PHUKET: The search for American diver Joshua Devine expended the fuel allowance of Marine Police for next month as well as this month and highlighted flaws in Thailand's approach to search and rescue.
''If there is another urgent case I do not know how we can raise the money,'' the Director of Phuket Tourism and Sport, Santi Pawai, told Phuketwan.
The sister and mother of Mr Devine, who flew from the US to see the scale of the hunt, were told it was ''one of the largest searches ever mounted'' in the Andaman Sea.
Yet at one stage, Mr Devine's wife Thadsana said: ''This is not a search. This is sight-seeing.''
Mr Devine, who disappeared overboard from a dive boat off Phuket on April 11, has yet to be found.
And the truth is that Phuket authorities are ill-equipped and poorly funded to undertake the kinds of immediate, intense searches that are common in developed countries.
Once again, questions are being asked about Thailand's ability to respond to emergencies involving tourists - even though tourism delivers trillions of baht to the national coffers.
Phuket Marine Police Commander, Colonel Phanya Chaichana, says that there is actually no specific Marine Police budget for undertaking searches for tourists or rescue work.
''We have a fuel allocation only for cracking down on crime,'' he told Phuketwan today. ''And that's 2000 litres of fuel a month.
''If an incident takes place off Racha island [a popular day-trip destination close to Phuket] that's 10 miles away and we might use 700 litres of fuel getting there and back.''
He openly admits: ''It's not enough.'' The fuel budget for next month was well and truly blown mounting the Joshua Devine search.
Another organisation, Tourism and Sport, supplemented the Marine Police budget for the Joshua Devine search.
And now questions are being asked about whether dive companies, tour groups and agencies need to contribute to a fund to meet future extra costs of searches and rescues.
The Royal Thai Navy put a helicopter into the air to look for Mr Devine - at a cost of 60,000 baht an hour.
Meanwhile, dive sponsors the Mermaids Centre, Pattaya-based and Bangkok-registered, searched briefly before continuing on its scheduled journey to the Similan islands, packed with paying customers.
Royal Thai Navy Commander Vice Admiral Saiyan Prasongsamret asked: ''What has been the Mermaids Centre contribution? They are using the Similan islands, off the Andaman coast, to run their business.''
Questions still remain about the ethics of the liveaboard vessel going on to the Similans while the official man-overboard search continued - and also whether the large amounts of alcohol carried on the vessel contributed to Mr Devine's drunken disappearance.
On Phuket, officials see the flaws in the system and are looking to create better methods of retaining Phuket's reputation, with government help.
''If the government can provide the fuel, we can do our job,'' said Phuket Marine Police chief Colonel Phanya.
The unit has just three vessels, including one capable of deep-sea searching, and a total of just 22 officers, including office clerks.
''Other Marine Police stations and police generally are short-handed throughout Thailand,'' the colonel said. ''Phuket province should have its own search and rescue budget of between five million and 10 million baht a year,'' he added.
The Director of Tourism and Sport on Phuket, Santi Pawai, said dive companies, tour outlets and travel agencies should all contribute to a fund.
Phuketwan has suggested that Phuket's jet-skis - under-insured and in need of funds to avoid intimidation and rip-offs whenever a vehicle is damaged - should also contribute to a cooperative fund that meets all costs beyond the present basic insurance.
That way, self-funding will ensure Phuket's reputation is not also damaged beyond repair.
''If there is another urgent case I do not know how we can raise the money,'' the Director of Phuket Tourism and Sport, Santi Pawai, told Phuketwan.
The sister and mother of Mr Devine, who flew from the US to see the scale of the hunt, were told it was ''one of the largest searches ever mounted'' in the Andaman Sea.
Yet at one stage, Mr Devine's wife Thadsana said: ''This is not a search. This is sight-seeing.''
Mr Devine, who disappeared overboard from a dive boat off Phuket on April 11, has yet to be found.
And the truth is that Phuket authorities are ill-equipped and poorly funded to undertake the kinds of immediate, intense searches that are common in developed countries.
Once again, questions are being asked about Thailand's ability to respond to emergencies involving tourists - even though tourism delivers trillions of baht to the national coffers.
Phuket Marine Police Commander, Colonel Phanya Chaichana, says that there is actually no specific Marine Police budget for undertaking searches for tourists or rescue work.
''We have a fuel allocation only for cracking down on crime,'' he told Phuketwan today. ''And that's 2000 litres of fuel a month.
''If an incident takes place off Racha island [a popular day-trip destination close to Phuket] that's 10 miles away and we might use 700 litres of fuel getting there and back.''
He openly admits: ''It's not enough.'' The fuel budget for next month was well and truly blown mounting the Joshua Devine search.
Another organisation, Tourism and Sport, supplemented the Marine Police budget for the Joshua Devine search.
And now questions are being asked about whether dive companies, tour groups and agencies need to contribute to a fund to meet future extra costs of searches and rescues.
The Royal Thai Navy put a helicopter into the air to look for Mr Devine - at a cost of 60,000 baht an hour.
Meanwhile, dive sponsors the Mermaids Centre, Pattaya-based and Bangkok-registered, searched briefly before continuing on its scheduled journey to the Similan islands, packed with paying customers.
Royal Thai Navy Commander Vice Admiral Saiyan Prasongsamret asked: ''What has been the Mermaids Centre contribution? They are using the Similan islands, off the Andaman coast, to run their business.''
Questions still remain about the ethics of the liveaboard vessel going on to the Similans while the official man-overboard search continued - and also whether the large amounts of alcohol carried on the vessel contributed to Mr Devine's drunken disappearance.
On Phuket, officials see the flaws in the system and are looking to create better methods of retaining Phuket's reputation, with government help.
''If the government can provide the fuel, we can do our job,'' said Phuket Marine Police chief Colonel Phanya.
The unit has just three vessels, including one capable of deep-sea searching, and a total of just 22 officers, including office clerks.
''Other Marine Police stations and police generally are short-handed throughout Thailand,'' the colonel said. ''Phuket province should have its own search and rescue budget of between five million and 10 million baht a year,'' he added.
The Director of Tourism and Sport on Phuket, Santi Pawai, said dive companies, tour outlets and travel agencies should all contribute to a fund.
Phuketwan has suggested that Phuket's jet-skis - under-insured and in need of funds to avoid intimidation and rip-offs whenever a vehicle is damaged - should also contribute to a cooperative fund that meets all costs beyond the present basic insurance.
That way, self-funding will ensure Phuket's reputation is not also damaged beyond repair.
QUOTE IN BANGKOKPOST TODAY: Foreign Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn said the government will send the medical and disaster relief teams to Nepal within the next few days. "We will approve initial funds as a part of humanitarian assistance to Nepal. At present, we are working with the agencies concerned to find out what they need and how we can help," Gen Tanasak said.
If Thailand is able to do it abroard (Nepal), then they have enough budget to do it for Thai nationals and tourists in Thailand.
Note that tour and dive operators pay 500 Baht national park entree fee per foreigner and 200 Baht per diving day; so where is going the money?
Posted by Whistle-Blower on April 27, 2015 12:16