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Sea rescue operation saves crew of nine from sinking squid boat
Patcharapol Panrak
Nine crewmembers of a fishing boat that was sinking off the coast of
Sattahip were pulled from the sea by the crew of a cargo vessel after the
Royal Thai Navy sent out a helicopter and surveillance ship to search for
the missing boat.
The rescue operation began at 6 p.m. on October 17 when Vice Admiral
Chamnong Kittipeerachol, commander-in-chief of the First Fleet of the Royal
Thai Fleet at Sattahip alerted Thongchai Bamrungban, deputy chief of
Samaesarn Sub-district to the fact that the Thep Anurak squid boat had gone
missing. The green boat, 13.2 meters in length, had departed from Chong
Samaesarn Pier on October 14 with nine crewmembers on board, and had not yet
returned. There was concern that the vessel was in danger, because the
weather was poor and there was a high wind.
The last contact with the boat was at Laem Poo Chao, a Royal Thai Navy base,
when a reading was given of a latitude of 12 degrees 35.8 minutes north, and
a longitude of 100 degrees 38.5 minutes east, which was 21 nautical miles
away from Juang Island.
Vice Admiral Chamnong ordered the Specific Flight Division of the First
Fleet to change its patrol route and check out the location. The boat was
found with its bow submerged, but no crewmembers were seen. Capt Ratsapang
Theeraned was given an order to send out surveillance ship No 225, commanded
by Lt Sathaporn Payungsuwan along with a Specific Flight Division team of
scuba divers.
Setting out from Laem Tien Pier, the surveillance ship took an hour to reach
the location through the heavy seas, and found the vessel. By now its stern
was also underwater, and other fishing boats had entered the area and were
surrounding the stricken vessel. Officers tied a rope from one of the boats
to the Thep Anurak to tow it back to the coast.
News was later received of the missing crew members by Rear Admiral Pachon
Ramkomut, who is deputy commander-in-chief of the First Fleet of the Royal
Thai Fleet and also head of the joint operations team for the management of
sea regulations between the Royal Thai Navy and the Republic of Vietnam
Navy.
He stated that Jatuwat Thanawathip, operations officer at Laem Chabang Port
had advised him that a cargo ship named the Sanclmante, coming from Maptaput
Pier, had found nine men floating in the sea. They were found at a latitude
of 12 degrees 7 minutes north, and a longitude of 101 degrees 9 minutes
east, about 20 nautical miles away from Juang Island. The crewmembers had
been rescued and taken onto the ship, which would anchor in Vietnam. There
will be joint cooperation with Vietnam to bring the men home.
Pattaya offers prayers for the recovery of
His Majesty the King
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Prayers are being held at temples throughout Pattaya and Chonburi Province
for the full and speedy recovery of His Majesty the King, who has undergone
treatment at Siriraj Hospital after complaining of weakness in his right
leg.
 Buddhist
monks in Pattaya City gather to chant to offer their hopes for HM the King’s
speedy recovery.
Abbots of temples in Bangkok are chanting and praying at the Temple of the
Emerald Buddha, while the abbots of all the temples in the kingdom, about
30,000 temples in all, are leading prayers in their own temples at the same
dates and times.
In the Pattaya City temples, Thammasamakkee Temple, Phothisamphan Temple and
Chaimongkol Temple, members of the public gathered along with the monks.
At Chaimongkol Temple in South Pattaya, apart from the Buddhist priests,
about 100 people chanted and prayed. At Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan, more
than 300 volunteer rescue workers gathered with members of the public who
were attending the vegetarian festival to pray for His Majesty.
On October 18 at Pattaya City Hall, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn led
Pattaya City Councilors in prayer for His Majesty in front of the King
Taksin Monument. Pattaya residents have also held ceremonies in their own
homes and attended other temples in the city environs.
Today marks end
of Buddhist Lent
Devote Buddhists throughout Thailand mark the end of
Buddhist Lent today, October 26. The holiday, called Auk Pansa or Tak
Bat Tay-Wo, has long been a Thai tradition.
During the two days of celebration, Buddhists go to their
local temples to make merit; alms are presented to monks in the morning,
offerings are made to monks in general, making merit is done at the temple,
and people listen to the Tay-Wo sermon (an event where food is given
to monks).
Temples throughout Banglamung and Pattaya will be
crowded, especially Photisamphan Temple, Sawangfa Phutaram Temple,
Chaiyamongkhol Temple, Nong Yai Temple, and Nong Or Temple.
Devotees bring kaotom harng or kao tom lookyon,
which is symbolic of Tay-Wo, to give to the monks early in the
morning. People believe that this will bring luck and prosperity to
themselves and their family.
The end of the Buddhist Lent is always on the increasing
full moon on the 15th day of the 11th month, in or around October each year.
It is the last day the priests have to remain in the temple after residing
there for the 3 months of the rainy season.
The monks must make Sangkakam (religious services)
on what is called Maha Pawarana Day (Day of service). This is when
the monks gather to assess each other’s behavior and to receive council.
The abbot conducts discussions and a questioning session with lower ranking
monks. This Pawarana, one of the priest’s behaviors, is done to
replace praying Patimok (priest rules), which is done every 15 days
during Buddhist Lent.
For Tay-Wo, giving food is done on the decreasing
full moon on the 1st day of the 11th month, one day after the end of the
Buddhist Lent. As the story goes, Buddha went up to heaven to give a sermon
to his mother and stayed 3 months during the Buddhist Lent, then came back
to earth at Sangkassa Nakorn City.
This second coming down from heaven is called Dawadung.
In the old days the Buddhists waited to give food, and the tradition has
continued and is still practiced today.
The kaotom harng story came from a day when the
temple was crowded and some couldn’t give food to the priests. Therefore kaotom
harng was made to put as offerings into a priest bowl. Offerings are
made from sticky rice and covered with a coconut leaf, and the offering has
a long tail, which is good for throwing. They believe that this will bring
the greatest fortune, and this tradition has continued, too.
The tradition of Buddhist Lent, or the annual three-month
Rains Retreat known in Thai as Phansa, dates back to the time of
early Buddhism, when all holy men spent the season in permanent dwellings,
avoiding unnecessary travel at a time when crops were still new for fear
they might accidentally step on young plants.
To this day, monks stay in a temple of their choice and
will not travel outside until Lent is over.
Lions will partly fund two new clock towers
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Two clock towers are to be built in Pattaya, one at Lan Pho in
Naklua and the other at Bali Hai Pier, with both due to be completed by the
middle of next year.
 Lions
Club District 310C will partially funding the building of two clock towers,
one in Naklua and the other at Bali Hai Pier.
The Lan Pho clock tower is a project proposed last February by the Lions
Club, who in submitting their suggestion to Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn
said the structure would form a distinctive landmark and a convenient
meeting point for locals and tourists.
At a meeting in Pattaya City Hall on October 17, members of Lions Club
District 310C led by Banchong Banthunprayuk, president of the Pattaya-Taksin
Lions Club, Narit Petcharat, former president of International Lions
District 310C, and Charin Jittiwuttikarn, former president of the Pattaya
Lions Club met to discuss the project.
Mayor Niran formally approved the proposal, and the Pattaya City technical
division will now design the structure and prepare the location.
City hall will also decide on a location at Bali Hai Pier in South Pattaya
to construct another clock tower to the same design. The construction
designs should be finished by this November for a budget to be devised and
tenders to be prepared. Both towers are expected to be completed by the
middle of 2008.
International Lions District 310 C will support part of the budget to the
amount of 700,000 baht, under condition that a Lions insignia is placed on
one side of these two clock towers.
Bali Hai will be location for new GIS control center
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
After considerable discussion, the new building that will house the
control center for the 180 million baht Geographic Information System (GIS)
that will monitor the movements of all vessels in the seas off Pattaya is to
be sited at Bali Hai Pier, near the Sea Rescue Center.
 Sittiprap
Muangkoom
The decision was taken at a Pattaya City Hall meeting on October 16, at
which city chief clerk Sittiprap Muangkoom discussed the plans with the
design committee.
Initially, the Bali Hai location had been considered and then rejected,
because the building was planned as a four-story structure and it was felt
that this was too high for the seafront locality. The team then considered
another area, along the road that leads down from the Sor Thor Ror 5 hill,
but the topography of the site would have blocked some of the radio signals.
The site was also considered unsuitable in other ways. It is 3 km away from
the ideal Bali Hai location, and when surveyors examined the sloping ground
they found the layered rock structure was unsuitable for constructing
foundations.
It was therefore decided to go ahead with a modified version of the original
plans, and build a two-story structure at the Bali Hai site. Architects will
work on the revision to the plans, with the brief being that the new center
does not obscure the views at Bali Hai.
Along with the new control center there will be a second center at Samae
Beach on Koh Larn, and sub-stations at the old pier in South Pattaya,
Chaiyapruk Junction, and in front of Krua Surf on Jomtien Beach.
Rusty berths to be demolished
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Four rusty floating berths at Bali Hai Pier that had become a potential
danger to boats and visitors using them are to be demolished.
 Some
of the floating berths at Bali Hai Pier have become a danger to boats and
passengers.
The decision to remove the berths was made at a meeting of Pattaya City
department heads on October 17, when Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn gave the
order to the technical department to demolish them as a matter of urgency.
The berths had been used for boats going to and from Koh Larn. However,
engineers had inspected them and warned of potential danger unless they were
replaced quickly.
Pichet Uthai-Wattananon, director of the technical department, said that
demolition would take place immediately after the official order was
received. The replacement berths should be made from materials other than
metal sheeting, which rusts quickly, he said. The likely replacement cost is
about 1.2 million baht per berth, plus the cost of rubber bumpers, and city
hall is looking at a total budget of 5.6 million baht.
First delivery of coaches
for airport link handed over
at Laem Chabang ceremony
Theerarak Suthatiwong
Eight coaches have been handed over by Siemens Co Ltd as the first
delivery on the electric train transport system that will travel from
Suvarnabhumi Airport to the central Bangkok City Air Terminal.
 The
first load of coaches has arrived for the high speed train that will
eventually link Suvarnabhumi airport with Bangkok. If we could only get a
similar system linking the airport with Pattaya…
Laem Chabang Port Wharf No A5 saw the reception ceremony on October 17
during which Bancha Kongnakhon, acting on behalf of the director of the
State Railway of Thailand received the delivery from Siemens, represented on
this occasion by Ralph Hasselbacher, vice president and general manager of
the company’s transportation systems division, and Wolfgang Rueprich,
project director of the mechanical and electrical systems division.
Bancha said that the eight coaches were the first of 31 coaches being
supplied by Siemens. They will be delivered to the Makkasan depot, where the
electric train will be housed. Testing will commence on November 9, said
Bancha. The delivery had been made ahead of the scheduled date, he added,
which was beneficial as it gave the engineers more time to study and test
the new system.
Bancha said that the budget of 18 billion baht provided by the Ministry of
Finance did not cover the cost of the entire system, and that another 9
billion baht is currently under discussion with the ministry. However, he
added the project that had begun in September last year was already 70
percent complete and is expected to be finished on schedule.
Hasselbacher said that the airport rail link would be of great benefit to
the traveling public, providing fast and easy access from the airport to the
heart of Bangkok. The train will travel at speeds of up to 160 km per hour.
The computerized signaling system is the most secure in the world, and has
also been deployed on the BTS and the underground mass transit system.
The airport rail link was begun during former prime minister Thaksin
Shinawatra’s time. It will travel a distance of 28.6 km on the
Payathai-Makkasan-Suvarnabhumi route. A resolution was submitted to the
State Railway of Thailand to construct the system on June 1, 2004. Airport
Rail Link Company (ARLC), a consortium of five companies won the bid.
Bar girls suspected of
being behind 2.5MN baht burglary
Boonlua Chatree
Burglars robbed a Dutchman of money and valuables totaling about 2.5
million baht when they broke into his house on Soi Pratamnak 5 in the early
hours of October 16.
Police believe that up to three men were involved in the break-in at the
two-story luxury property, which stands on a plot measuring 104 square wah
surrounded by a concrete wall, and is worth an estimated 18 million baht.
Owner Jacob Tobias Erik Wanrooij was waiting with two girls named as Miss
Wanna Tabpan, or Noi, age 24, and Miss Woralak Saosart, age 22, when the
police arrived. Officers established that the thieves had forced their way
in through a glass door beside the lawn. They had taken property from the
drawing room, and then gone into another downstairs room where they had
broken open a security box and taken the contents. They had also taken items
from the three upstairs bedrooms. Forensic officers took fingerprints found
in the house.
Wanrooij said that he had bought the land, built a house on it, and had
lived in the house for six months. For three months he had had four girls
living with him, namely Miss Noi, who was present at the scene, Miss Ning,
Miss Jimmy and Miss Ann. All of them worked at beer bars and go-go bars on
Walking Street. He took good care of them and offered them more than 100,000
baht each monthly.
During the evening before the burglary, he had problems with the girls and
ordered them out of the house. At around 8:30 p.m. he closed the door and
went out for the nightlife on Walking Street. He asked Miss Noi to come
back, because he missed her and she also had a better disposition than the
others. When they arrived at the house they found the place had been
ransacked.
Missing from the security box in the downstairs room was a gold watch worth
1.5 million baht, and 300 euros. The property stolen from the upper floor
included a laptop valued at 50,000 baht, along with documentation that
included the title deeds for the land and house, and a passport. Total
losses were estimated at 2.5 million baht.
Wanrooij believes that the criminals were intimately acquainted with the
house, and regrets that he had yet to install CCTV and an alarm. He
suspected that the girls he had kicked out had taken revenge, and most
likely led the criminals to commit larceny.
Miss Noi said that she had been staying with Mr Rick Erik and that she had
not known the other three girls before, as they worked in a different place.
She only knew that all of them still had their Thai men. Noi said that one
of the girls, Miss Ann, had the reputation of being a thief, and was
associated with drugs. Miss Ann called her after she was kicked out, and
said how angry she was with Mr Rick Erik.
Jamnai Chankla, the 51-year-old security guard employed by PT Co Ltd and who
guarded the house along with seven other properties stated that at about
12:30 p.m. three men who looked like construction workers passed by on the
soi. However, they didn’t look suspicious. He then went to investigate a dog
barking, but found nothing amiss. He said the break-in might have occurred
at that time.
Police say the intruders knew that the house didn’t have a security system
and was unlocked, and they believe the girls may be behind the robbery. They
are being questioned. Pawnshops have also been alerted as to the details of
the stolen property.
Youths enter priesthood
to honor HM the King
1,550 novices in Chonburi have
entered the priesthood as a present of merit for HM the King.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Throughout Thailand, 84,000 young men are entering the priesthood as
novice monks during the period October 14 to 28 to make merit for His
Majesty the King in the celebrations surrounding His Majesty’s 80th
birthday.
In Chonburi Province, 1,550 youths have become novices in a ceremony led by
National Artist Chinakorm Krailas.
The ordaining of the 84,000 novices has been organized by the National
Council in association with the Sangha Supreme Council, the Ministry of
Education, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry
of Defense, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Stability, and the
Office of National Buddhism.
Chonburi held its own ceremony on October 13 at the Pattaya Indoor Stadium,
with Pongpayom Wasaphum, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior
presiding and the parents of the novices attending. Most wore yellow shirts
in honor of His Majesty.
There were 1,550 youngsters under the Chonburi education area who applied to
enter the priesthood, and they were trained before the ceremony from October
11 to 12. National Artist Chinakorm Krailas led the chanting. The 1,550
novices will perform Dharma at the local temples, and on October 23 they
gathered to perform Dharma at the Pakdee Phandin Pavilion in front of the
King Rama V statue.
The ceremony has a support budget from Local Administration Organizations
including the Chonburi Administration Organization, Pattaya City, the
Chaophrayasurasak Municipality, the Laem Chabang Sub-district Municipality,
and the Bansuan Municipality.
Home for the Elderly
celebrates its 40th anniversary
The elderly performed a Thai
dance, much to the delight of the audience.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Banglamung Home for the Elderly has celebrated its 40th anniversary,
with an exhibition on the home’s activities and a host of special services
for the residents, including hair cutting and styling, foot massages and
medical checkups.
 Nittaya
Patimasongkroh shows the elderly a series of keep-fit exercises based on the
principles of Muay Thai techniques.
October 19 saw organizations including the Redemptorist Vocational School,
Banglamung Vocational College and Nongprue Sub-district Administrative
Organization providing the services, while Nittaya Patimasongkroh, head of
Love Relationships at Different Ages showed the elderly a series of keep-fit
exercises based on the principles of Muay Thai techniques.
The Ban Banglamung Social Welfare Development Center for Elderly Persons was
formerly known as Eastern Elderly Welfare. Her Royal Highness the Princess
Mother Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Boromarajajonani and His Royal Highness
Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn laid the foundation stone on September 1,
1967, and the home opened its doors on April 13, 1968. Initially there were
105 elderly residents.
During its 40 years, the home has had 12 guardians and three directors, and
2,885 elderly people have been supported. Currently there are 40 officers
and employees along with 280 elderly people.
Pattaya Food Festival will take place in November
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Pattaya International Food Festival will take place November 23 to
25, with stalls set out by hotels and restaurants along Walking Street and
cultural displays from the four regions of Thailand.
 Deputy
Mayor
Ronakit Ekasingh
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh announced the event during a meeting of the
Walking Street Committee at Pattaya City Hall on October 12.
Mrs Bubpa Songsakulchai, head of the consumer protection section of the
Pattaya Public Health and Environmental Department said that the event, in
addition to promoting the city’s dining attractions to tourists, was also
designed to enhance awareness of the food hygiene measures now in place.
The festival will feature 15 restaurants that have obtained certificates
under the Clean Food Good Taste campaign from the Ministry of Public Health.
Food will be on sale from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Rare artifacts on display
at amulet exhibition
Officials have announced that
the opening of the Pattaya Buddha Amulet, Buddha Image and Teachers’ Coins
Exhibition will be held this Sunday, October 28 in the auditorium of Pattaya
School No 2.
Vimolrat Singnikorn
This Sunday, October 28 sees the opening of the Pattaya Buddha
Amulet, Buddha Image and Teachers’ Coins Exhibition, which is being held in
the auditorium of Pattaya School No 2.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn along with Namchaichana Deewi and Samruan
Tabchan of the Pattaya Buddha Amulet Club held a press conference on October
12 to announce the event.
Niran said that Pattaya City is working in association with the Pattaya
Buddha Amulet Club to organize the event, as it would provide an opportunity
for residents and visitors to see a large collection of rare religious
artifacts.
Namchaichana said there would also be a competition, in which the first
prize is a Jatukamramathep 9 medallion.
International balloonists
will take to the air in December
Representatives from the Royal
Thai Army Sports Center and the Sports Flying Association (Thailand) visited
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn to discuss organizing the Pattaya
International Balloon Fiesta 2007.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
More than 30 air balloons from Asia, Europe and the United States
will take to the skies above Pattaya over the period December 8 to 12 as
part of the celebrations surrounding the birthday of His Majesty the King.
On October 16, representatives from the Royal Thai Army Sports Center along
with the Sports Flying Association (Thailand) visited Mayor Niran
Wattanasartsathorn at Pattaya City Hall to discuss the organizing of the
Pattaya International Balloon Fiesta 2007.
The launch ground for the balloons will be at City Learning Park, which is
part of the College of Innovational Education at Thammasart University,
Pattaya Center.
Niwat Wongchinsri, secretary of the Sports Flying Association (Thailand)
said that this would be the biggest event of its kind to be held in Asia,
and would gather over 30 international balloons from Asia, Europe, and the
United States.
Niwat said there would also be an air show, and competitions in
para-motoring, para-gliding, and parachuting.
Police commander pays respect to the spirits of Marine heroes
Patcharapol Panrak
The commander of the Royal Thai Police, Pol Gen Saereepisut
Taemeewet visited the Prince Chumporn Shrine at Sattahip on October 18 to
pay his respects to the past heroes of the Royal Thai Marine Corps.
 The
commander of the Royal Thai Police, Pol Gen Saereepisut Taemeewet takes part
in the molding of a Jatukam Rammathep in honor of past heroes of the Royal
Thai Marine Corps.
Attending the ceremony with him was Pol Lt Gen Jettanakorn Napeetapat,
commander of the Provincial Police Headquarters Region 2, Chonburi.
Pol Gen Saereepisut arrived by Royal Thai Police helicopter and was greeted
by Vice Admiral Sriwisut Ratarun, commander-in-chief of Sattahip Naval Base,
Vice Admiral Suwit Thararoob, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Marine
Corps, and Dr Sakdapinit Narongchat Sophon, advisor to the Royal Thai Police
Headquarters.
The ceremony included the molding of a Jatukam Rammathep image, and was
attended by Archan Od, a renowned amulet master. The forming of this
auspicious object, in addition to making merit, was to raise income for the
families of military and police officers on duty in the three troubled
Southern provinces, donating scholarships to unprivileged children, and
helping to build Huakung Temple, in Klongdan, Ranod, Songkla.
City sends official to bomb emergency training course
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya City has sent an unnamed city official on a training course
to teach him how to deal with a bomb emergency before specialists arrive on
the scene, and are currently looking for another.
 Deputy
Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh said that recent months have seen two cases of bombs
scares in the city.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh said during a meeting on October 17 at Pattaya
City Hall that recent months have seen two cases of bombs being planted in
the city.
The first was at a garage on Soi Photisarn, and it was fortunate that the
bomb did not explode. The second was a mock bomb that was connected to a
telephone line in a public phone box in front of a Pattaya-Naklua school by
a group of youths. There were no casualties from either of these events, but
it took between three and four hours for experts from the 14th Military Ring
to arrive and secure the sites.
As the possibility of bombs remains, Ronakit said that it is vital to take
every precaution to secure the safety of residents and visitors. The city
official has therefore been sent on a training course at Sattahip Military
Base, at a cost of 50,000 baht.
Naklua Walking Street to be put to council for approval
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
The possibility of a Walking Street in Naklua is once more being
discussed, following a proposal made by the Pattaya Yimkrim Club.
 Saksit
Photisit, chairman of the Pattaya Yimkrim Club, is once again proposing the
possibility of a Walking Street in Naklua.
A meeting at Pattaya City Hall on October 18 chaired by Deputy Mayor Wutisak
Rermkitkarn and attended by Saksit Photisit and Chatchawan Pinyasiri of the
Pattaya Yimkrim Club outlined the benefits to the Naklua community and
economy from such a project.
Saksit, who is chairman of the club, said that Naklua Walking Street would
encourage tourism by having booths for the sale of gifts, souvenirs and
food, and there would be a stage that children could use for their own
activities after school hours. There would be a permanent exhibit on the
four regions of Thailand. Saksit said the project would be designed to
appeal to both Thai and overseas visitors.
The proposed Naklua Walking Street would start from the Suporn Gold Shop and
run to Soi Colonbia, at the Old Naklua Market. This passes through the
oldest community in Pattaya and was the first commercial road in Pattaya
City. Saksit said the club had carried out a survey in the area and that the
response rate in favor was 99.5 percent, with only 0.5 percent of
respondents against the concept.
Wutisak said that this project would be submitted to the council, because
the Pattaya Yimkrim Club had asked for a support budget and consequently
council approval is necessary. In the event the project is approved, then a
future meeting will be held and a specific date and time arranged for
commencement.
Chinese New Year festival reduced to one day
Vimolrat Singnikorn
Pattaya City is preparing a grand Chinese New Year Festival for
February 7 next year, and an organizational meeting was held on October 12
at Pattaya City Hall by Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh to draw up the
program.
Pattaya City chief clerk Wuttipol Charoenphol said that the event would be
held for one day only, because the celebrations that were held this year
over a three-day period drew negative comments from traders and from the
Chinese community, who felt that it went on for too long.
Next year the festival will be divided into two parts. During the morning of
February 7 prayers will be held and a dragon parade staged at Naklua Market.
The evening will see festivities take place at Bali Hai Pier, the highlight
being a contest for Chinese children with primary prizes totaling 300,000
baht.
Other events are being planned, and Chinese lanterns will be placed at focal
points of Pattaya to welcome in the New Year.
Koh Larn to have more control over its public utilities
Officials will also try to bring motorcycle taxis under control
Boonlua Chatree
Koh Larn is to have more of a say in the running of its public
utilities, following a number of complaints lodged with city hall by
islanders.
At a meeting on October 19 at the Pattaya Office Koh Larn Branch, Sanit
Boonmachai, chairman of the safety and administrative committee discussed
the island’s public utilities along with Wachirawich Gud-klang, chief clerk,
and representatives of the Koh Larn community.
Sanit said that over the past three years public utilities including a power
system, a water system and a new road have been built on Koh Larn. However,
after this there was no maintenance to keep the utilities in good condition
and they have deteriorated. Concrete blocks on the sidewalks have subsided,
holes have appeared in the road, and the electric lighting is not
sufficient. The island residents have therefore lodged a complaint with
Pattaya City.
The administrative committee of Pattaya City has begun an examination and
will propose a way to solve the problems to the people’s satisfaction.
Councilor Praiwan Aromchuen said he would like the Pattaya Office on Koh
Larn to ask for a support budget. This would be used to solve the problem of
the concrete blocks, the road surface and the electrical lights along the
sidewalks, plus the installation of traffic signs.
Sanit also brought up another subject of complaints from people and
tourists, that of motorbike taxi riders fighting for passengers on Tha Na
Baan beach. The Pattaya Office on Koh Larn has declared that currently there
are more than 100 motorcycle taxis on the island. To more closely control
them, the Office has asked for documents to register the taxis with the
Transportation Office. They will receive a yellow license plate number.
Motorcycle taxi riders and taxi rank leaders, Koh Larn community heads and
the local police will now be invited to a meeting to discuss ways of
curtailing the fighting amongst the riders and how to present a better image
to visitors.
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