Obstructive bureaucrats slammed

PHUKET CITY: The President of the recently formed Phuket Real Estate Club (PREC) yesterday slammed bureaucrats for constantly putting obstacles in the way of the booming property market. Announcing that the club plans to stage a public seminar on April 3 at the Royal Phuket City Hotel to address problems faced by those in real estate development, Phummisak Hongsyok, former Mayor of Phuket Town, said, “The real estate market in Phuket has jumped over the past few months because many of the problems that plagued us in the past are disappearing. “At the end of last year, banks started giving greater support to real estate developers, and buyers began to trust the sellers more. Also, property companies started to do business properly.” But bureaucrats are still holding things back, he said. “The most common questions [the club gets from members] are about the various government offices that are meant to provide clear information, perform administrative functions efficiently, and offer equal treatment to all people. “These offices are making the real estate business very difficult with red tape, unclear information and unnecessary rules. This blocks development, as the real estate business requires organization and accuracy of information.” He also called on the authorities to take concrete steps soon to address water shortages on Phuket. “The shortage of water on Phuket is a lingering problem and [so far] has been solved by developers taking matters into their own hands, rather than the government providing a viable solution.” The seminar will consist entirely of questions and answers. Attempting to provide the answers will be Land Department officers from Phuket and Bangkok, including the Director of the Land Department’s Business Property Section; a deputy managing director of Bangkok Bank; and academics from Chulalongkorn University. “One of the main purposes of the PREC is to discuss and find solutions to the problems faced by all those involved in the real estate business. It will assist them in doing real estate business properly,” K. Phummisak said. The seminar will be conducted primarily in Thai. Registration will be at 8 am. The cost to attend will be 300 baht, including lunch. For more information contact the PREC at Tel: 076-218999 or 076-218747.