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Tsunami victims to regain access to their homes
CHALONG: Residents of Baan Fah Mai will have a bridge built so they can regain access to their village, which was cut off after excavation of a drainage ditch.Baan Fah Mai, which is located at the end of Soi Mayuree, opposite the entrance to Land & Houses Park on Chao Fa East Rd, comprises homes for about 20 families whose former…
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Quayle calls for better tourist safety
PHUKET CITY: Following a wave of Phuket Gazette reports of crimes against foreigners in recent weeks, British Ambassador to Thailand Quinton Quayle today voiced his concern over the personal safety of British citizens in Phuket.Speaking to the Gazette at the Royal Phuket City Hotel this morning, Mr Quayle said, “I think safety is a worrying aspect…“[Safety] is one of the things…
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French mercy mission ship diverts to Phuket
AO MAKHAM (Nation, Gazette): After 10 days in the Indian Ocean waiting for permission to enter Burmese waters, the 24,000-tonne French navy ship Mistral docked yesterday morning at the Phuket Deep Sea Port to unload tons of supplies intended for cyclone victims in Burma.French Ambassador to Thailand Laurent Bili said that an agreement had been reached with the Burmese military government making Phuket…
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5bn baht airport expansion approved
MAI KHAO: Airports of Thailand (AOT) is set to inject 5 billion baht into the expansion of Phuket International Airport (PIA) to bring its capacity up to 11.5 million passengers by the year 2016 – an increase of 77% over current capacity.The announcement was made on May 23 by Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri, who joined Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Rathasima,…
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SIPA takes steps to fast-track yacht and crew registrations
PHUKET: The Phuket office of the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) has announced its plan for a first step in creating a true one-stop service for yacht and crew registrations at Chalong Pier. In February, SIPA was tasked with creating a “device” to help track yachts visiting Thai waters, as well as streamlining procedures among the Marine, Immigration and Customs…
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Secret list of “influential people’ drawn up
PHUKET: A confidential blacklist of “influential people” in Phuket’s criminal underworld has been drawn up as part of a nationwide government campaign to monitor individuals who “pose a threat to society”.Phuket Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha yesterday met senior provincial officers at Provincial Hall to finalize the list before sending it to Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit for approval.The final list was compiled…
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Yachties set to battle in the Gulf
KOH SAMUI: The 7th Samui International Yacht Regatta will once again serve as the grand finale of the Asian Yachting Grand Prix Championships series, with this year’s event running from June 1 to 7. Callum Laing, the new organizer of the event, plans to bring this year’s competition to a new level while maintaining the same laid-back island style of…
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5 billion for airport expansion
MAI KHAO: Airports of Thailand (AOT) is set to inject 5 billion baht into the expansion of Phuket International Airport (PIA) to bring its capacity up to 11.5 million passengers by the year 2016 – an increase of 77% over current capacity.The announcement was made on May 23 by Deputy Transport Minister Songsak Thongsri, who joined Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Rathasima,…
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British celebs to storm Patong tomorrow
PATONG: A troop of British celebs will be on hand at the Patong Municipality football field tomorrow morning to train 30 lucky local children. The event is part of the Asian Celebrity Golf Tour charity event, which will see players of all handicaps going head-to-head with the celebs at Loch Palm on May 28 and 29 Among those who will…
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Brit shot, robbed in Chalong
CHALONG: Police are hunting two suspects who shot and robbed a British man while he was riding home on Patak Rd before dawn yesterday.Chalong Police Superintendent Col Samarn Chainarong today confirmed that UK national Richard Hendren, 50, who runs the September beer bar on Soi One Man in Karon, was riding home to Chalong around 5 am when he was attacked.After…
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New OrBorJor council convenes
PHUKET: In the inaugural sitting of the new Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) council on Wednesday, Pradit Sangjan secured 18 votes of the 24-seat council to be elected council chairman.K. Pradit, who represents Muang District 11, in Wichit, bested Somkuan Tansakul, the only other candidate nominated to contest the position.K. Somkuan represents Muang District 1, comprising Samkong in Phuket City.As…
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Royal Phuket Marina dredging wins Governor’s Office support
PHUKET: Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima and the provincial committee looking into whether Royal Phuket Marina (RPM) should be allowed to dredge Klong Koh Kaew gave its support in principle for the project on May 21.The plan is to dredge the klong the three kilometers from the mouth of the watercourse to the marina. The project aims to dredge the klong…
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Phuket’s antiques all present and accounted for
THALANG: After a nationwide spate of thefts and damage to important cultural and religious sites, Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima yesterday paid a visit to Thalang National Museum to make sure its collection, for which the Fine Arts Department is responsible, remains safe. Thalang Museum Curator Atjima Nukong told him all the museum’s items were accounted for and being properly protected. V/Gov Worapoj’s inspection…
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Intarat calls for SorPorKor probe
PHUKET: Gen Intarat Yodbangtoey, in his capacity as “special adviser” to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Anongwan Thepsutin, led an inspection tour on Sunday of properties believed to be illegally owned by virtue of their location on agricultural reform (SorPorKor) land. The properties are located on hillsides in Kamala, Kalim and Patong hillsides on Sunday.On Saturday, Gen Intarat and his team inspected…
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Phuket sends aid to disaster victims in Burma, China
PHUKET: Local associations with links to Burma and China have been raising money to help cyclone and earthquake victims in those countries.On May 16, Thai-Nepalese Association of Phuket president Phanuphong Limbuprasertkul passed on to Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit supplies desperately needed by survivors of Cyclone Nargis, which hit the Irrawaddy Delta region of Burma on May 2 and 3 and…
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Internet petition calls for another One-Two-Go crash probe
BANGKOK (Daily Xpress): More than 4,400 people, mostly foreigners, have “signed” an Internet petition seeking another formal investigation into the crash of One-Two-GO Airlines Flight OG269 at Phuket International Airport on September 17 last year. The petition calls for a formal probe into claims that the crash may have been caused by controversial management practices by the airline. Relatives of…
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So Sung killers still at large
KATHU: Police have thus far been unable to arrest either of the two police impersonators who shot dead Burmese laborer So Sung at a workers camp on March 30. So Sung was shot in the face at close range with a shotgun after he told fellow workers not to give in to the two imposters’ demands. (For our original report, click…
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Local shooters take aim at park pokers
BANGKOK: The world of Thai clay-pigeon shooting has been rocked by the daily desecration of one of the sport’s club headquarters in Hua Mak. Coinciding with a group of homosexual patrons using the range for open-air trysts, shooters have had to gingerly tread around a sea of discarded condoms. While you may think that this reporter is exaggerating what could…
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More counterfeit goods seized
PATONG: Acting on a tipoff, a Kathu Police special investigation unit on May 16 raided a storeroom at the OTOP Market on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, seizing counterfeit goods valued at an estimated two million baht and arresting a young Burmese woman.Kathu Police Inspector Lt Col Serm Kwannimit, who led the raid at about 5 pm, said a 24-year-old Burmese…
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Mobile phone ban nets six on first day
PHUKET: Up until 5 pm today, the first day of the ban on driving while using a mobile phone without a hands-free set, Phuket Traffic Police fined six motorists.Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Col Chalit Thintanee told the Gazette that three car drivers and two motorcycle riders were fined in Phuket City and one car driver was fined in Thalang.“In Phuket…
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Four more elections to be held in Phuket
PHUKET: With the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) and Phuket City Municipality elections now decided, the Phuket Election Committee (PEC) is gearing up for four more local elections set to take place over the next three monthsIn a meeting with Phuket Governor Niran Kalyanamit on Thursday, PEC Director Supap Akkam said his agency is preparing for elections for the Karon, Patong…
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Three arrested in ya Ice bust
PHUKET CITY: A Phuket Provincial Police undercover drug investigation unit yesterday arrested three people for possession and sale of ya Ice (crystal methamphetamine) and seized 19 grams of the drug.Officers led by Capt Pongpun Sripattharakul had arranged to buy a small amount of the drug from Udon Thani native Palakorn “Waan” Kamsaen, 19, at an apartment off Phun Pol Rd.When…
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Jintana Plaza catches fire – again
PATONG: Jintana Plaza on Patong’s beach road caught fire early yesterday morning, causing an estimated one million baht in damage.It’s the third time this year that fire has broken out at the complex.Lt Naruwat Puthawiro said that Kathu Police Station received a call about 3:15 am reporting that a fire had broken out at the plaza.“The fire [reportedly] started about 3:15…
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Violent muggings return to Rawai
RAWAI: A foreign man was shot in the leg and stabbed in the stomach in a motorbike mugging at about 4 am on Monday. His attackers made off with his wallet, containing 300 baht.The attack was reminiscent of the spate of violent muggings that gripped the Rawai-Nai Harn area throughout the low season last year.The man, who asked to be identified only…
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1,267 ya bah pills seized in Mai Khao
MAI KHAO: Following a random vehicle inspection, Tah Chat Chai Police on Sunday night arrested three people for possession of ya bah (methamphetamine) with intent to sell and seized 1,267 pills.The arrests were announced at a press conference held Monday afternoon at Phuket City Police Station.Attending were Phuket Vice-Governor Worapot Rattasima, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch, Phuket…
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Pestle pistol swindle
SONGKHLA: It’s always worth keeping in mind the phrase caveat emptor, or “let the buyer beware”, when making any purchase.The warning should be especially well heeded when the item under consideration is somewhat less than 100% legit.This sage advice must have been far from the mind of one wannabe tough guy in Haad Yai, however, when he paid 15,000 baht…
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Phuket goes on landslide alert
PHUKET CITY: As heavy rains continue to dowse the island, the Phuket office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has issued a landslide warning, effective until at least tomorrow.“We have received good feedback from all 18 local administration organizations in Phuket. We have officers on 24-hour standby, manning phones and radios, ready to deal with any problems,”…
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Smart ID cards available again
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit yesterday morning announced that “Smart ID cards” for Thai citizens are now available at Muang District Office – again.The new-style cards, which have a memory chip for storing personal data such as date of birth, physical description and even the holder’s house registration information, became unavailable in January last year when the local office…
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Navy accepting donations for cyclone relief
CAPE PANWA: The Royal Thai Navy Third Naval Command at Cape Panwa is accepting donations of food and equipment to provide emergency relief for victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. Appropriate items for donation include florescent strip lights and fittings, corrugated iron, canvas and tarpaulin for tents, dried and canned food, rice and drinking water. The donations will be taken to…
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Young Turks win Phuket City election
PHUKET CITY: Incumbent Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwannasuppana was re-elected by a comfortable margin on Sunday, garnering 10,657 votes (57.4%) vs just 7,910 (42.6%) votes for her rival Ayuth Tansiriroj, leader of the Chao Baan Sarng San (Creative Village People) party.In a remarkable outcome in voting for regular council seats, it was a clean sweep for members of Somjai’s Khon Noom…
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