Gov offers to help validate titles

PHUKET TOWN: Big business investors who want to check the legitimacy of titles to land they are thinking of buying can ask the Phuket Governor’s office for help, Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi said today. He told the Gazette that his staff would work with the Phuket Provincial Land Office so that investment could continue without being delayed by investigations now underway into alleged abuses involving land deeds. Acknowledging that the land title inquiry was harming Phuket’s property business, Gov Pongpayome added that he hoped the probe could be wrapped up quickly. He stressed that once the investigation was complete, investors could be confident that all property titles had been checked and were clear of irregularities. In any case, he said, there were problems with “only” about 5% of the land titles in Phuket. “If big investors are wondering [about a land title], they should come to my office and I will have the Phuket Provincial Land Office assist,” he said. “This applies to people who already have plans to invest but are just uncertain about the land issues. “Yesterday, one foreigner came to see me to ask for help because he planned to invest but was uncertain whether the land title was correct. “We can provide a service to investors who are deciding whether to buy [land] for a business in Phuket.” He stressed, however, that his offer extended only to business investors, and not to private buyers. “Don’t come to see me about land if you just want to build a private home,” he said, “but do come if you plan to invest in a business in Phuket.” He also said that he could not help anyone who had already bought a piece of land and was worried about it. The Governor’s office is in the Phuket Provincial Hall on Narisorn Rd, Phuket Town. Tel: 076-211001.