Cabinet says “no’ to tourism cash boost

KARON: The central Government has refused to provide any direct financial assistance to Phuket tourism businesses suffering from the effects of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars). Speaking after the Cabinet meeting at the Phuket Arcadia Beach Resort today, government spokesman Maj Sitha Thiwaree said, “Instead of giving money to help Phuket tourism the Government will set up a tour package to reward outstanding students and government officers.” In the Government’s first move to counter “dark influences” in Phuket, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has ordered that a committee be set up to investigate corruption involving Phuket land, Maj Sitha said. The investigation was prompted by the April 25 assassination of Phuket Provincial Land Officer Pongtorn Hiranyaburana, who was investigating 10 cases of possible illegal use of public land when he was murdered. “PM Thaksin believes that K. Pongtorn was a good man who was just doing his job,” Maj Sitha said. The investigating committee will include officers from the Phuket Agricultural Land Reform Office, from Provincial Land Offices outside Phuket and from the Treasury Department. Discussing major development of Phuket’s infrastructure with Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi yesterday, Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak proposed using Racha-prapa reservoir in Surat Thani province to supplement Phuket’s water supply.