Phuket

Phuket tour guides, bus drivers demand action for lost jobs

Published

3 years ago

November 28, 2016

Phuket tour guides, bus drivers demand action for lost jobs | The Thaiger

PHUKET: A group of local tour guides and a group of local tour bus operators simultaneously submitted letters at Phuket Provincial Hall today demanding that action be taken against illegal tour guides and operations “stealing” their jobs.

About 50 members of the Andaman Tour Guide Association (Phuket-Phang Nga-Krabi) led by Mr Krit Thepbamrung gathered at Provincial Hall at 9.30am to submit their letter to Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan.

The letter was handed to Thavornwat Buakaew, acting on behalf of the governor.

“We have tour guide licenses but we still get arrested for working outside the permitted areas, or for doing jobs in the ‘wrong category’ while those without licenses get away with it and don’t get arrested,” said Mr Krit.

“There used to be a committee taking care of this but not anymore, after the head of that committee, Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul, retired,” he added.

Members of the Andaman Bus Association, led by Mr Chanawee Eaktiewsakun, complained that they faced a similar situation, handing in their letter of complaint addressed to the governor and Maj Gen Akom Pongprom of the 41st Military Circle at 9:30am.

“We have not worked for several months already because the tour agencies and bus companies conspire to use buses and drivers from the Northern provinces, where they are cheaper,” lamented Mr Chanawee.

“We charge about 18,000 baht for six days, while those outside charge only 14,000 baht,” he cried.

“There are about 1,000 members in the Andaman Bus Association, but we don’t have any income now. The government should help us settle and manage this,” he insisted.

Gen Akom accepted the letter and promised to discuss the matter with relevant parties. “We will call together officers from the Land Transport Office for a meeting to find a solution that will be fair to all sides,” he said.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong

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Crime

Thalang Police arrest local Phuket drug dealer with amphetamine pills

Published

2 hours ago

October 20, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTOS: เหยี่ยวข่าว ภูเก็ต Newshawk Phuket

Thalang Police have arrested a local drug dealer with more than 192 amphetamine pills. Thalang police in Phuket arrested 29 year old Wimon Songkong from Nakhon Si Thammarat with 192 amphetamine pills that he was carrying when they nabbed him in front of a 7-Eleven store inside a PTT gas station on Thepkasattri Road, in Thalang District.

The amphetamine pills were packed in a black zip-lock plastic bag, which was hidden in his grey shoulder bag. Two of the pills were green and 190 of them were orange, while each pill had the letters ‘wy’ printed on them.

Wimon was charged for possessing and trading illicit drugs and was sent to Thalang police station for further investigation and processing.

STORY: Newshawk Phuket

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Hua Hin

Southern Thailand braces for rough weather and rain

Published

23 hours ago

October 19, 2019

May Taylor

Southern Thailand braces for rough weather and rain | The Thaiger

The Thailand Meteorological Department issued a weather warning for southern Thailand with torrential rain forecast to hit the region throughout the weekend. The heavy monsoon over the Gulf of Thailand and south of the country is being blamed for the rough weather, with the TMD predicting flash flooding in many areas.

(Phuket, Hat Yai and Hua Hin’s forecast below)

“Waves are expected to reach 2 metres in height in the lower Gulf of Thailand and possibly higher at the height of the storm. Ships are advised to proceed with caution.”

For the north and northeast of Thailand, the TMD forecasts strong winds and cooler mornings as the arrival of the “winter” season, coupled with a moderate high-pressure system, causes temperatures to dip.

Hua Hin’s five day forecast

Phuket’s five day forecast

Hat Yai’s five day forecast

SOURCE: The Nation | weather.com

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Crime

Now you see him, now you don’t… Patong Police hunt foreigner over $30k theft

Published

2 days ago

October 18, 2019

Greeley Pulitzer

Now you see him, now you don’t… Patong Police hunt foreigner over $30k theft | The Thaiger

PHOTO: Patong Police

Patong Police have yet to develop any tangible leads tracking down a foreigner who made off with US$30,000 in cash from a currency exchange booth in Kalim, north of Patong in Phuket, last Tuesday.

The man is about 168 centimetres tall with grey hair and around 60 years old, Patong police told The Phuket News.

“We have no clue what nationality he is.”

He was last seen at the currency exchange booth wearing a purple polo shirt, blue jeans and black cap. Police have checked hotels in the area, police stations across the island and Phuket Immigration, but have yet to join the dots and come up with firm leads.

“Investigators have checked CCTV in the area and collected what evidence we have but we still do not know the man’s name or where he was staying.”

The man had visited the booth several times before Tuesday, when he disappeared with the $30,000 in US banknotes, according to police.

“It was always small amounts”, he added, noting that the amounts didn’t warrant staff at the exchange booth to check the man’s passport before making the exchange.

The man arrived at the booth again at about 1pm on Tuesday, saying that he had 900,000 baht cash to exchange.

SOURCE: The Phuket News

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