Deputy
Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh (2nd left) and city officials inspect Wong Amat Beach
after receiving complaints about the beach bed and umbrella entrepreneurs.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Pattaya continued its battle with beach vendors near The
Cove condominium project, cracking down on beach chair vendors who were
taking up more than the allowed 60 percent of Wong Amat Beach.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and municipal enforcement
officers swept onto the beachfront behind The Cove construction site at Soi
18/2 and Naklua Road Oct. 14. There they reapportioned lots for seven beach
chair vendors and laid out rules to ensure they leave 40 percent of the sand
for public use, as is required throughout Chonburi.
The area has been an ongoing battleground between the
city and vendors of all types. Many have earned a living on Wong Amat Beach
for 20 years or more and are outraged with attempts by condominium owners to
close off portions of the public as “private beaches” for their residents.
In January, Ronakit and city enforcers cleared out 50
food and other vendors from the same area, leading to complaints the city
was protecting the interests of commercial investors over long-time family
entrepreneurs.
