TRANSPORT is Phuket's biggest problem and the one that needs to be solved first, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of the Interior, Prania Suwanrath, told a meeting today at Phuket City's Provincial Hall.

He listened carefully as Phuket business leaders and resort owners talked frankly about Phuket's problems.

His investigation is continuing, and he has promised the Prime Minister that he will ''fix Phuket.''

Phuket's media has been asked not to identify the Phuket people who spoke at today's long session.

Phuket's Khun C ''I have a question and I would like to know who can answer, because if someone can answer, Phuket will be a wonderful place. If I am a tourist and I arrive at Phuket airport, how can I get to my resort by public transport? When I leave my hotel, how can I get around by public transport? I don't want an expensive tuk-tuk or a black taxi. How?

''Phuket really needs a public transport network.''

Phuket's Khun D responded: ''In the past, many years ago, there was an attempt to run a public bus from the airport to Patong. The bus ran for three days. After that, the bus was pulled over and a group of men burned it. The public bus was never successful.

''Now there are four groups with problems: first, at the airport with limousine taxis, black taxis. The second one is Patong, with tuk-tuks and their very high fares. The third is Kata-Karon.

''Owners of hotels cannot use their own hotel cars, they must use the Kata-Karon taxis or tuk-tuks.

''The fourth and last is at Phuket's deep sea port. They block the road if someone objects to the fares they charge.

''Airport buses to Phuket City should be able to pick up people close to the airport exit doors. On Phuket, the buses are forced to park far away.''

Phuket's Khun C ''The charge of 200 baht for overnight parking means that someone who goes away from five days loses the cost of a good room for parking at the airport.''

Khun Pranai ''Send me a letter and I will pass it to the Prime Minster who will tell the airport what they should be doing.''

Phuket's Khun E ''Tuk-tuks on Phuket, they have them in Karon, they have them in Patong, they have them in Phuket City. But they are disappearing in Phuket City because everyone is moving to Patong.

''If you go there, you can check out all the tuk-tuks, in beach road, in Rat-U-Tit 200 Pi Road, parked everywhere, even if there are red and white no parking stripes. They can park anywhere, any time. That is real mafia.

''Another amazing Phuket rule is that you can go anywhere, but you cannot return back. They will take you from Patong to Cape Promthep, and then you have no choice about how to get back to your hotel. You have to use the same tuk-tuk.

''If you go for transport outside Central, you'll only find black taxis. And the price is so high.

''Last month in Karon, a tourist was raped by a black taxi driver. Don't think that was the only one.

''These things should not happen. If we have standard transport, just think what Thai people need to get around the island. Then the tourists can share with the Thai people.

''The taxis in Kata-Karon have a sticker, a sticker from the police. I would like to know what this means.

''We want a long-term solution. Phuket is a world-class international destination. Phuket must have a system, not have a system where everyone says 'It's up to me, it's up to me.' We must have international standards, otherwise local rules will prevail.

''It's no good having local rules. We do not have only local people who stay on Phuket. People come from all over the world to holiday here. So the rules must be to international standards, for everyone, not just for a few locals.

''Everyone cashes in on Phuket. When people come to research public transport, they always think light rail construction, they don't think what Phuket really needs. They never come to ask us.

''Buri Ram [a poorer province] has no tourists, but it has all the transport infrastructure. Why is this? Why is Phuket treated so poorly?

''In the mornings on Phuket, there are 300,000 motorcycles, and 300,000 cars, not counting the ones registered in other provinces. Every parent has to take their children to school individually.

''If I have five kids at five schools, can you imagine what that's like? There aren't enough streets for Phuket's vehicles.''