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Move to open up historic arcades
PHUKET CITY: Residents of Thalang Road, in the old part of Phuket City, have been asked to consider opening up the Ngo Kha Khee arcades in front of their historic Sino-Portuguese houses for use as public walkways.Around 20 residents attended a meeting of the Old Phuket Foundation on Sunday at Thai Hua Phuket School, Thalang Rd to hear about the…
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Deputy PM nixes underpasses plan
PHUKET: Two underpasses on the bypass road will not be built in the immediate future, Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop has announced.During his recent visit to Phuket, K. Suwat said the proposals for the underpasses – at the notorious Samkong and Darasamut School intersections – will not even be considered until the widening of the bypass road is completed in September…
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Russian star for Paradorn tour
PHUKET: Rising Russian tennis star Anna Chakvetadze has been confirmed as one of the players in the 2004 Paradorn Super Tour which stops off at Laguna Beach Resort next weekend (November 27 and 28).Chakvetadze, 17, replaces Karolina Sprem, who is suffering from a persistent viral infection.Moscow-born Chakvetadze, who will play singles and mixed doubles matches against Tamarine Tanasugarn, defeated French…
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Patong Tower apartments up for auction
PATONG: Eighty apartments in the tallest building by far in Phuket, Patong Tower, will come under the auctioneer’s hammer on December 12, some 13 years after planning permission for the 32-story block on Thaweewong Rd was first given. Siripong Chechang, chief of the Public Works Department of Patong Municipality, today addressed concerns by some potential buyers that the building was…
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Australians dominate Laguna triathlon
CHERNG TALAY: Australians dominated the Laguna Phuket Triathlon 2004 this morning, taking the top three places in the men’s professional competition, and winning first place in the women’s professional category.2002 winner Craig Alexander, from Sydney, crossed the finish line first, completing the course in 2 hours 33 minutes 7 seconds. Hot on his heels was last year’s winner Simon “Tommo”…
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Expo Center dithering continues
NAI YANG: A meeting called yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop shed little new light on the continuing saga of where Phuket’s proposed International Conference and Exhibition Center (ICEC) will be sited.The Deputy PM chaired the meeting, at the Pearl Village Hotel at Nai Yang Beach, held to discuss the progress of various government policies on the island.At the…
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Couple “make wedding history’ at Kata viewpoint
KATA: Bride Amanda Gudgin and groom Steve Hancock, from Melbourne, made a small bit of history at 4 pm yesterday, when they were wed at the Kata viewpoint.Ms Hancock, in a traditional white wedding dress, explained to the Gazette that her family used to live in Hong Kong. “We have been regular visitors to Phuket since 1977,” she said.Her father,…
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Gunfight gangsters charged
PHUKET CITY: Phuket City Police have charged four youths in connection with a gunflight in Phuket City centre two weeks ago.The fight took place outside Phuket Grocery Co, near Robinson department store in the early hours of October 31.After a tip-off from an informant, police arrested Natee Srisamut, 20, and Niwat Sae-tan, 19, along with two youths aged 16 and…
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Jet-ski operators vow to fight ban
CHERNG TALAY: Veerachai Thonghom, chairman of the Phuket Jet-Ski Club, yesterday vowed to appeal to the central government in Bangkok to allow jet-ski operators to continue renting out their machines on Phuket’s beaches.K. Veerchai announced his intention yesterday after Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura refused to budge on his stated policy of reducing jet-skis in Phuket to zero by March 1,…
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US donates anti-terror gear
PHUKET CITY: As part of its fight against terrorism, the US Department of Defense has donated anti-terrorism equipment worth about 2 million baht to Royal Thai Police Region 8, which includes Phuket.In a ceremony at Phuket Provincial Police Headquarters this morning, David Turner, Chief of the US Defense Department’s Force Protection Detachment at the US Embassy in Bangkok, presented the…
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Bangkok “monitoring early closing’
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura has said that the government is monitoring reaction to its controversial early-closing policy for entertainment venues, but that it is still “early days”.Speaking at his regular press conference at the Provincial Hall on Monday, the Governor also stressed that he did not have the power to alter the rules for Phuket.Since September, entertainment venues…
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New twist in expo center saga
KATA: The saga over the site for the proposed Phuket International Conference and Exhibition Center (ICEC) took a new turn yesterday morning when Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Region 4 Director Suwalai Pinpradab said she planned to recommend both Saphan Hin and the Phuket International Night Bazaar (PINB) off Chao Fa West Rd to the government as possible sites for…
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Chalermlak “chained” by election rules
PHUKET: The rules imposed by the Office of the Election Commission of Thailand (OECT) governing what MPs may do during the run-up to the election campaign period have, according to Chalermlak Kebsup, Democrat MP for Phuket District 2, obstructed her.“I feel chained by the rules,” K. Chalermlak said. “The OECT has said that MPs must not conduct any campaigning or…
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B66m in deals inked at Hong Kong property show
HONG KONG: Exhibitors at the Phuket & Samui Property Exhibition say they were pleased with the quality of visitors to the show, and the general organization of it.The event featured mostly property developers from Phuket and Koh Samui, but also attracted one developer from Bangkok and another, South Thailand Homes, looking to sell a development on Koh Lanta.Although none of the…
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Land fees generate B935m
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Land Office (PPLO) has collected 935 million baht in taxes and fees this year, more than three times the amount collected last year.The money was generated from purchases and sales of land, subdivisions of plots, and issuance of permits for development projects during the financial year from October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2004.PPLO Chief Suphot Suwannachote told the…
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Three injured in “visa run’ smash
RANONG: One man had a leg amputated and two others required hospitalization after a minivan taking passengers from Phuket on a “visa run” collided with a water truck on November 12.Pol Sub Lt Chatchai Pongsingto, of Ranong Town Police Station, told the Gazette that the accident happened on Paknam-Ranong Rd at about 12:20 pm.The van, which is owned by Andaman…
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B1.5m damage in Patong blaze
PATONG: One man is seriously ill in Phuket International Hospital after being badly burned during a fire that destroyed two houses in Phisit Gorani Soi 1 late last night.After evacuating his family from the house, Chalermporn Jikpipaksit, 46, ran back into the blaze to remove a gas cylinder from his cooker so it would not explode. He suffered severe burns…
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Cabinet approves B300m improvements at fishing port
PHUKET CITY: The Cabinet has approved a plan to spend more than 300 million baht to improve Phuket Fishing Port in Tambon Rassada, and to build a seafood processing plant there.The proposal, drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday.The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives told the Cabinet that improvements would make…
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Student pharmacist dies from overdose
PATONG: Police believe that a 19-year-old pharmacology student on holiday in Phuket committed suicide by overdosing on barbiturates in a hotel room in Patong.Alongkorn Pitaktrirat, of Nakhon Ratchasima, had been dead for around two days when his body was found on Wednesday at the Baan Bua Hotel, where he was staying.Pol Lt Padungpong Duksukaew, of Kathu Police Station, said that…
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Governor to appeal for homes to stay on state land
PHUKET CITY: Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura will ask the Cabinet to allow residents in Soi Kingkaew, near Koh Sireh, to keep their homes, even though government offices have long claimed that the houses have been built on state land.The Governor visited the soi on Tuesday with Phuket Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment chief Thongchai Saowapong. The inspection came after…
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The final upshot
BANGKOK: Police arrested a 27-year-old man after he was caught taking photos up a girl’s skirt at a motor show at Central Plaza on Phra Ram III Rd last month. Worakarn Jaruphat was collared by security guards after “Amp”, a young woman taking part in the Miss Motorshow Contest, grabbed his wrist when she felt something touch her legs. When…
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B95m Ao Por marina plan unveiled
PHUKET: Thailand’s largest construction company, Italian-Thai Development (ITD), is to invest 95 million baht in its first project in Phuket, a marina at Ao Por.The project will be handled by the Ao Por Pattana Co, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITD.Project manager Akaraphan Suwanchot said the marina would be built near Ao Por pier, which is itself about to undergo complete…
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Alleged jewel thief arrested in Koh Lanta
KOH LANTA: Anthony “Dirk” De Weirdt, wanted for questioning in connection with missing jewelry worth an estimated 18 million baht, was arrested on Koh Lanta on Friday following a tip-off.De Weirdt, a Belgian who was formerly the factory manager of Bangkok’s CB Fine Jewelry, disappeared shortly after precious stones and other items were found missing from the company’s safe on…
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WTO helps develop sustainable tourism
PHUKET CITY: Developing tourism as a sustainable industry for Phuket was the topic discussed by World Tourism Organisation (WTO) adviser Hans Carl Jacobsen and local officials at a meeting today at Phuket Provincial Hall.Joining Mr Jacobsen at the seminar were representatives of the Office of Tourism Development and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism, as well as Phuket Governor Udomsak…
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Couple die in bike smash
CHALONG: An American visitor from Bangkok and her partner have died in a motorbike accident at Chalong.Mary Susan Crosland, 52, and Cha Paen Anukul, also 52, were killed around 10 am on Tuesday, when the motorbike K. Cha was driving, with Ms Crosland riding behind, failed to take a curve near Chao Fa Thani village.The couple lived in Bangkok and…
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TRT confirms parliamentary candidates
PHUKET CITY: Thai Rak Thai (TRT) today confirmed that the party’s candidates for the general election, scheduled to take place by February 13 next year, will be Dr Sriyada Palimapan and Wisut Santikul.Dr Sriyada will contest District 1 (Phuket City and immediate area), while former Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) Vice-President K. Wisut will contest District 2 (the rest of…
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Fast visas and work permits coming – Sipa
PHUKET CITY: The man charged with transforming Phuket into a “cyber paradise” says procedures for fast-track visa and work permit approvals for foreign IT workers will be operational next month.Dr Manoo Ordeedolchest, President of the Software Industry Promotion Agency (Sipa), has announced that applicants will be able to apply to the Sipa office, which will then coordinate with the Board of…
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Pa Khlock people back new pier
PHUKET: A small gathering of interested Pa Khlock residents today gave their backing to a proposal by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) to build a new pier at Ao Por.However, the exact location has yet to be decided, and the land around all the possible sites is in private hands.Staff from the Marine Department gave a presentation on the…
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Paradorn to return to Phuket
PHUKET: Thai tennis superstar Paradorn Srichapan is due on Phuket later this month.Paradon, currently ranked 21 in the world, will be bringing the 2004 Paradorn Super Tour to the island’s Laguna Beach Resort on November 27 and 28.The tour, which features exhibition matches, tennis clinics and autograph signing sessions, starts in Bangkok on November 22 and moves to Nakhon Ratchassima…
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Cabinet to review B63bn Ao Phuket project
PHUKET: The Ao Phuket Project committee yesterday agreed to present to Cabinet for approval a plan to spend 63 billion baht on transforming Saphan Hin and Phuket Bay into a mega-development covering 2,216 rai.The 14-person committee, headed by former Phuket Governor Prof Yuwath Wuthimethee, met at the Governor’s office in Phuket City to review the plan by construction consultants BBMT…
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