HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

“Dear Santa”

Authorities concentrating on the wrong problems

Looking for old friend

Roads are virtually impassable

To do - or not to do

Last km is the longest one

“Dear Santa”

Dear Ed,
I’d love to know, in all it’s years of publication, has anyone from city hall ever contacted the Pattaya Mail (out of concern) regarding any of the issues brought up by it, or it’s readers, in the ‘Letters’ page, or are all writers better off sending their letters to the North Pole before Christmas?

Could you, Mr. Editor, give us an answer on this? Just out of curiosity. Ever even once?

If they have not, it may be that none of them are fully conversant in English and don’t read this paper and it is therefore a complete waste of time for anyone with a complaint about the place writing in. Do we have any indications that the good mayor trundles off down the road every Friday for his copy to see what his beloved expat residents have to say about his methods of rule?

Then why doesn’t the Pattaya Mail arrange to have some of these issues brought forward to city hall in some other manner that might get their attention?

Don’t ask me how either! I’m not a lobbyist, only a happy boozer, and even that’s an ever increasing struggle!

Although, one idea might be to hold a weekly on-line poll in your paper about different stories in the headlines, votes and comments type effort, like most other on-line papers around the world have. Then, gather the number of votes and dump them on city hall’s doorstep ... before they dump them in the bin.

It might often generate a good feeling for the writers while they think, ‘right, there goes my whinge, can’t wait to have it published and have city hall jumping up and down over it’ but to me it’s seems that as they try to inform the English speaking public in Pattaya of all the wrongs and ever decreasing rights in this town, it does seem to be a complete waste of time if the letter writers hope that anyone that matters is actually reading and gives a hoot.
Cheers,
Maurice
PS: Scratch the above … Dear Santa …

Ed’s Reply: So many questions. Yes, city hall has contacted us on a number of occasions, and more than once because of a letter that appeared on the letters page. However, they are not much for going on record with a response, other than the usual rhetoric. Also, the Pattaya Mail is delivered every Friday to the mayor’s desk. Whether he reads it or not is anyone’s guess. If so, perhaps our good mayor might hazard a reply? Finally, an online poll sounds like a good idea. We’ll see if we can induce our web crew to create one.

Authorities concentrating on the wrong problems

Dear Sir;
Although I love Thailand and the Thai people, I do find the logic and short-sightedness of those in authority hard to understand.

I realise that this letter will do nothing to change their views, but I feel I want to express the views of my friends and, according to the letters in your paper, most of your readers.

It seems that the authorities are concerned about my morals, but not my safety.

Firstly morals. A high percentage of holiday makers are adult males who come to Pattaya to have a good time and spend a great deal of money. But they are told that behind closed doors they are not allowed to see anything that they, or a three year old child, cannot see on the beach every day. And they are told that they must go home to bed at two o’clock, also they are not allowed to start their night out before six p.m. I must agree with ‘curious’ (Pattaya Mail 10th), that depriving some of the poorer Thais of a part of their income, what else have they to turn to but crime? In the seven years I have been here I have seen a steady decline in the number of holidaymakers. If this continues and more locals are out of work, Pattaya will become the crime capital of Thailand.

Can the authorities not see that their rigid new rules are driving people away? No one wants Pattaya to become sleazy, but hasn’t the social order gone too far?

As for not being concerned with my safety, I take my life in my hands every time I cross either Beach Road or Second Road. If I don’t get hit by a baht bus swerving to get a customer, I will be hit by a motorbike roaring past him, or the one coming the wrong way. But where are the controlled crossings for pedestrians? I have never seen one in Pattaya. The blocks of white paint crossing the road mean nothing to anyone. I recently stopped to let a family cross at one of these only to see them mowed down by a motorbike who had no idea why I had stopped. So I do not stop anymore as it is too dangerous for the pedestrians. And what about the Dolphin roundabout? It is every man for himself, and I have seen many accidents there, but the solution is so simple, why is nothing done about these problems?

If as much effort was put into traffic safety (which I feel is more important) as there is in the ‘social order’ Pattaya would be a better place.

Having said all this I still live here and enjoy life in Pattaya, but it greatly concerns me that things are changing and not for the good
Regards
Roger

Looking for old friend

To editor or proper person:

My name is David Galvan and I was stationed in Thailand from Oct. 1972 to Oct. 1973. I served in the 554 Red Horse (Ma Dang). I was hoping I might be able to get some help or suggestions on how I can locate someone that worked for us back then. I will be visiting the country and staying in Pattaya next month - arriving the 19th of Oct. and will be staying for two weeks.

Unfortunately, all I remember is the first name. His name was Sorn. He worked with me (they called me ‘Gonewin’ because he couldn’t pronounce my last name), Sgt. Dan Dasilva and Sgt. Jackson at the Utapao U.S. Air Force base.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
David Galvan
[email protected]

Roads are virtually impassable

Dear Sirs,
May the highways department take notice that a great number of residents living outside of Pattaya’s ‘beautification’ process areas are under threat. Under threat? Yes, under threat of loss of life and limb each time they leave their front doors.

The old, old story of dangerous roads has risen again. I will mention three in particular: Siam Country Club Road opposite Wannasin Farm has potholes nearly 40cms deep right across the carriageway. The eastern end of Soi Nong Yai near the junction of Siam Country Club Road has been ripped up by workers from the wastewater treatment company during their underground moleing operations, resulting in potholes again 40cms deep and worsening daily. This particular road is relatively new and was in perfect condition until these people ruined it; why haven’t they been ordered to make proper and effective repairs? Soi Lab Lae (31), running between Siam Country Club Road and Nerm Plab Warn is in the same condition nearby the Japanese college.

I have seen accidents at each of these sites over the past six weeks and the situation is now so bad the roads are virtually impassable. As a taxpayer contributing a fair amount of money each month to the local economy I ask where is it going? Who is stealing mine and other taxpayers’ money? Where are the road inspectors?

The city and roads authorities are being so blatantly negligent it is bordering on the criminal. Gentlemen, you are hereby notified that the residents have had enough and legal counsel is being sought to bring you and your departments to account. I invite you to immediately visit these sites and see for yourselves, to get out of your comfortable air-conditioned offices and do the job you are paid to do! Can you tell me why you spent money ‘beautifying’ North Road at the junction of Third? Why ‘beautify’ Central Road when it was already in good condition and why waste more money on ‘beautifying’ Beach Road when you are by your negligence risking the lives and well being of your population in other areas? You want photographs? I’ll give you photographs!
Name and address supplied

To do - or not to do

Editor;
Having now reached the ripe old age of 65, we are thinking of buying a house in Thailand and retire here. By we I mean my Thai born wife of 19 years standing and myself. A citizen of Holland. 2 or 3 things bother us, however. In Holland my wife was given an unlimited visa for Holland. Also a work permit. This because of being my wife. In Thailand I will get almost nothing, in spite of being married to A Thai national (we have 2 grownup children who will stay in Holland),

Whereas my wife neither paid anything for her visa / work permit nor did she have to “show her face” every 90 days. I will only get a 3 months visa. No work permit (latter really I don’t need) and pay a lot of money for the privilege of staying in the city where my wife was born 54 years ago. As I only now have my pension is this a cause to worry for us.

Another worry we have is the instability of the government’s thinking, and because of this, planning is made impossible. They (the government) come up with new ideas all the time. One campaign follows another. Unpredictable is the word. What today is right, is a case of 5 years jail tomorrow. What today is free, will cost 1 million baht tomorrow. Slingering and wavering is the work of the present government. Everything is not to be foreseen.

How then, can we stay here, buy a house and sleep well at night, when we don’t know if tomorrow there will be a new law that forbids anyone from another country to sleep in a Thai house? Or perhaps pay 1000 baht tax per night for sleeping on Thai soil. All is unstable. Today one has to show 800,000 baht to get a 365 day visa. Perhaps tomorrow it is 5 million one has to show.

We don’t know what to do! Does anyone here? Is everyone only hoping for the best. And that’s all?! Does anyone know what tomorrow will be new?

Now we are here on a holiday. Should we go, never to come back again? Or trust our luck and stay?

Fred Landers and wife
Groningen, Holland
At present Landmark Hotel Bangkok

Last km is the longest one

Sir,
I have noticed on many occasions that it can take longer for a letter to get from Banglamung Post Office to my house (about 5 km) than it took to get from its country of origin to Thailand.

As it is obviously impossible to improve the service, may I suggest that if Banglamung Post Office wish to present an air of credibility, then they stop date stamping the backs of envelopes. Alternatively, given the bureaucratic passion for stamps, and not wishing to put the stamper out of a job, they use an internal code. Then no one will be the wiser.
Gwyn Parfitt

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