New prison chief invites visitors

PHUKET TOWN: The new Chief of Phuket Prison has invited groups of people, including students, to tour the prison to see facilities and watch convicts’ activities. The Chief, Panya Panatnachee, who arrived in Phuket two months ago, explained that the new activities he has introduced are batik making and the manufacture of bamboo blinds. Both products are in big demand, especially the bamboo blinds, with orders pouring in from the US. “We can produce 20 blinds a day, but if we had the capacity, we could sell maybe 50 a day,” K. Panya said. The design and production of batik cloth, in the Phuket style, is done by the male prisoners, while the women sew some of the batik into shirts. Part of the proceeds from sales of the products is put aside for the prisoners, to give them some start-up money when they complete their sentences. Anyone interested in arranging a visit should contact Phuket Provincial Prison at Tel: 076-212104 and ask for K. Panya. He stressed that all visitors will be 100% safe.