Volume 12 Issue 21 News Desk - Tel: 076-236555 May 21 - 27, 2005 Daily news at www.phuketgazette.net 20 Baht The Gazette is published in association with Entertainment Dulwich dream license fees finally arrive IN THIS ISSUE By Anongnat Sartpisut NEWS: Royal visit; Dengue PHUKET: More than 14 months warning; New airport for ends in divorce after all entertainment licenses Phang Nga nixed, more. were declared statutorily void, a Pages 2 & 3 By Gazette Staff list of fees for entertainment li- INSIDE STORY: Aboveboard or censes has been announced, pav- below par? Maritime safety off PHUKET: The divorce is final. ing the way for provincial au- Phuket. Pages 4 & 5 Dr Arthit Ourairath, CEO and thorities to start processing ap- Founder of Dulwich International plications. AROUND THE ISLAND: Snapping College, announced on May 13 Wisut Romin, Deputy Sec- Phuket’s sunsets. Page 6 that ties between Dulwich Col- retary of the Phuket Provincial AROUND THE REGION: Alive, but lege in London (DCL) and Administrative Office, on May how to survive and revive? Phuket’s top international school 17 told the Gazette that he re- Page 8 have been severed. ceived the list of fees just that Dulwich International Col- day, although it was ratified by OFF THE WALL: Guts or glory lege will, from June 24, be known the Ministry of the Interior (MoI) for Bruce Stanley. as the British International Col- on March 29. Pages 10 & 11 lege of Thailand, unless agree- K. Wisut said that there are LIFESTYLE: Swimmingly suit- ment can be reached with an- “about” 344 entertainment ven- able SenSes. Page 13 other school willing to replace ues in Phuket that must apply for DCL’s role. the licenses. ALL AT SEA: Pershing’s He added that officers guided missile. Page 14 The end of the seven-year relationship, though not entirely from Muang, Thalang and Kathu STICKER FEVER: Everyone unexpected after weeks of frac- Districts have been advised of loves Phuket! Page 15 tious talks, came suddenly. the fees and have posted “infor- In a message emailed to From June 24, Dulwich International College will be the British mal” announcements to all venue FIRST PERSON: Fun and International College of Thailand, but will the school remain the same? games in Phuket. Page 21 parents, Dr Arthit wrote: owners within their areas. “It is with profound regret evident and tensions mounted. At ment, Dr Arthit explained, will be K. Wisut added that Phuket BUSINESS & MONEY: Hotel that I have to inform you that each stage, while efforts were as follows: Governor Udomsak Usawarang- developers keep on coming; Dulwich College London (DCL) made by each party to resolve • The name of the school kura or one of the province’s On The Move; Money Talks. and Dulwich International Col- these differences, it became clear will be changed from Dulwich vice-governors will issue – again Pages 22 & 23 lege, Phuket, (DIC) have de- that a number of unresolved is- International College to British by post – formal announcements SPORT: Rawai Muay Thai; ITF cided, after much tireless effort, sues would remain outstanding. International College of Thailand to the owners by May 22. results; Patong darts and pool heartache and careful delibera- “Consequently, from the (BICT). The venue owners will leagues. Pages 24 & 25 tion, to amicably go their sepa- viewpoint of DIC Phuket, there • The college logo will have 30 days from the date of rate ways… was little alternative [but] to ter- change. posting to apply for their license GOOD LIVING: Starry “Unfortunately, despite all minate the franchise agreement,” • BICT will assume all le- or licenses. Burasari. Page 27 well-meaning efforts, there re- he wrote. gal obligations, including those The fees for “dancing PROPERTY: Doven drives main major issues on which DCL He added, “It is our firm from existing employment con- places”, restaurants providing, again; Nirvana Phutri update; and DIC cannot agree and [can- belief that [the] decision was tracts with teachers, from DIC and four separate categories of Home of the Week in Patong; not] reach common ground.” made for the ultimate [benefit] after June 24. “entertainment venues” are as Bloomin' Bert goes to pot. The agreement with DCL of students, because this is the However, in the email, Dr follows: Pages 28-31 will expire on June 24. However, only factor that will ensure the Arthit stressed that: - Area not more than 100 square Dr Arthit wrote, “…we are now future success of the school. In • The college’s curriculum meters: 10,000 baht. PLUS actively engaged in meaningful the long term, and in the current will continue to be based on the - 101sqm-300sqm: 30,000 baht. discussions on the strong poten- competitive educational market, British National Curriculum. - 301sqm and up: 50,000 baht. QUEER NEWS 4; AROUND THE NA- tial for affiliation and academic we know that providing our stu- • All programs such as the The general “Entertainment TION 7; HAPPENINGS 9; PHUKET cooperation with other presti- dents and parents with the high- Foundation Stage Curriculum for venues” category includes four DIARY, OUTSIDE IN 16; KIDS 17; gious schools in the UK.” est quality educational experience KG classes, the International subcategories: YOUTH ’N A SIA, MOMMA D UCK 18; He noted that the relation- is the only thing that will ensure General Certificate of Secondary • a place providing a show BOOKS, HOROSCOPES 19; EDITO- ship with DCL had become in- our viability. Education (IGCSE) and Interna- or other activities for entertain- RIAL, LETTERS 20; ISSUES & AN- creasingly difficult over the “We are fully committed to tional Baccalaureate (IB) for ing customers, and allowing staff that objective.” secondary students will continue SWERS 21; COMPUTERS 22; WINE, years. “As time went on, ever- to socialize with patrons; increasing differences in opinion Immediate effects that will to be offered. • a place that provides TRAVEL 26; CLASSIFIEDS 32-39. and expectations became more follow the expiry of the agree- Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 2 PHUKET GAZETTE NEWS May 21 - 27, 2005 License fee hike Cheap deals give MICE tourism a boost Dulwich for fun venues By Anongnat Sartpisut of 10,000 baht a day, that would MICE travelers hotel accommo- mean revenue for the island of dation at selected hotels on From page 1 PHUKET: The Tourism Council 2.25 billion baht over the com- Phuket, including the Laguna College equipment for patrons to sing, of Thailand (TCT) has launched ing months. Beach Resort in Bang Tao, the and allows staff to socialize with its “Think Meeting, Think Phu- Under the promotion, Holiday Inn in Patong and Le in crisis the patrons; ket” discounted air fares and ho- round-trip Bangkok-Phuket air Royal Meridien Phuket Yacht • a place that has no dance tel rates promotion in a bid to tickets cost 500 baht each for Club in Nai Harn, at rates rang- From page 1 floor but allows customers to boost the number of MICE government officers, and 1,000 ing from 1,000 baht up to 3,600 • The recruitment of highly dance on the premises; (meetings, incentives, conven- baht apiece for employees from baht per room per night. qualified and suitable academic • other places that have light tions, exhibitions) travelers to the private companies. For more information con- personnel remains unaffected, or sound facilities, depending on island. Round-trip tickets for ac- tact the TCT at Tel: 02-2505500 and, says the email, “the process Ministry rulings yet to be made. The aim of the promotion, companying spouses are 3,300 ext 1646-1648 or Fax: 02-250- will be strengthened”. While Owners will pay just 20% which will end on October 31 this baht each, and tickets for each 0797; or contact Bangkok Air- DCL was always deeply involved of the original license fee for sub- year, is to attract an average 1,250 accompanying child under 13 ways at Tel: 02-2655555 or Fax: in the selection of the school’s sequent license renewals, and people a day to Phuket. Assum- years old cost 2,625 baht. 02-2738407 between 8 am and headmaster, selection will now any venue owner whose license ing that each spends an average The promotion also offers 5.30 pm on weekdays. be “the exclusive right of the is lost or destroyed will be able BICT Board.” to receive a replacement for Dr Arthit wrote that under 1,000 baht – if they can prove that the “visionary” leadership of Dr they had been issued a new li- George Hickman, the recently Dengue fever cases appointed Academic Director at cense. “A 10,000-baht [initial] li- DIC, the school “will grow and cense equates to just 833 baht or flourish”. so per month, and only 166 baht In a meeting with teachers per month to renew,” said K. rise dramatically that coincided with the delivery Wisut. “It is a reasonable amount of the email, Dr Hickman reiter- to pay.” By Athiga Jundee Dengue Fever Week” nation- direct its immune response, try- ated that discussions are already Asked why it had taken so wide, starting May 23. ing to fight the strain to which it underway in an attempt to secure long for the list of fees to be an- PHUKET CITY: The Phuket The Ministry fears that one has already been exposed. affiliation with another interna- nounced – and whether venue Provincial Public Health Office of the sub-types of the four den- Although the risk of con- tionally recognized school. owners would be charged for (PPHO) is urging the public to gue viral strains common in Thai- tracting dengue is equally distrib- He also announced that a 2004/2005 licenses, K.