Veera Kerdsirimongkol is being moved to a new posting in Don Sak, Surat Thani, at the end of the month.
Khun Veera was on Phuket for a bit more than seven months. He said the reason for his speedy movement is ''reasonable.''
''I could not fix any of Phuket's problems in that time,'' he said. ''Many of them are too entrenched. But at least I have made people aware of some of the issues.''
Khun Veera, who oversaw the district involving Patong, inevitably came into conflict with some local officials. He pounced on illegal property developments and nightclubs that pushed the boundaries.
In July he was the target of an anonymous letter accusing him of corruption.
In August he made a plea to end the ''fear factor'' on Phuket so that all tourists could feel more comfortable with their safety and security on the island.
''Phuket is a tourist destination so all incidents involving violence must be reported for the sake of visitors and residents,'' Khun Veera said.
''We cannot have a situation where people are too scared to report law-breakers to the police. These kinds of incidents take place too often in Patong,'' he said.
''Needless violence and intimidation is unacceptable.''
Today he told Phuketwan that it was ''time to change Phuket'' or run the risk of unpleasant social consequences in the future.
His replacement is Sayan Chanachaiwong, from Sungai Padi, Narathiwat.
Khun Veera was on Phuket for a bit more than seven months. He said the reason for his speedy movement is ''reasonable.''
''I could not fix any of Phuket's problems in that time,'' he said. ''Many of them are too entrenched. But at least I have made people aware of some of the issues.''
Khun Veera, who oversaw the district involving Patong, inevitably came into conflict with some local officials. He pounced on illegal property developments and nightclubs that pushed the boundaries.
In July he was the target of an anonymous letter accusing him of corruption.
In August he made a plea to end the ''fear factor'' on Phuket so that all tourists could feel more comfortable with their safety and security on the island.
''Phuket is a tourist destination so all incidents involving violence must be reported for the sake of visitors and residents,'' Khun Veera said.
''We cannot have a situation where people are too scared to report law-breakers to the police. These kinds of incidents take place too often in Patong,'' he said.
''Needless violence and intimidation is unacceptable.''
Today he told Phuketwan that it was ''time to change Phuket'' or run the risk of unpleasant social consequences in the future.
His replacement is Sayan Chanachaiwong, from Sungai Padi, Narathiwat.
A shame, he really seemed to want to do the right thing, and also acted on his words.
Posted by stevenl on October 18, 2013 15:59