Phuketwan Analysis
PHUKET is about to get a new Governor. We met him last year. His name is Wichai Praisa-Ngob, and he was the Governor of Phang Nga at the time.
Soon after that, he was transferred to be Governore of Singburi province.
Now he is on his way to Phuket to replace Dr Preecha Ruangjan, one of the most adventurous and individualistic governors the island has seen for a while.
There were broad hints that Dr Preecha might be going, as Phuketwan has been reporting. And with some regret.
Now all the island's residents, both Thais and expats, will be waiting to see how Khun Wichai shapes up in Dr Preecha's shoes.
We should learn soon when he will be arriving to take over.
Twenty-eight of Thailand's 76 provinces are involved in the latest shuffle of governors, the key civil service administrators, from one province to another.
At a meeting of all governors in Bangkok not long ago, the new Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, urged them to be administrators first, and to not become embroiled in politics.
It has been a short but thrilling ride for the island and Dr Preecha.
On Phuket from October, when he somehow just turned up and checked out the place and its people as a pillion passenger on a motorcycle, Dr Preecha endeared himself to many with his charm and his preparedness to listen to what people had to say.
Refreshingly, he also told people precisely what he thought.
It is no secret that his preference was to slow development, and to energise residents to decide the future of their island for themselves.
In our experience, Khun Wichai is also an outspoken governor.
While governing Phuket's neighboring province, he told Phuketwan that he wanted tourists to stay in Phang Nga, not just take day-trips up from the island and leave the economic benefits in Phuket.
He had some bold plans to boost Phang Nga, and wanted to see its administrative heart modernised, and centralised.
Being a governor is not easy. We know Dr Preecha took some difficult calls. In every sense, he made some tough calls, too.
That's what governors do.
We visited one of Dr Preecha's predecessors as governor, on the day his appeal to Bangkok for a realistic budget was cut by half.
We saw how much he cared.
We also heard how much Dr Preecha missed his children, and we saw him circulate at many events and wai people from every kind of background, regardless of the esteemed company he was keeping.
On Phuket, with its unique mix of people with different backgrounds and priorities, taking and making all those calls is never going to be easy.
If the quick change of governor on Phuket highlights anything, it highlights the need for Phuket's independence as a special economic zone.
Phuket is different. Even in bad times, Phuket has an economic value as an income generator equal to about 15 regular Thai provinces.
There will continue to be long-term issues with jellyfish, with jetskis, with tuk-tuks etc.
But it's time the power supply and the water supply were reliable, and it's time that investors and visitors knew with some degree of certainty what to expect from the island's key authorities.
We hope the Government recognises this and gives Phuket consistency and a little economic justice and independence soon.
Dr Preecha is moving to Phitsanuloke province, which borders his home province of Phichit and is also much closer to Nakornsawan, where his teenage children go to school.
Phuketwan wishes nothing but the best to Dr Preecha and his wife, who also made her mark on Phuket. And to Khun Wichai, too.
The New Governor
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In an exclusive interview, the Governor of Phang Nga reveals his plans for a tall observation tower and a new administration centre to make his province more competitive with Phuket.
Observation Tower To Give Phuket 'Competition'
James Bond Island To Topple: Ban on Tour Boats
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James Bond Island To Topple: Ban on Tour Boats
The Departing Governor
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Phuket's New Governor Visits Big Buddha Twice
Phuket Jellyfish Alert: 'No Cause For Panic'
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Phuket Jellyfish Alert: 'No Cause For Panic'
Phuket Governor Ordered Off 'Private' Beach
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Phuket Governor Ordered Off 'Private' Beach
Phuket Governor Tests Island Agrotourism
Photo Album Phuket's governor plunges into a paddy field to open a new island agrotourism project. He cut rice and even caught a fish.
Phuket Governor Tests Island Agrotourism
Phuket Governor Urges Rejection of 'Greed'
The outspoken Governor of Phuket has made his philosophy for 2009 plain in a New Year message that urges individuals to reject greed and adopt generosity and fairness instead.
Phuket Governor Urges Rejection of 'Greed'
Phuket Governor Meets PM With a Message
Latest Phuket's new governor has hit the ground running, and he happens to be a jogger. Phuketwan finds out what the man's innermost thoughts are about tourism, property and rip-offs.
Phuket Governor Meets PM With a Message
Phuket Governor Closes Pub, Warns Nightspots
Latest Governor Preecha Ruangjan may have a shooting gallery target on his desktop but he has closed one well known pub over a gun incident, as well as warning others about patron safety.
Phuket Governor Closes Pub, Warns Nightspots
Phuket Governor Urges Brake on Development
Latest Slow development, protect Phuket's environment. That was the message from Phuket's Governor, who has become an outspoken advocate for a balance with nature.
Phuket Governor Urges Brake on Development
Governor: 'I am Staying to Sort Out Jetskis'
Latest Phuket Governor Dr Preecha Ruangjan has rejected reports that he is leaving. And as if to reinforce the point, he told Phuketwan that he is taking on the jetskis issue.
Governor: 'I am Staying to Sort Out Jetskis'
