Seemingly left no choice by the military, Pattaya speedboat vendors grudgingly have agreed to remove their trailered watercraft from streets and parking lots around Bali Hai Pier by month’s end.
Sanit Boonmachai, chairman of the Tour Boat Association of Pattaya, had sought to strike a deal with the military to allow some of the 235 boats affected to remain under the Bali Hai flyover and around the pier.
The army, however, insisted that the boat owners were using public land illegally to secure free parking and told them to remove their boats or have them confiscated.
Sanit said he wanted to see more meetings to ensure cooperation so everyone is happy with the outcome.
Lt. Saniban Saendee, head of the National Council for Peace and Order in Banglamung District, said the military is willing to cooperate and work with the boat vendors as long as all their vessels are removed by Nov. 1.
