Search Results for: lion
- Phuket News
“Red tide’ blooms cause murky conditions
PHUKET: Many of the island’s beaches are experiencing algal blooms that are causing murky conditions commonly called “red tides”, but marine biologists say the situation is not dangerous and sea conditions are expected to return to normal soon.Suree Satapoomin, a researcher at the Phuket Marine Biological Center, told the Gazette that the blooms were first detected on west coast beaches,…
- Phuket News
Kamala school gets freshwater supply
KAMALA: Some 500 students and 30 teachers at Rajaprachanukroh 36 School in Kamala now have fresh water piped in from a groundwater well some two kilometers inland.The water is piped to the school, where it undergoes treatment with iron oxide filtration and reverse-osmosis (RO) technology installed by the Department of Groundwater Resources (DGR) at the cost of 400,000 baht, explained…
- Phuket News
Anton Haig wins Johnnie Walker Classic
By Oliver BatesPHUKET: The final day of the Johnnie Walker Classic lived up to all expectations as South African Anton Haig won his first Johnnie Walker Classic in a dramatic playoff.Twenty-year-old Haig joined the elite of Greg Norman, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Nick Faldo to become a Johnnie Walker Champion.Haig’s sudden-death playoff victory over Oliver Wilson and Richard Sterne…
- Phuket News
Kamala OrBorTor President removed over corruption allegations
KAMALA: Jaral Sararak, President of Kamala Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor), has been dismissed over allegations of rampant corruption.The order removing him from office, signed February 23 by Kathu District Chief Khantee Silapa, followed an investigation requested by Sorranun Sane, Chairman of the OrBorTor Board.K. Khantee told the Gazette, “We have investigated Jaral many times for a lack of transparency in…
- Phuket News
Taking Phuket on the road
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit announced on Friday that to promote Phuket to foreign tourist markets the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) and hotels and hospitals yet to be selected will be going on a 14-country roadshow.The TAT, OrBorJor, Gov Niran and selected hotels will begin their tour in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and…
- Phuket News
Woman gunned down in Kamala
KAMALA: The long-term partner of a well-known local businessman was gunned down in front of The Club restaurant, on the main road through Kamala, around 7:30 pm on Saturday.Lt Col Monsak Suebsuwan, Duty Inspector at Kamala Police Station, told the Gazette that the victim was Nongnuch Kongprueb, 42, partner of Harry Tawando, 72.Col Monsak, the leading investigator in the case,…
- Phuket News
Old Phuket Festival draws huge crowds
PHUKET CITY: About 1,000 people turned out to enjoy the first day of the 9th Old Phuket Festival yesterday on Phang Nga Rd, Thalang Rd and Soi Rommanee.Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwannasupana led the Old Phuket parade through the city’s old quarter, followed by hundreds of people dressed in traditional costumes, such as the local baba and yaya dress.Long drums…
- Phuket News
Island CCTV up and running
PHUKET: The next time you are having a night out on the town in Patong, Kata-Karon or Phuket City be sure to keep a smile on your face: you might be on TV.Pol Col Peerayuth Karachedi, Superintendent for Administrative Affairs at Phuket Provincial Police Station, told the Gazette that a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system has been fully tested and is…
- Phuket News
OrBorJor sets sights on education
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) will spend 160 million baht of its 340-million-baht budget for fiscal 2007 on education, OrBorJor President Anchlee Vanich-Thepabutr has announced.The dedication of nearly half the OrBorJor‘s annual budget follows seven schools transferring their administration organization from the central government to the OrBorJor by signing memorandums of understanding (MOUs).Improvements in educational standards in the…
- Phuket News
Eight disaster-alert stations plundered
PHUKET: Thieves have stolen copper cable from lightning rods at eight of the island’s 11 emergency radio network repeater stations, forcing the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) to spend some 2.7 million baht on replacement and repairs.News of the vandalism was reported by OrBorJor Vice-President Suthin Uthaithamrong at the January 30 meeting of provincial office chiefs at the Thavorn Grand…
- Phuket News
Men cleared of gold shop robbery
PHUKET CITY: The two suspects wanted for the January 27 robbery of the Thongroj gold shop in Dowroong Villa, on Chao Fa East Rd, have been cleared by police after they turned themselves in to proclaim their innocence.Police on January 30 released sketches of the two men as they had visited the gold shop earlier in the week.Pol Maj Sompong…
- Phuket News
Public surveyed on B70bn Ao Phuket project
PHUKET CITY: Public opinions of the 70-billion-baht convention center and hotel project proposed to be built on reclaimed land off Saphan Hin have been surveyed, but the survey results have yet to be analyzed, Vice-Governor Worapot Ratthasima and officials from Phuket Governor’s Office were told on Friday.Researchers Dr Aree Tirasatayapitak and Kamontorn Prompitak, from the Faculty of Service Industries at…
- Phuket News
B300,000 reward offered for armed robber
PHUKET: A 300,000-baht reward is on offer for information leading to the arrest of a brazen bandit who made off with gold jewelry worth more than one million baht in a daylight robbery on Saturday.Officers report they have been following tips called in by a woman claiming to be the robber’s girlfriend, scouring the areas where she said he has…
- Phuket News
Hotels still refuse to pay rooms tax
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) President Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr has again threatened legal action against hotels that refuse to pay the controversial 1% rooms tax.K. Anchalee said that the OrBorJor this year aims to collect 60 million baht in rooms tax, up from a little over 41 million during the fiscal year from October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2006.However, she said that…
- Phuket News
Kamala to get traditional Thai-Chinese medical center
KAMALA: Cabinet has approved a plan to build a traditional Thai-Chinese medical center with the assistance of the Chinese government at the site of the Kamala Public Health Office.Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) Chief Dr Wanchai Sattayawuthipong told the Gazette the center will provide Thai and Chinese traditional treatments to both Thai and foreign patients.The PPHO, which drew up the…
- Phuket News
Fewer island blackouts predicted
PHUKET: The island’s residents are expected to suffer fewer electricity supply disruptions this year as power supply will be boosted to meet expected increases in demand, the head of the island’s electricity provider has reported.Suthep Jitseree of the Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PPEA) said the successful introduction of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) technology to the island’s power grid…
- Phuket News
Property expo expected to set record
PHUKET CITY: The Property Investment Exhibition 2007 (PIE), the annual property show staged by the Phuket Provincial Land Office and Phuket Real Estate Club, is expected to set a record 500 million baht in sales and reservations, Thanet Traiwut, Managing Director of exhibition organizer Delice Thai, told the Gazette.Most of the properties sold or reserved were valued at five to…
- Thailand News
Bad news for the Tiger of Thalang
THALANG: Being the leader of a youth motorbike gang in Phuket is always dangerous. Occupational hazards include bullets and blades from members of rival gangs, police who will eventually make a charge stick, and carelessly-driven pickups that can quickly put an end to motorcycling mayhem. Despite the obvious risks, gang leader Kroekkriat Jantananon, from Baan Liphon in Thalang, would no…
- Phuket News
US experts lead counter-terrorism workshop
PATONG: Some 30 Thai police and military personnel are undergoing a two-week “Military Law Enforcement/Boarding Officer” course conducted by US military experts at the Patong Resort Hotel.The training, which began Monday, is the latest of many ventures funded by the US Defense Department’s Counter Terrorism Fellowship Program (CTFP) for Thailand. The program, which in 2006 had a budget of about…
- Phuket News
Island CCTV “ready next month’
PHUKET CITY Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Decha Budnampeth on Monday announced that the island-wide 16-million-baht closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance system will be operational in three popular tourist districts by mid-February.Work on the project, begun last August, was funded under former Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura’s discretionary budget for provincial development.The network, being installed by telecommunications provider CAT Telecom Public Company…
- Phuket News
More than 5,000 fake credit cards seized
KATHU: Police have arrested three Sri Lankan men for credit card fraud, seizing more than 5,000 bogus credit cards allegedly encoded with information from real credit cards.Police suspect the three men may be part of a much larger ring operating in popular tourists areas throughout Thailand and other parts of the world.Pol Lt Col Boonlert Onklang of the Kathu Police…
- Phuket News
Tourism operators “cautiously optimistic’ after Bangkok bombings
PHUKET: Tourism industry experts remain cautiously optimistic that the bombings in Bangkok will have limited impact on tourism numbers in Phuket.Suwalai Pinpradab, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Southern Region 4 office in Phuket, said, “We are concerned about this in Phuket, especially as it comes during a peak period for tourism.“If similar incidents occur and the violence continues to…
- Phuket News
Blue Canyon to host Johnnie Walker Classic
PHUKET (The Nation): The US$2.4-million Johnnie Walker Classic will return to Phuket in March, silencing rumors it could be moved to other countries due to the government’s attempt to ban alcohol advertising and sponsorship.Organizers Riche Monde, distributor of the beverage, insisted on keeping the tournament at Phuket’s Blue Canyon Country Club from March 1 to 4.“Our company has the firm…
- Phuket News
PIMEX back on show at Boat Lagoon
KOH KAEW: The 2006 Phuket International Marine Expo (PIMEX) is underway at Phuket Boat Lagoon marina.PIMEX, which this year has already attracted 4,000 visitors, boasts more than 50 boats, including 20 berthed in the water, from more than 100 international boating brands. The boats range in price from US$10,000, for a rigid inflatable, to US$50,000 for a small run-about, to US$1 million for…
- Phuket News
Phang Nga politician escapes Phuket assassination attempt
RASSADA: A Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) President from Phang Nga survived what appeared to be a bungled attempt on his life on December 2, after he wrestled the gun away from his would-be assassin at the Phuket Rajabhat University campus.Pol Maj Sarit Butnongsang told the Gazette that 41-year-old Sunit Vorakit, President of OrBorTor Tai Muang, reported to Phuket City Police…
- Phuket News
Tsunami buoy on way to deployment site
CAPE PANWA: A ceremony was held yesterday morning to commemorate the launch of the first US-built Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis II (“DART-2”) tsunami-detection system, now aboard the Royal Thai Navy’s MV Seafdec on its way to be deployed at a location in the middle of the Indian Ocean in a few days’ time.The detection system, built by the…
- Phuket News
Phuket City biker blasted by shotgun
PHUKET: A 20-year-old man died after being blasted at close range with a shotgun early on Tuesday as he rode his motorbike around Phuket City, with his girlfriend riding pillion.Pol Maj Wicharn Suwansith, Duty Inspector at Phuket City Police Station, said that Kheng Phatthong was confronting other young men on motorbikes who had shouted insults at him, when he was…
- Phuket News
Homemade bombs blast new development
CHALONG: Three houses were badly damaged by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that detonated about 2:30 am on Saturday. Police believe the blasts were motivated by a land dispute. No one was killed in the blasts, but two Burmese workmen were reported injured.The houses are located in a rural residential development on Soi Songkun, Moo 1, Nabon, Chao Fa East Rd.Chalong…
- Phuket News
Former Kathu Land Office Chief found guilty
BANGKOK (The Nation): The Criminal Court in Bangkok on Monday sentenced former Kathu Land Office Chief Bunchoo Limraksasin to 20 years in prison after finding him guilty on 10 counts of demanding bribes for land titles between December 21, 2001 and March 8, 2003.The court also found a second defendant in the case, 34-year-old Meena Kalra, guilty on seven counts…
- Phuket News
Aids Day campaign targets “karaoke sex’ kids
PHUKET CITY: As part of the preparations for this year’s World Aids Day on December 1, the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) has called for a close watch to be kept on private karaoke booths in the city because the “unsuitable behavior” by some youths in the rooms is putting them at risk of contagious diseases.The PPHO called for department…
