Phuket

Justice Minister eyes new billion-baht Phuket Prison

Published

7 years ago

August 2, 2012

Justice Minister eyes new billion-baht Phuket Prison | The Thaiger

PHUKET: Justice Minister Pracha Promnok today reviewed plans to close the 115-year-old and heavily overcrowded Phuket Provincial Prison in Phuket Town and establish a 3,000-person capacity prison in Thalang.

Pol Gen Pracha announced details of the new prison, which is set to be established on 108 rai of government land near the Bang Jo detention center in Srisoonthorn, Thalang.

However, even without land costs, the budget for the new facility is expected to be about 1 billion baht.

“Phuket Provincial Prison is 115 years old, that’s too old. A new prison is necessary,” said Phuket Provincial Prison Chief Rapin Nichanon.

Chief Rapin explained that Phuket Prison was originally built to hold only a few hundred prisoners, but the facility currently has nearly 2,000 inmates in its protective custody.

Department of Corrections Director-General Suchart Wongananchai echoed Chief Rapin’s thoughts about Phuket Prison’s current capacity, pointing out that with as many prisoners as the facility currently has, inmates are allowed only a very short amount of time to spend with visitors.

“The new prison will be up to international standards,” said Col Suchart. “We have to accept that the governments of the world cannot allow one small jail dormitory to be occupied by 50 to 80 inmates, as it is a violation of basic human rights.

“A new prison is the only solution, as the old prison cannot be expanded anymore,” he said.

Col Suchart explained that the plans for the new facility at Bang Jo had already been drawn up. “Now, we are waiting for Justice Minister Pracha to review and approve the budget,” he said.

During the meeting, Gen Pracha explained that he would like the new Phuket prison to be much like the prison on Koh Samui.

“As Phuket is a tourism destination, it is important that our new prison is like Koh Samui Prison, which is now a tourist attraction, meets international standards and is a beautiful structure that is in harmony with the environment,” he said.

Corrections Director-General Suchart also pointed out that Koh Samui Prison is located in a beautiful area on Samui and that a resort and spa was close by, allowing the products produced by the prisoners to become a tourist attraction.

Acknowledging the potential benefits, Gen Pracha said that officers from Phuket will be instructed to visit Koh Samui Prison to observe the operations there.

At the meeting this morning, Srisoonthorn Mayor Worawut Songyot introduced the idea of naming the prison something “softer and more interesting” than Phuket Provincial Prison.

Gen Pracha said the request would be taken into consideration by the Department of Corrections.

“Today, we have come into agreement about the project. However, to build a prison we must take into consideration the feelings of the local people,” said Director-General Suchart.

One idea that might help appease locals, brought up by a village leader and supported by Mayor Worawut, was to add the construction of a sports field for locals to the budget.

For a Phuket Gazette editorial on this topic click here and scroll to page 26.

— Atchaa Khamlo

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People

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people

Published

2 days ago

October 15, 2019

Nattha Thepbamrung

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people | The Thaiger

On October 18, the ‘Always Smile Journey’ group and its partners will host an exhibition with plenty of fun activities at the Yak Yai Market, near Chalong Circle, in Phuket. This event was designed to raise funds to provide free English classes for underprivileged people on the island of Phuket on Saturdays and Sundays. The group does not accept donations but aims to raise money through the sales of the products available at the event.

From 2 pm to 8 pm, there will be a number of artists, musicians and performers who will keep the attendees entertained along the way. There will be a short film about His Majesty King Rama 9 as well as fun activities and games for kids and families, which are all free of charge.

The big bike crew is also a part of this event. They will ride a parade from Rawai Beach heading to the market and showcase their gorgeous two-wheel buddies.

One of the highlights of the Always Smile Journey exhibition is the ‘Happening’ artists group, who will draw and paint a picture of the His Majesty King Rama 9 under the name ‘Street Art King Bhumibol’ on a 4×10 meter sign live at the event so the guests will experience this large-scale art in action. The Happening will also offer portrait sketching for the participants.

‘Always Smile Journey’ raises fund to provide free English classes for underprivileged people | News by The Thaiger

One of the works created by the Happening team; a painting of HM the King Rama 9 on a huge wall (Photo credit: Chawat Chumpasan)

There will also be some western menus available at the event which will be donated to underprivileged children.

This free English class project has over seven years of experience through its cooperation working with individuals and other charity organizations. Throughout the years, the group visited several areas such as Ban Laem Hoy School, Ban Bopud School and Ban Angthong School in Samui, Surat Thani province, Ban Bueng Ao Oun School and Ban Kakoh Rayong, in Surin province, Jalae Village of Lahu (Muser) in Chiang Rai province, as well as community education centers in Siem Reap, Cambodia and in Luang Prabang, in Laos.

This event is a cooperation between several groups, including Happening, Yak Yai Market and Arrow Media, Tattoo artist group, Thonburi Art School Alumni, International School of Tourism, Suratthani Rajabhat University, big bike group from Phuket, artists/performers/musicians from many provinces as well as several businesses across Phuket.

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Bangkok

The world’s fastest growing tourist destinations

Published

2 days ago

October 15, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTO: Hello Phuket – destined for huge tourist growth in the next six years – fodors.com

In 2018, international tourist arrival traffic grew by 6% to reach a total of 1.4 billion world tourists, according to research by UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. And there’s a lot more to come with international travel predicted to increase by a massive 35% over the next six years to 2025.

But where is all that extra traffic going to go? Which destinations are quiet now that might be swarming with tourists in the years to come? Two destinations in Thailand are set for a prosperous future, according to the data. Whilst almost all the growth is excepted to be to Asian destinations, an under-visited resource for world tourism so far.

Euromonitor data has been used to simulate tourist growth models and reveal the fastest growing projected visitor arrivals in major cities and destinations around the world for 2025, compared to arrival figures in 2018.

In Thailand, Phuket’s tourist traffic is poised to increase up to 85% in the next six years, from nearly 12 million arrivals in 2018 to over 22 million in 2025. Bangkok is predicted to see the 8th most prolific rise in tourist traffic, with arrivals in Bangkok set to swell an additional 68% during the same period. Doha, the capital of Qatar, is set to explode with 104% increase in traffic over the next six years.

The data also predicts that both Bangkok and Phuket will rebound big time in 2020, Phuket in particular with a growth of around 20% for the next year, accord to the data from TravelSupermarket.com.

By 2025 the data predicts that Bangkok will be the world’s #1 tourist destination, a position it’s held before in recent years. The Thai capital will be followed by Singapore, Dubai, Phuket and Kuala Lumpur, making South East Asia the world’s emerging tourism hotspot.

Some of the world’s favourites – New York, Paris, London – will continue to grow their tourist numbers but not at the rate of most Asian destinations.

You can read the full list HERE.

Stats compiled by travelsupermarket.com

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Phuket

Rawai beachfront water shut-off tomorrow for mains works

Published

3 days ago

October 14, 2019

The Thaiger

The Phuket Provincial Waterworks Authority says Rawai’s mains water supply will be shut off tomorrow (Tuesday, October 15) as new water pipes are fitted in front of The Title Beach Front condo resort complex on the town’s beachfront.

The mains water supply will be shut off from 9am until 4:30pm along the beachfront strip.

The PWA says the areas affected will be along Wiset Road along the Rawai beachfront road, as well as Soi Yanui and Soi Ruafaed.

Residents and businesses are being urged to collect water for use during the day today, before tomorrow morning’s shut-off.

As usual, the PWA say…“We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Contact the Phuket Provincial Waterworks Authority on 076 319173 or 082 7901634 for more details.

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