18,889 register as poor in Phuket

PHUKET CITY: A total of 18,889 people registered as poor in Phuket between January 5 and the registration deadline yesterday. The registration process also brought to light 5,881 people who do not have Thai IDs. It is believed that most of them are sea gypsies, supposedly the original inhabitants of Phuket. People were able to list one or more reasons for their poverty. The following statistics were recorded: Not owning a home: 12,614; Being unemployed: 5,881; Having debts and being unable to make repayments: 3,502; Having no land to work: 1,825; Lacking proper support as a student: 288; Having lost money in an investment: 99; Working in an illegal industry: 45; Having nowhere to live: 10. A total of 11,153 people registered as poor in Phuket City, with 5,193 in Thalang and 2, 543 in Kathu.