Opinion
The Thaiger Opinion Columns
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Opinion: Protection from yourself
Sirisak Skoonsorutcha, originally from Surin Province, is the newly appointed chief of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket Office. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Sukhothai Thammathirat University. Here, he talks about the difficulties of preventing casualties caused by human error, as opposed to natural disasters. PHUKET: Of course the DDPM rigorously tries to prevent…
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Island View: Preventing pollution in Phuket
PHUKET: As a longtime Phuket resident, along with with my past experience of taking action on personal and societal interests, I feel I must try to step up and do something here as well, as I feel certain things are not right. Currently, my biggest concern is the change in the type of tourists visiting Phuket and the impact they…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Too many ice cubes
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Opinion: More beach blanket bilko
PHUKET: Recent photos sent to the Phuket Gazette by a concerned reader revealed that the popular Laem Sing Beach in Kamala has been encroached upon by ‘private investors’ who are renting out multiple rows of beach loungers and umbrellas on the ‘virgin beach’. This illegal activity requires immediate action by provincial officials and law enforcement officers before the re-emerging lawlessness…
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Opinion: Solving tuk-tuk woes
Supap Pramkaew, 49, is head of the Karon tuk-tuk consortium. He has been a tuk-tuk driver in Phuket for 20 years and has lived on the island for more than 30 years. He is originally from Nakhon Sri Thammarat. Here he talks about the current issues that tuk-tuk drivers face and how the government could help alleviate some of those…
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Island View: Law of retaliation
PHUKET: An eye for an eye, or the law of retaliation, is the mentality that seems to be taking over Phuket these days. There have been several recent incidents where tempers flared and punches (or worse) were pulled at the slightest provocation. However, the recent video of a Krabi van driver attacking a foreigner on a motorbike, after the foreigner…
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Opinion: Safety needed by land, sea and air
PHUKET: This year’s high season for tourism has brought with it a surge in needless mishaps, injuries and deaths as tourists flock to our shores in pursuit of holiday happiness. Many of the victims, without a doubt, presume that sufficient measures are in place to ensure their safety. Rules and regulations do exist, but as our news pages chronicle –…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: If no one sees, it didn’t happen
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Island View: Fear may save more lives
PHUKET: As disheartening as it is to see our hopes of having zero deaths on the roads dashed during the ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road-safety campaign this year, the reality of the situation is that the goal is so unreasonable that officials are simply setting themselves up for failure. Last year, there was a total of 108 road deaths in…
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Opinion: Phuket, drive defensively
PHUKET: Despite some positive developments with law enforcement, the sobering results of this year’s ‘Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign shows that Phuket still has a long way to go before the island’s road safety is at an international standard befitting a world-class tourist destination. The introduction of more proactive law enforcement measures to catch motorists for moving violations is…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Shamelessly picking your nose
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Opinion: Rapid responses to island issues
Prapan Kanprasang has been the chief of the Damrongdhama Center (ombudsman’s office) since 2011. He earned his master’s degree in public administration from The National Institute of Development Administration. Here he addresses how the newly launched ‘Rapid Damrongdhama Unit’ will help improve efficiency, as well as other ways to make the Damrongdhama Center more effective. PHUKET: In Phuket, there are…
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Opinion: AEC has arrived
PHUKET: With 2015 behind us and the Asean Economic Community (AEC) integration measures now ostensibly in effect, it is time for Phuket and its all-important tourism industry to map out strategies for continued growth in 2016. The past year certainly tested the island’s resilience. But despite Thailand’s first major international terror attack in Bangkok, the ongoing insurgency in the Deep…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: No need for constructive conversations
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Opinion: Travelling responsibly
Lt Col Jetsada Junphum has been the chief of the Phi Phi Police Station since September. He graduated from the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School in 1997 and the Royal Police Cadet Academy in 2013. Here he talks about the importance of travellers and their families being responsible in their communication with each other and the media. PHUKET: Personal issues…
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Island View: Just another stop on the map
PHUKET: When I first moved to Phuket five years ago, I remember being warned about the increased crime rate during the island’s low season. The reason for this is primarily that many people who rely on tourists for income are left high and dry until their return the next high season, resulting in petty crimes such as bag snatching and…
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Island View: Always something new in Phuket
PHUKET: Settling down in a new place can sometimes be unnerving, but it’s usually outweighed by all the little things that attracted you to it in the first place. I’m drawn to Phuket because it’s very multi-faceted and there’s no lack of activities to enjoy, no matter what time of year it is and regardless of whether you’re alone or…
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Opinion: Phuket says farewell to great man
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette joins with the entire Phuket community in mourning the passing of one of the island’s most well-known and respected expats, Brad Kenny, who died at the age of 59 on December 11. Brad lived an exemplary life of self-sacrifice and service to the less fortunate, both independently and through the many charitable organizations of which he…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Why the wai?
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Opinion: Government school obstacles
Anurak Rungrueng is the acting director of the Phuket Primary Education Service Office. He took on the position on November 23, after having worked as the deputy director since 2012. He graduated from Thaksin University with a master’s degree in educational management. Here he calls on the private sector to help shore-up the biggest issues facing government educational institutes. PHUKET:…
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Opinion: Fanning the flames of intolerance
PHUKET: With so much media attention being placed on developments surrounding terrorism and the Islamic State (IS), it is important for us here in Phuket not to get sucked into all the anti-Islamic fear-mongering and religious intolerance sweeping through many western nations these days. As the current edition of the Gazette went to press, firebrand United States presidential candidate Donald…
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Opinion: Communities to help protect natural beauty
Sin Polrob, 58, was born and raised in Rawai. He has been a community leader since 1999 and currently serves as the Rawai Kamnan (subdistrict chief). Here he talks about the importance of communities standing up against projects that threaten to destroy the natural beauty of Thailand. PHUKET: As a community member and leader, I like to see people come…
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Island View: The laws of smoking
PHUKET: It seems to me that people in Thailand, particularly Phuketians, have forgotten that there is a law that bans smoking in certain areas and while driving. I even Googled it to make sure that the law is still in place. The law states that you are not allowed to smoke in public parks, school and university perimeters, hospitals, government…
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Opinion: Scrap the airport ferry fallacy
PHUKET: It is hard to believe that 25 million baht in funding has been approved for the design and environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed ‘From the Boat to the Plane’ project. There is certainly no question that public transport from Phuket International Airport (HKT) to the island’s west coast resort towns is in dire need of improvement, but…
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Island View: Making the move
PHUKET: At first I was very hesitant to make the move from Chalong to Phuket Town. When I first came to Phuket, everyone told me that Chalong was the best place to be, as it is central to the beaches and Town. And I have to agree, it is a really great location. However, to get anywhere requires a motorbike…
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Opinion: Keeping up the pressure to rid Phuket of jet-skis
PHUKET: All stakeholders in Phuket’s future should thank five visiting ambassadors who kept the pressure on the provincial government to do something about the island’s notorious jet-ski rental industry. As opined many times, this particular industry seems to possess a curious ability that allows it to somehow pass undetected through all barriers of law, order, courtesy and simple common sense.…
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Opinion: Celebrating Loy Krathong responsibly
Uhai Pattanapichai, 53, is the chief of the Phuket Cultural Office. Originally from Bangkok, she has been living in Phang Nga since 1992, taking up her position in Phuket last month. She graduated from Suan Dusit Rajabhat University with a Master’s Degree in business administration. Here, she looks beyond the celebrations of Loy Krathong to the meaning of tradition, emphasizing…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Cooling off beverages
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Opinion: Positive effects of alcohol zones
Pairuch Kulima, 54, has been the chief of the Phuket Excise Office (PEO) since 2011. He is a Phuket native and graduated with a master’s degree in public administration from The National Institute of Development Administration. Here he talks about the responsibilities of the PEO, the pros and cons of selling alcohol and the positive effects that the new alcohol…
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Island View: Facebook an invaluable moving tool
PHUKET: Being a newcomer to the island, I can’t help but marvel at the relative ease with which the transition was made. I had visited Phuket a few years ago as a tourist and fallen in love with it. This year, I decided to move here to pursue certification for Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). After a quick…
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