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Bali Hai Marina opening
date shifts due to waves
of discontent
Veerachai Somchart
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat announced that the date
of the opening of Bali Hai Marina, originally scheduled for March 26, had to
be delayed due to a flood of complaints from local tour boat operators.
The
gates to the new Bali Hai Pier remain locked as the local government and
boat operators work out a solution to problems that have surfaced preventing
the pier from becoming operational.
Deputy Mayor Niran Wattanasatsathorn was appointed to
follow up on the situation and get the new marina operational as soon as
possible. One of his first actions was to call a meeting with top city
officials, tour business and boat operators to discuss the matter.
Figures showed that more than 1,000 boats, big and small,
ply Pattaya Bay, and these boats need a proper pier to drop off and pick up
passengers. Boat operators claim Bali Hai Marina is not safe to use.
The deputy mayor said a new committee was recently
elected to study the problem after the city received hundreds of complaints
about the failures of the new pier.
Government officials and boat operators then took a trip
to the marina to see if boat operators could safely utilize the pier, and
concluded that the opening date for the marina did indeed need to be pushed
back.
The committee found marine operators had difficulty
parking their boats at the pier because of strong sea currents. The boat
operators snidely commented that the pier was constructed without thorough
planning.
The city decided to stick wooden posts in the sea around
the pier to protect boats from heavy waves while attempting to moor.
The deputy said that for now boat operators are permitted to use Pattaya
Bay to pick up and deliver passengers, but they will have to move to the
Bali Hai Marina after improvements are made and it becomes operational.
G & PS Committees discuss
baht buses and tourism
at their latest meeting
Veerachai Somchart
Pattaya City Hall last week hosted yet another meeting of
the Government & Private Sector committee. Charged with redeeming
Pattaya’s image and improving the general order of city businesses,
members met to discuss a number of issues including the ever present baht
bus problems and the continuing drive to attract more tourism to the city.
Present at the meeting was Chonburi Governor Sawarng
Srisarkun, acting as head of the committees, Phisit Banchang, deputy
governor, Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat and many prominent members of the
local business community.
Sutham Phanthusak, managing director of Woodlands Resort
and Tiffany Show Co. Ltd. brought up the issue of the area’s unruly and
infamous baht bus drivers that have caused grief among residents and
tourists alike.
The lack of cooperation from the baht drivers in
accommodating tourists has forced hotels and tourist attractions to provide
shuttle buses. Baht bus drivers show contempt for traffic regulations by
stopping at will in the middle of the road, swerving from lane to lane
without signaling and over charging passengers. The situation has gotten
completely out of hand. Attendees of the meeting wanted to know when the
relevant authorities, whether Pattaya City, the Chonburi Transport Authority
or the traffic police will begin to deal with the situation since this
problem has been going on for years without any improvement.
Mayor Pairat Suttithamrongsawat responded by saying that
City Hall has designated pick up and drop off spots at a number of locations
around Pattaya, specifically along Beach Road and Pattaya Second Road in
order to create order. A private company has already been given the go ahead
to run a mini bus service in Pattaya and is due to begin around the middle
of this year, catering to residents and tourists in the city.
The discussion continued with Panga Vathanakul, managing
director of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort suggesting the implementation of
better security and safety standards in Pattaya. The war in Iraq and the
viral scare hitting the Asian region has already reduced the number of
European and American tourists to Thailand.
Security and safety is specifically required during the
upcoming 22nd APEC tourism meeting April 7 - 12 at the Royal Cliff Beach
Resort. This will need support teams capable of providing tight security and
bomb disposal squads that can respond to calls within 30 minutes. Both
government and private enterprises also need to launch an advertising
campaign for Pattaya, in cooperation with airlines, promoting Pattaya as a
popular destination.
Sawarng Srisarkun concluded by saying that the baht bus
issue has been longstanding and with the large number of complaints made
against drivers’ behavior to passengers and on the road, the Chonburi
Transport Authority is responsible and will look into the issue further.
Pattaya Traffic Police will need to enforce traffic regulations to rectify
the problem.
“As for the advertising campaign, I would suggest that
private enterprise work with the TAT to ensure that the quality is up to
scratch and adequately serves the purpose of bringing tourists to the
region,” Governor Sawarng said.
“Support teams and bomb disposal units will be taken
care of and the province will work with the army and the navy. It is most
likely that we can implement support but as to what level will require
further cooperation between the two organizations as they were used during
this year’s World Scout Jamboree,” Sawarng added.
Thai-Swedish Chamber of Commerce visits Pattaya to investigate the market for Swedish Pinewood distributors in Thailand
Songklod Kaewvisit
Director of the Swedish Thai Chamber of Commerce, Ulf
Edstrom last week led a team of 11 investors and members of the chamber on a
tour of the Eastern Seaboard and Pattaya. The visit was part of a market
survey on setting up distributors for Swedish pinewood in Thailand.
Director
of the Swedish Thai Chamber of Commerce, Ulf Edstrom (front row center) led
a team of 11 investors and members of the chamber on a tour of the Eastern
Seaboard and Pattaya.
The 11 businesspersons and committee members looked at
the possibilities of setting up distribution points on the Eastern Seaboard
and particularly Pattaya because of the region’s rapid development. Since
the market for wood in Thailand is tightly controlled, and prices being so
high, the logistics of a business venture looks promising.
Swedish pinewood is generally used in building and is
known for its overall strength and durability and would be suitable for
building houses or utilizing in the vast industrial sector.
The chamber is interested in the Eastern Seaboard, specifically Pattaya,
because it is known as an international tourist destination and is now
shifting towards long-stay programs. This particular point was made as many
long-stay residents tend to build homes and Swedish pinewood is suitable for
the seaside climate. The possibility of setting up a local distributor for
imported pinewood is very strong and progress is expected in the near
future.
Thai Broadcasting Association meets in Pattaya
Suchada Tupchai
The Thai Broadcasting Association, responsible for radio
and television programs on a national level, met in Pattaya to discuss
developments in the industry and re-emphasize the role broad casters must
play in the world of information.
Over 500 professionals in the broadcasting and media
industry attended the seminar, held at the Dusit Resort Pattaya. The meeting
was opened by Chonburi Deputy Governor Preecha Kamolbutr, and was attended
by radio and television producers and presenters from around the nation.
Vira Limpaphan, head of the Thai Broadcasting association
said, “Association members must play responsible roles in all areas of
transmission, whether it is news, education, entertainment, politics or the
technological advances in the communications sector.”
Vira explained that broadcasters and presenters must
provide a good example to the population in the way of culture and correct
use of language and relay information for the betterment of the country as
whole.
Attendees also listened to experts regarding religious, legal and
business issues related to the industry. They appealed to the integrity of
members of the media and stressed that they should not sell out their values
for “check-book journalism”.
Chonburi governor announces plans to tackle water shortage problems
Court order issued regarding illegal buildings on
Walking Street but details still a mystery
Veerachai Somchart
In meeting with the local press at Pattaya City Hall on
March 25, Chonburi Governor Sawarng Srisarkun addressed issues raised by the
media on how to resolve the current water shortage crisis. The question of
what is being done about the removal of illegal buildings in the South
Pattaya area, aka the Walking Street 101 was also raised.
The first problem addressed by the governor was the
current water crisis in Chonburi Province and specifically Pattaya. Checks
reveal that provincial water resources are now at a level of less than 50%
of capacity.
Governor Sawarng explained that Pattaya City requires at
least 2000 cubic meters per day but can only supply a quarter of that
amount. Plans have been submitted to construct a 70-kilometer pipeline from
the Bangprakong River in Chachoengsao, which will be able to produce 1
million cubic meters per day. Water would then be redistributed to the
various reservoirs.
These plans have been submitted to the Ministry of
Interior, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives and sent to the prime
minister to speed up the process. Once approved the construction of the
pipeline would take 4-5 years to complete.
As for the continuing saga of 101 businesses on Walking
Street, Governor Sawarng said, “The court order has come down and I will
expect the city to carry out the necessary action in accordance with the
laws. If they (Pattaya City) fail to do so then they will also be breaking
the law. There will be no exceptions on this issue.”
City officials added to the governor’s statement about
the dismantling of illegal structures in South Pattaya with the vague
comment that Pattaya’s engineering office had received a positive response
from the court system. However, details such as dates to begin dismantling
and removal of illegal buildings were not given out. When asked who will
perform the task and which buildings are named in the court’s edict,
officials said they had not been informed of these specifics.
Deputy Minister of Interior inspects Chonburi water resource
Says authorities cannot ignore the situation
Veerachai Somchart
In response to reports of water shortages in Chonburi
Province, Deputy Minister of Interior Pracha Maleennond, along with his crew
visited the Nong Klang Dong reservoir and Pattaya-Sattahip Tap Water
Filtering Plant near Baan Nong Khwae, Sriracha, to inspect conditions and
listen to problems involving water scarcity in the area.
The
levels in local reservoirs are the lowest in recent memory, and Deputy MOI
Pracha Maleenond (inset) says that authorities cannot ignore the situation.
Chonburi is already suffering from depleted water
resources and if enough rain doesn’t fall in the months of May and June,
people in the area could face the worst water crisis in recent history.
Wanchai Kuprasert, regional tap water governor, said his
office is responsible for water distribution in 7 provinces: Chonburi,
Chacherngsao, Rayong, Chantaburi, Trat, Srakeaw and Prachinburi. There are
23 tap water filtering plants in this region. The raw water these plants
receive is derived from several reservoirs in the region plus the East Water
Company. But since the quantity of rainwater decreased dramatically from
1,200 millimeters per year in 1998 to 691 millimeters per year in 2002, this
resulted in a 40% reduction. The decrease of water level in many reservoirs
is obvious. If the situation is unchanged, Chonburi residents could be faced
with a severe water crisis in May and June.
Around 50,000 cubic meters of water is supposed to be
delivered from Bang Phra reservoir to Nong Khor reservoir per day. However,
only 15 million cubic meters of water is available in the Bang Phra
reservoir, which is far below its capacity of 114 million cubic meters. The
Regional Tap Water Office must now buy water from the private company, East
Water Company, which has resulted in higher production costs and has
affected people in Phan Thong, Phanas Nikom and Baan Bueng districts.
Kamol Pachornkorn, Pattaya Tap Water Bureau manager said
currently Pattaya receives 1,900 cubic meters of water per day from 4
filtering plants, including the Banglamung plant that is supplied by East
Water Company, Nong Klang Dong Plant, Map Prachan plant, and Chark Nork
plant.
Figures show that currently only 50% of the total volume
is available for use. The Chark Nork plant produces the least amount because
the water supply from Chark Nork reservoir has decreased from 7.06 million
cubic meters to 500,000 cubic meters. As a result, people in Jomtien, Baan
Ampher and Pratamnak areas face a water shortage. The Tap Water Bureau said
it tried buying water from the Sattahip plant to supply the area but could
not completely solve the problem.
Phinyo Tanviset, Chonburi Administration Organization
manager said besides depleted volume in reservoirs and a lack of adequate
rainfall, the construction of golf courses and the building of Highway No. 7
are also creating an obstruction of water runoff to several reservoirs.
Phinyo went on to explain that the 4 main streams that
normally flood the reservoirs are filled with mud that has blocked the
natural flow of water. These problems have been long neglected and therefore
more difficult to solve.
The manager suggested the Tap Water Bureau should talk to
Pairat Suttithamrongsawat, Pattaya City’s mayor about water management and
that the city should look for new water resources in other places to
efficiently provide water supply to people in the long term.
Pracha Maleenond, Deputy Minister of Interior said though
Chonburi and nearby regions are not yet in great danger of a water crisis,
the authorities could not ignore this serious issue since tourism businesses
in Pattaya might be severely affected.
Pracha said that the Tap Water Bureau should coordinate with Pattaya City
and Chonburi Administration Organization to create a long-term plan to solve
the water problem for the city. He said the Sattahip Tap Water Bureau has
signed a 10-year contract with a private company for water distribution
management in the Sattahip region. The Regional Tap Water Office received 7%
of the profit made each month, which will amount to about 24,600,000 million
baht in 10 years. He added that other Tap Water Bureaus in Thailand received
budget allocations from the government.
Expect more traffic woes during city’s image beautification
City renovates entrance to Central Pattaya
Songklod Kaewvisit
Motorists in Fun City can expect hefty traffic delays for
the next few months as the city resurfaces the entrance to Pattaya Central
Road, lays a drainage pipe to reduce flooding and increases the width of the
footpath.
Pattaya
Central Road near Sukhumvit Highway looks rather messy now, but should look
great by November.
The project contractor, BSS & BS Pattaya Co. Ltd.,
has until November 5th this year to complete the 31,709,000 baht project
which entails resurfacing the first 100 meters of Central Pattaya Road and
its feeder roads to and from Sukhumvit. The operation will also include the
laying of new wastewater pipes and widening the sidewalks in this section,
but 8 months does seem a bit excessive for 100 meters of roadway.
The road surface, broken and riddled with potholes, was
slated for reconstruction as part of the budget allocation for 2003. City
officials and engineers in charge of the project have urged pedestrians and
motorists to be patient and use other access points such as South Pattaya
Road and North Pattaya Road until the project is completed.
This is just one of the many projects under progress this year which will
include the resurfacing of Siam Country Club Road, scheduled to be completed
around the same time.
Police detain suspiciously looking group of men illegally dressed in army fatigues during Pattaya Music Festival
Boonlua Chatree
Pattaya Police on Beach Road detained 23 men dressed in
army fatigues shortly after midnight on Sunday. The men were taken to the
Soi 9 police station for questioning as to why they were mingling with the
crowd. The men were also carrying communication radios used by government
officials which were subsequently confiscated.
This
group of pseudo-security officers found out that it is illegal in Thailand
to dress in army fatigues and use government communications equipment.
Interrogation of the men by a military officer revealed
that all 23 had absolutely no connection to the military, were illegally
using the radios, and were charged accordingly.
One of the men, identified as an ex-soldier, Captain
Dechlar Tonsoongnern, general manger of Boonchoo Safeguard Pattaya Company,
showed police his credentials and as head of the volunteer group defended
their actions by claiming they had only been there to help if any trouble
occurred.
The Pattaya police said that organizers of the music
festival had taken every precaution in security measures and that police had
kept a close watch on everything. This group of 23 was detained because of
their suspicious appearance. Since they had no official documentations or
authorization and were not part of any government body it was judged they
had no business being there.
Regarding their claims of looking after security in the
area they should have received permission from the appropriate authorities.
All were dressed as members of the army, and this in itself is an offence.
Using government communications radios is illegal and offenders will be
prosecuted without exception.
Police raid dance club for
operating after hours
Boonlua Chatree
While on a heightened security alert throughout the
recent Pattaya Music Festival, Pattaya police raided the Ibiza Boom Pub in
South Pattaya at 6 a.m. Officers ordered the music turned off and the lights
turned on as they gatecrashed the ongoing party. Police rounded up 21 party
animals and tested them for drug use.
Among the 21 persons tested was famous Thai music artist,
Khajornsak ‘John’ Rattananissai. The musician had gone out to enjoy
himself with friends after playing at the music festival earlier that
evening. Khajornsak tested negative for drugs.
However, 34-year-old Sommat Chatdok did test positive for
illegal drugs and was detained for further testing. If the second test turns
out positive, Sommat will be charged for use of an illegal substance.
Police also detained the nightclub’s manager, Amnart
Sutham for operating an entertainment establishment after legal closing
hours. The owner and the manager were fined accordingly and the venue was
closed down for a short period in accordance with the social order policies
of the Ministry of Interior.
Man shot dead after threatening teenager in Soi Khao Noi
Boonlua Chatree
The body of an unidentified Thai man was found at the
entrance to the Sukem House Village in Soi Khao Noi early on Sunday morning.
The man had been shot twice in the chest.
When police officers arrived on the scene, the body was
laying on the ground with two bullet wounds in the chest from a .32-caliber
weapon. Officers found a bloodstained knife five meters away form the body.
Nearby residents and witnesses told officers they had
seen the deceased arguing with a group of youths in the area and threatened
one the young men by holding a knife to his throat. One of the other members
of the group pulled out a gun and shot the man in the chest before the group
of youths fled the scene in the direction of Sukhumvit Road.
Witnesses described the shooter and his friends as young
men aged between 18 and 20 years old riding an unregistered yellow Honda
Wave motorcycle.
Police collected evidence at the scene of the shooting
and sent the body to the police forensic institute for a post mortem
examination. Officers are still investigating the crime and looking for the
identity of the two youths.
Tourist Police arrest three drug dealers
Damri Muangkaew
Pattaya Tourist Police recently arrested three drug
agents, 2 women and a man, and each in possession of methamphetamines, in
three separate raids, netting 146 pills.
The three confessed to selling the illegal drug after
receiving a shipment from a larger agent who delivered the tablets to their
homes. They said since profits were good they continued to peddle their
illicit merchandise.
All three were taken to the Soi 9 police station for
further interrogation and charged with possession and distribution of a
class one illegal substance.
King Kong is no match for Pattaya police
Boonlua Chatree
King Kong turned out to be no match for the Pattaya
police last week when the bar was raided for allegedly offering
prostitution. Police raided the King Kong Bar on Soi 6 after an
investigation implied the bar was allowing this nefarious activity on its
premises.
The in-depth investigation concluded when under covers
officers handed over marked banknotes during a ‘pay for play’
transaction. Once the baht changed hands, a signal was given and police
executed the raid, detaining 7 service girls, the owner and the manager of
the bar on charges of prostitution.
Using the marked money as evidence, police took all nine
people to the Pattaya Police station for further interrogation.
The service girls admitted to their misdeed and were each
fined 100 baht. Police took their personal details and released them.
The owner and the manager of the bar denied all allegations and said that
they had nothing to do with the procuring of customers or control of the
girls for the purposes of providing sexual services. Annoyed, they told
police if prostitution is illegal in Thailand they should open up their eyes
and check all the rest of the bars in Pattaya. Unmoved, officers held the
pair in custody saying they had enough evidence to charge them both.
Five arrested in drug raid on local apartment building
Apartment owner offered a buy and use one-stop-service
Boonlua Chatree
Following a lengthy surveillance, criminal investigation
officers raided an apartment building off Pattaya Third Road. The planned
sting operation went well as police turned up with 5,000 baht in marked
money ready to purchase illegal drugs.
When undercover officers reached the apartment building
they ran into two men on their way out of room 103. Police frisked the men
and found a total of 55 methamphetamine pills in their possession, which
they alleged they had just purchased. Both were arrested on the spot.
Proceeding with their plan officers knocked on the door
of the apartment. When the door opened police burst in and searched the
apartment finding an additional 480 pills and 2 customers in the process of
smoking the drug. Everyone was detained and taken to Soi 9 for questioning.
Not surprisingly the two users tested positive for drug use. Their results
were taken as evidence in the case against them.
When officers interrogated the 25-year-old occupant of
the apartment, he told officers that he had purchased the drugs on the
Thai-Laos border and resold them to regular customers for 400-500 percent
profit. As a little extra service he allowed customers the use of his
apartment to partake in the drugs.
All five were charged with possession and use of a class
one illegal substance. Three were also charged with distribution.
Further investigations underway are geared to locate and
detain small-time dealers in the area. Police said they expect to make more
arrests soon.
Teen shooter leaves one man in serious
condition after ambush outside karaoke bar
Four teenagers ambushed thirty one year old Veerapong
Chaelim when one of the youths asked to talk to him outside the Nong Su
Karaoke Bar in Soi Potisan in the earlier hours of Wednesday morning on
March 26. After thrashing him, one of the youths pulled a pistol and shot
Veerapong in the stomach.
Responding to a report of the shooting, Pattaya police
rushed to the scene to find Veerapong lying on the ground, writhing in pain.
The injured man was taken to the Banglamung hospital for treatment for a
gunshot wound in the lower abdomen.
Officers question the injured man’s friends who were
still inside the bar. They told police that they were drinking when a youth,
later identified as Worawut Kenanant walked in and asked to speak to
Veerapong outside. When Veerapong went outside three other teenagers kicked
and beat him to the ground and it was then that Worawut pulled out a .38
caliber pistol and shot the victim. The gang of four then fled the scene on
their motorcycles.
Police traced the teenager’s steps to his residence in
North Pattaya, just off Sukhumvit Road, but the teenage gunslinger was
nowhere to be found. Officers did find the youth’s identity card, which
they confiscated as evidence. When police catch up with 17-year-old Worawut
he will face charges of attempted murder.
International war news broadcast shocks elderly viewer to death
Man had a history of heart disease
War claimed an unlikely victim last week. Police were
called to a residence in Soi Khao Noi after receiving a report of the death
of a foreign resident in his home. Banglamung officers and the Sawang
Boriboon personnel arrived on the scene to find 77-year-old English
resident, James Hearn has passed away while watching TV. He was apparently
watching the CNN report on the US led war in Iraq, and the TV remote was
still in his hand.
Investigating officers examined the house and found no
evidence of foul play. Time of death was estimated at approximately one hour
before discovery of the body.
Initial investigations revealed that James Hearn had
lived the house with a relative, had a history of heart disease and already
had bypass surgery.
Police suspect that the Englishman suffered a heart
attack while watching the news. The body was transferred to the Banglamung
Hospital for a post mortem examination.
Battlefield Siam Country Club Road
Worst nightmare for road users
Eakkachai Kamolsri
Siam Country Club Road appears to be under attack. Just
200 meters off Sukhumvit Highway, motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians
enter into a stretch of road that looks like it’s just been bombed by the
coalition forces. Did they make a navigational error on their way to
Baghdad?
Make
sure your ‘Birdie’ coffee cup has a lid on it.
No,
this isn’t a picture from the Apollo 11 lunar landing, it’s Siam Country
Club Road.
The
sign says, “Be careful - digging machine (backhoe) ahead”.
Sadly, this is no laughing matter to the residents that
must use Siam Country Club Road everyday. The condition of the road has
steadily deteriorated through the years as the population in the area has
increased.
This is now a high-density area populated with thousands
of people. Hundreds of housing estates have cropped up in the past 5 years,
and schools, businesses, and small government offices currently line the
road. That makes it a high traffic area, but the road surface is so bad in
places that some sections are nearly impassable.
Accidents are a daily occurrence and at night driving on
Siam Country Club Road is a nightmare. Huge potholes lurk in darkness
catching the hapless motorcyclist or motorist unaware. The road is not
properly lighted and the half-hearted attempts to fill the holes with gravel
are useless as they reappear with every rain, or the heavy traffic displaces
the fill.
“Reduce
speed,” it says, and it is something that should be heeded, for just ahead
lies trouble. It also says the project will cost around 19.2 million baht,
and should be finished by 5 November 2003.
Drive
carefully through this area, especially at night.
A section of the road near the mosque is now under
construction and a trench is being dug where apparently drainage pipes will
be laid. This may signal progress; however, until the work is finished, this
area is more dangerous than ever, since the contractor has closed off one
lane, and no adequate safety measures have been implemented to warn vehicles
of the treacherous conditions, especially at night.
Authorities have announced the resurfacing of Siam
Country Club Road will take 240 days and be finished on November 5th of this
year. Surely that is a very long time to resurface a few kilometers of road
in a modern city.
Perhaps Pattaya City’s engineering department and
whoever is responsible for the well-being of the taxpayers, could spare some
time to help speed things up. The war in Iraq will probably be over before
November 5th. Surely the local contractor on this project can finish a
simple civil engineering exercise in less than 240 days.
Siam Country Club Road leads to some very famous tourist
attractions, including the Elephant Village, the Crocodile Farm, the Siam
Country Club Golf Course, and one of our most glamorous and elegant venues
in the area - the beautiful Horseshoe Point. What a pity visitors must pass
through slums and put up with treacherous road conditions to arrive at these
world-class sites.
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