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December 04-10 Pp01 ANDAMAN Edition Volume 17 Issue 49 December 4 - 10, 2010 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 25 Baht Long Live The King! TENS of thousands of people lined the streets of of millions has inspired countless Thais to great Bangkok on November 22 for a glimpse of HM heights and to help their fellow countrymen. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who made his first These feats range from gold medals won at the public appearance in nearly a year. Asian Games in China last month to the mini-dams The number of those gathered was a testa- being built in the hills of Phuket to help alleviate the ment to how deep their devotion, love and respect island’s chronic water-shortage problem. for the beloved King is. People from around the world have been flying in It was no small coincidence that the event was to Phuket to take part in the King’s Cup Regatta, to open two bridges and a flood gate for the ben- held each year to commemorate His Majesty’s birth- efit of the public. day on December 5. His Majesty has made a lifelong contribution The annual event marks the auspicious occasion to projects that directly benefit the common with a sail-past tribute, appropriate for a monarch people, be they farmers, city workers or renowned for his love of sailing and accomplish- fisherfolk. ments in the sport. As many people in Phuket may remember, it In keeping with the true spirit of His Majesty, this was only after His Majesty’s visit to Patong that year any sailor may join the event. he decreed that a road be built to the then-sleepy This Sunday, which is also Father’s Day, families Muslim village, paving the way for Phuket to be- across Phuket will honor the 83rd birthday of the come the world-renowned tourist destination it Father of the nation. is today. May he reign in peace. His Majesty's dedication to improving the lives Long Live The King! Kamala to host ‘night Honeymoon ends in tragedy THE deaths of two Chinese tour- jet-ski plowed into a big wave. rest of the Asia Company tour ists in a jet-ski smash on Wednes- This might have frightened group. tsunami’ drill day has so far prompted no moves Mrs Chu, causing her to grip The guide leading the tour group to improve the safety of people harder on the throttle, accelerat- told the Gazette that he expressly PHUKET will stage its first “night who rent out jet-skis, or swim- ing the jet-ski into the anchored told the tour group not to rent jet- tsunami” evacuation drill in Kamala mers, at popular Phuket beaches. catamaran. skis, as most of them could not later this month. Honeymooners Zhao Qiang and The couple arrived last Sunday drive well and many Chinese tour- Department of Disaster Preven- his fiancée Chu Fang, both 28, with an Asia Company tour group ists had accidents in the past. tion and Mitigation Phuket chief died on Wednesday morning after of Chinese tourists, including fam- Phuket Provincial Police Com- San Jantharawong announced the the jet-ski they were riding ily members. mander Pekad Tantipong drill will take place at 8pm on De- slammed into a catamaran. An officer inspects the jet-ski. The tour group went to Koh Hei dismissed the accident as driver- cember 14. Police confirmed to the Gazette (Coral Island) on Wednesday, but related. Students, tourists, residents, that the accident occurred nearly but rain began to fall about five Mrs Chu said she was sick and Asked about the possibility of business operators and related or- a kilometer offshore from the minutes later, reducing visibility to did not go. Her fiance, Mr Zhao, creating zones expressly for jet- ganizations are all be expected to south end of Patong Beach. about 50 meters, police said. stayed back with her. skis, or expressly forbidding participate, Mr San said. Both of the couple suffered se- While out on the water, Mr The family members returned jet-skis, or about requiring people At the time of going to press, vere trauma to their necks, chests, Zhao switched places with Mrs to Phuket after the day trip only renting jet-skis to have at least a assembly points for the drill had arms and legs. Chu. to learn that the honeymoon had car or motorbike license, Maj Gen yet to be decided on, but the The couple rented the jet-ski Police believe it was her first come to a tragic end. Pekad said there had been “no evacuation routes will be clearly from Manas Promniyom and that time operating a jet-ski. The couple were due to fly progress” in those areas. posted, he said. Mr Zhao drove it from the beach, Witnesses told police that the home Thursday morning with the – Yodsak Jarana 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS December 4 - 10, 2010 Foreigner appointed Crackdown on illegal workers provincial advisor Task force expected to start rounding up illegal workers this THE Governor’s Office of Phuket “I have enjoyed the opportunity has appointed American James A. to work together with governors week. Page 5 Mabey as Economic Development and vice-governors throughout and Foreign Affairs Advisor. Thailand. I try to keep my focus Business A consultant to many large- on simplifying issues and finding scale businesses in Phuket over win-win solutions for both local Top-of-the-line Jags are the past five years, Mr Mabey is people and the foreign companies racing back to Phuket no stranger to provincial affairs. who support the local economy He has assisted several governors by doing business here.” for PIMEX. Page 12 in dealing with this vital sector of Vice-Governor Nivit said, “Mr the economy, but until about a Mabey is an indispensable part of Food week ago his work on behalf of my team. He has a very good un- Hungover? The Gazette the province has been low profile. derstanding of Thai government, Governor Tri Augkaradecha our laws and our ideas on eco- has found the perfect and Vice-Governor Nivit Aroonrat nomic promotion. cure for you. Page 18 are now allowing the American, James A Mabey “Based on that, we wanted Mr who has an MBA from Prince of finds himself in a bridging role Mabey to help us give advice to Songkla University and lectures at over five dialects of the language. people when they are trying to set Property Watch several of Thailand’s leading uni- He’s also fluent in Mandarin, up a business here, or when they Read up on marketing versities, to take a more visible role. Spanish and Laotian. have business problems. your rental property Mr Maeby is formally attached Originally from the west coast “Ideally, we wanted somebody as an advisor to the offices of both of the US, he spent time in Cen- who could help give advice to or- online. Page 24 the Assistant Permanent Secretary tral America when he was a ganizations before they actually of the Interior in Bangkok and V/ teenager and moved to Asia in have any problems at all,” he Classifieds Gov Nivit. He is fluent in Thai, 1999. He has lived in Phuket for added. Everything you need at prices you written and spoken, and often five years. – Phuket Gazette can afford, from jobs to homes. Pages 27-38 Sport Phuket scores big baht for FC Phuket take top spot in the fight for Asian Beach Games 2014 promotion to Division TOURISM and Sports Minister One. Page 39 Chumpol Silapa-archa on Monday had good news for sports devel- opment on the island. Phuket had applied for 700 mil- lion baht to develop and prepare the island to host the Asian Beach Games 2014. Instead, the central government has approved nearly a billion baht, he said. “Phuket will host the Asian Beach Games in 2014, and right now I’ve got nearly a billion baht available for the event. The event will make Phuket more famous,” Mr Chumpol told the 200 attend- ees at the grand opening of the Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa in Phuket. Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa Phuket. haps the runway could be extended “For example, Kata-Karon was The minister also floated the into the sea as is done at many quiet countryside in the past, but idea of land reclamation in Phuket. international airports. He cited now it’s much more developed.” Looking for a place to stay? “Phuket could be like Dubai and Hong Kong as an example. Regarding complaints from for- See more classified ads at create more land for develop- Reflecting on the his previous eign tourists, the minister said, “I ment,” he said. visit to Phuket, Mr Chumpol said, would like local organizations to www.phuketgazette.net “I felt a little scared when the “This is the first time in nearly 20 focus not only on the money gen- plane was landing at the airport,” years that I’ve been to Phuket, and erated by tourism, but to also take he added, pointing out that per- there have been many changes. good care of our tourists.” December 4 - 10, 2010 NEWS PHUKET GAZETTE 3 Patong traffic to stay one-way for annual carnival By Atchaa Khamlo The current system has traffic running north up the beach road PLANS for this month’s 25th and south down Rat-U-Thit 200 Patong Carnival are beginning to Pi Road. take shape, yet the project to re- In a online poll conducted ear- verse the direction of one-way lier this year, only one-third of traffic in the town is no closer to Phuket Gazette readers believed completion.
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