Candidates Register As Campaigning Gets Underway
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ANDAMAN Edition Volume 18 Issue 22 May 28 - June 3, 2011 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht Patong to purge timeshare touts By Atchaa Khamlo have anything at all, but they tell their clients that they have got A MULTI-AGENCY task force everything for them,” he added. will be set up to investigate time- “Many of these operators set share companies operating in up companies and ‘sell’ anything Phuket, especially Patong. they can, making anywhere from Tasked with investigating the 100 to 500 million baht. They then companies, their workers and any close their companies and run officials involved in allowing the away. timeshare companies to operate, “Later they open a new time- the “committee” is expected to Patong Mayor Pian Keesin called for share company, because it is easy launch an investigation by Octo- ofiicals to be investigated. to open such companies in Thai- ber, just before the annual tourism land, and cheat people all over high season begins, Vice Gover- At the meeting, Patong Deputy again. It is damaging our tourism,” nor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak Mayor Chairat Sukkaban identified he added. announced at a meeting on Tues- three types of timeshare compa- Deputy Mayor Chairat called day. nies operating on the island. on other government departments The committee will comprise “There are genuine timeshare to help clamp down on illegal op- officials from agencies including companies that are registered and erators. the Tourist Police, Royal Thai Po- have their own offices, such as “Before issuing any work per- lice, Provincial Police, Public the operation run at the JW mits for such companies, the Prosecutor’s Office, Provincial Marriott [Resort & Spa in Mai Department of Employment needs Office and Patong Municipality. Khao] to look in detail at such operators, ‘FUND FIGHT’ “It’s a big problem. Tourists “But there are also people who such as checking whether they Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pekad Tantipong (in blue shorts) book holidays with timeshare com- rent hotels and properties for a have their own properties and of- went toe-to-toe with Thai boxing hero Somjit Jongjohor on Tuesday panies, but when they arrive in only a couple of years, but then fices,” he said. night to raise flood-relief funds. The 'fun fight' at Saphan Hin lasted for Patong, the companies don’t have offer clients use of the properties Supporting Patong Mayor Pian three rounds, with Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha as referee. any hotel rooms for them to stay over 10 to 30 years. That’s cheat- Keesin’s call for the committee to Somjit is best known for winning gold medals in the flyweight division at the 2003 World Amateur Boxing Championships and at the Beijing in. That is destroying our tourism ing,” Mr Chairat said. also investigate officials, V/Gov 2008 Olympics. Photo: Dean Noble reputation,” said V/Gov Somkiet. “Third are companies that don’t Continued on page 2 Candidates register as campaigning gets underway CAMPAIGNING for the July 3 national for at least five years as of election day and Mrs Anchalee and Mr Raewat are cam- election began in earnest this week as five a member of only one party for at least 90 paigning with the number “10”, representing candidates registered to contest Phuket’s days prior to election day, explained PEC the Democrat Party, while Mr Jirayus is two voting districts. Director Kitipong Thiengkunakrit. promoting ballot number “16” for the First to register, at 8:30am on Monday, was There is no requirement for candidates Bhumjaithai Party. Bhumjaithai Party candidate Jirayus Songyos. to live in Phuket in order to register and Mr Wisit and Mr Saman have the luck Mr Jirayus will contest Phuket Constitu- there are no minimum educational qualifi- of campaigning with the number “1” for ency 2, which covers more than half of the cations, he added. the Pheu Thai Party. island and includes Thalang District, Kathu Registration costs 5,000 baht. “Under election law, the candidates can District and Koh Kaew and Rassada in At the time of writing, the Democrats continue campaigning until 6pm on July 2,” Muang District. expected to drum up more support with Mr Kitipong said. Second to register was Pheu Thai Party Crowds gather to support candiates the scheduled appearance of caretaker “After 6pm on July 2 a ban on the sale candidate Wisit Jai-arj, who will run for registering at Phuket Provincial Hall. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at a rally at of alcohol will come into effect until mid- Constituency 1 seat. He was followed by tering as Democrat Party candidates con- Saphan Hin on Friday. night on July 3.” Pheu Thai Constituency 2 candidate Saman testing the Phuket 1 and Phuket 2 Voters can expect much of the cam- “Foreigners are prohibited from cam- Kebsap. constituencies, respectively. paigning to involve promotion of numbers paigning on any candidate’s behalf,” Mr Anchalee Vanich Thepabutr and Raewat To register as a candidate, an applicant representing the order of the parties listed Kitipong added. Areerob followed suit on Tuesday, regis- must be at least 25 years old, a Thai citizen on the ballot in the Party List election. – Pimwara Choksakulpan 2 PHUKET GAZETTE PHUKET NEWS May 28 - June 3, 2011 Bridge opening soon A haven for pregnant teens What becomes of the island’s troubled youth Page 5 Willywatch Blair Christopher reminds us why nude is rude. Page 9 Food Hearty English food served in the heart of Phuket. Page 15 Construction will continue after the northbound lanes heading off the island open. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo Education By Atchaa Khamlo cent complete and the construction will continue to complete small The Gazette outlines and Chutarat Plerin contract ends on June 20,” Arun details such as the marking of the island’s education Sanae, director of the PPHO said. lanes,” Mr Arun added. options Page 16 THE new bridge connecting Phuket “After that, Italian-Thai Develop- Temporary signs notifying driv- with Phang Nga will be open to traf- ment construction company will ers of the coming change will be fic next week as planned, the Phuket transfer the contract to us,” he said. erected near the bridges soon. Property Provincial Highways Office (PPHO) The new bridge will be open “The official opening will oc- Keeping an eye on announced. next week to traffic leaving cur towards the end of the year. Known as the “Sarasin Bridge 2” Phuket. Its predecessor, the two- After the ceremony, the bridge will stimulating investments throughout the construction phase, lane Sarasin Bridge will be used be known as Srisoonthorn Bridge, in Pattaya. Page 26 the new roadway will be known by traffic entering the island, Mr a name provided to us by the Royal officially as Srisoonthorn Bridge. Arun said. Family at our request,” Mr Arun Sport “The new bridge is about 94 per In the meantime, construction said. Vagabonds get friendly with Roosters before Expat ‘Paddy’ dies in accident the 10s. Page 41 A PHUKET expat was killed on Rubble” among members. He also Monday morning when he lost took part in races with the Ao control of his 1,400cc motorcycle Chalong Yacht Club. on a notoriously dangerous curve Mr O’Mahony held vast motor- on Thepkrasattri Road. cycle riding experience. Patong timeshare touts Irish national Patrick “Paddy” “He’s an ex-Irish road racer. O’Mahony, who turned 57 on He’s the best motorcycle rider I’ve Sunday, was travelling toward the ever ridden with and I’ve prob- face close investigation Sarasin Bridge on his red Kawa- ably done 30 or 40,000km of saki ZZR 1400 when he crashed riding with him,” his friend Jock From page 1 were no rooms for them,” he said. near the turnoff to the JW Marriott Cromie said. The meeting on Tuesday was Resort & Spa. “From the lack of tyre marks Somkiet warned that any officials called after Patong business own- A funeral service will be held on the road at the scene and the found to be involved in any illegal ers filed complaints to the on Sunday, May 29. Patrick ‘Paddy’ O’Mahony disturbance of grass at the road- timeshare operations will be re- Damrongtham Center. Lt Col Watcharin Jiratthi- side, it appears that Paddy may ported to their office chief. The complaints alleged that karlwiwat of Tah Chat Chai Police “He was alive when we arrived have been forced into evasive ac- Also, timeshare cheats were not more than 100 foreign workers was notified of the accident at at the scene, but did not survive,” tion, slowed down considerably only affecting foreign tourists, V/ were on the streets of Patong sell- about 7am. he added. before leaving the road and suf- Gov Somkiet added. ing timeshare without work “He was riding at speed and lost Paddy, as his friends knew him, fering a low-speed crash,” Mr “Last week about 30 Thai permits. control of his motorcycle near the was from County Cork in south- Cromie said. people filed complaints at the The complaints, filed with de- Marriott. The area is very danger- west Ireland and had been based Irish Honorary Consul for Damrongtham Center. They said tails and photographs, explained ous and accidents occur there in Phuket for about 15 years. Phuket Helene Fallon-Wood con- a well-known company in Thalang that timeshare workers continu- frequently. In addition to owning Paddy’s firmed to the Gazette that Mr had cheated them of about 80,000 ally rode motorbikes around “I have even received reports Inn View Apartments in Patong, O’Mahony’s family has been no- to 100,000 baht each.