PAIBOON Upatising, elected as Chief Executive of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation 10 months ago, still has plenty of plans to improve Phuket.

Having been given a ''yellow card'' by the Electoral Commission over vote-buying allegations, he remains confident that he will retain his position and no evidence will be found against him.

What Khun Paiboon would like to do in the remainder of his four-year term as Phuket's most senior elected administrator is change the island, he believes for the better.

He will hand over to his vice president once the EC case reaches the courts, and he may have to step aside for two or three months.

But Khun Piaboon said various projects would continue regardless of whether or not he was overseeing them.

''Phuket has many issues that require cooperation so that answers can be found,'' he said.

''The national government needs to help with big projects and provide budgets for such infrastructure as an international conference centre and an IT city.

''Improving the roads also should have national government help.''

Tourism: Tourists need better service, he said. Phuket has to encourage natural tourism but more activities and more festivals, as well as international sport and music, were also essential. Public monument 'fountain music,' involving tunes and watersprays set in time to dance music, was one real possibility, he said. He plans to talk to administrators in Patong, Kamala and other places to develop international festival ideas. Sport could work in the same way, he said.

Phuket City: The island's capital needed activities all the time, he said. Tourists should find plenty of fun things to enjoy. Natural attractions were great but tourists needed more. The extended New Year countdown to 2009, with concerts every night leading up to New Year's Eve, had worked well and would be repeated every year, he added. International jazz and other events could help to revitalise Phuket City, he said.

Water supply: The island's long-term needs need to be resolved now, not later, he said. Droughts and water shortages were not something Phuket had to endure when there were already ways of capturing and using more rainwater.

Facilities: More public parks would be a positive for Phuket, he said, especially with good facilities. CCTV provided security and helped to make tourists feel safe. Fountains in the city (with music) will be coming soon, he said. Open-air old-style buses will be returned to duty, to add timeless character that the present city bus service lacked. They will be free, he said, for everyone, just as they are free for students now.

Environment: Everyone needed to become involved to prevent the local environment deteriorating, he said. Protecting the coral reefs was part of the Orborjor budget plan, along with creating more artificial reefs. Turtle conservation was essential, with other marine life also in need of protection.

Orborjor Hospital: Renovations were continuing on the old Phyathai Hospital building in Phuket City, close to Koh Sireh. The idea is to provide low-cost care for more residents, he said, especially for the elderly. The regenerated hospital should be finished in early 2010, he added. The hospital's philosophy will be about prevention rather than treatment, in an attempt to reduce the workload at Vachira Hospital.

Transport: Countdown clocks should be installed at all island intersections, he said. He believes they have helped to reduce the road toll. The Highways Department has been given financial help by the Orborjor to complete the countdown project. The new bus station will generate more traffic, but the Highways Department and the Transport Department were now looking at the issue carefully.