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Beach Road utilities go underground
‘Spaghetti’ cables and wires will disappear
Suchada Tupchai
Pattaya’s 250 million baht project of relocating all above
ground cables on Beach Road has finally started. Construction crews are now
busily digging the 3.4-kilometer trench in which all telephone, TV and
electrical cables will be placed underground.
The project, which was approved last September and due to
start earlier this year, failed to begin due to the changing of the city’s
management team, but it is now back on track. The process should take about
9-12 months to complete.
Yonyuth Parnsri, Pattaya building control supervisor told
reporters, “The project has now become a reality. It was initially due to
start in June, but because of the changeover in city management and the
constant rain it was delayed. We expect to finish the project in February
2005.”
All cables from the Dolphin Roundabout in North Pattaya down
to Walking Street will be removed and placed in specially designated pipes.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn commented, “This is a great
project, as far as city development. We received the approval for 250 million
baht and have begun construction. It will beautify the beachfront and has won
great approval from residents and tourists alike. It is also safer for the
public. The project will be complete in approximately a year because all cables
and power poles will need to be carefully removed.”
The mayor added the city also intends to deal with numerous street signs
along Beach Road and keep them in complete order.
City traffic woes to continue
Public opinion mixed on transport system measures
Suchada Tupchai
Solving the city’s traffic problems will take time, it
was revealed at a meeting in city hall last week. The city’s latest
program to deal with traffic woes, the designated bus routes trial, has
received favorable opinions from the public, but continues to receive
resistance from the Songtaew Co-operative.
Jamlong
Sukprom (center), Songtaew Co-op chairman voiced his objections on behalf of
the co-op.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn, who met with traffic
researchers and the Songtaew Co-operative to discuss the results of the
city’s 6-month designated bus routes trial, announced that despite
opposition to the program, the baht bus co-operative must implement a strict
code of conduct and that the city would enforce new routes.
The traffic research project, which began on Valentines
Day this year with a free air-conditioned bus service, caused a stir among
the songtaew community and the project was modified.
Prof. Dr. Thawatchai Laosirihongtong, traffic research
and development director for the King Mongkut University of Technology in
Thonburi said, “Following the initial survey, 84 percent of the general
public favored the bus service. Another survey taken at the end of the
project showed that 66 percent of the public approved the songtaew (baht
bus) service. This is specifically after the drivers changed their attitude
and became more polite and drove more safely.”
The mayor reviewed the comments and offered his opinion,
“The results are promising but we must resolve Pattaya’s traffic
problems.”
It was suggested that one route be implemented from the
Jaroenrat Village in Naklua to Jomtien (28.8 km), and a second route from
North Pattaya Road. However, this route could cause problems due to too many
baht buses using the same route and causing traffic snarls.
The mayor added he would discuss the matter with
provincial transport officials to review a number of routes and that the
process would take at least one year, but no more than two to complete. It
would also encompass other cooperatives to review their respective routes
for the benefit of the general public.
Prof. Dr. Thawatchai added, “Pattaya is considered a
special city and as such, requires specific management to develop its
infrastructure services, specifically along Beach Road. Perhaps the city
should take over a number of baht buses to maintain a degree of order along
this particular road and allow the others to run their normal routes under
tighter guidelines so they are able to support themselves.”
Upset at these suggestions, Jamlong Sukprom, Songtaew
Co-op chairman retorted, “Why doesn’t the traffic research and
development department see the real issue and not just what they want to
see? You only see the operations and the main results of the project,
especially the mini-bus. Who wouldn’t favor the mini-bus? It’s
air-conditioned and the fare was free or only 5 baht. The songtaew drivers
cannot do this since they must earn a living for themselves and their
families.”
Mayor Niran announced that the mini-bus service would continue and
Pattaya Second Road will remain one-way for the convenience of motorists. He
said the city would rearrange the routes within the next 1 to 2 years, in
cooperation with traffic research and development, adding that the co-op
must conform to the rules and provide better service.
New Ministry of Commerce SME consulting center opened in North Pattaya
Information and advice for Thailand’s entrepreneurs
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Local entrepreneurs looking for advice were offered an
opportunity to visit the new consulting center at the Central Festival
Center in North Pattaya. The center opened last Saturday morning and drew
great interest from residents and business operators alike.
 Karun
Kittistarporn, Ministry of Commerce permanent secretary tested some of the
products on offer as part of the center opening.
Aimed at helping small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)
the Ministry of Commerce has set up centers around the country to boost
local businesses by offering free consultations. The project comes under the
ministry’s 2004 budget to further develop the nation’s economy and
provide a solid foundation for Thailand’s small business sectors.
Pattaya was the 7th center out of 8 nationwide to open,
with seminars previously held in Central Department Store in Bangkok’s
Pinklao, Bangna and Rama 3 branches, and in the provincial branches of Had
Yai, Songkhla, Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima. The next will held in
northeastern Ubon Ratchathani from September 9-12.
The staff at the center offers a range of information
packages and subjects such as marketing, accounting, business development
and franchises. Export and import is covered, with the center providing
information on formalities. Business owners can participate in trade shows
both in Thailand and abroad, and receive information on the economic
outlook. Registration services are also available at the center.
The center completed their stint in Pattaya on Tuesday before moving on
to the next location. The opening ceremonies were presided over by Karun
Kittistarporn, permanent secretary for the Ministry of Commerce.
City’s mobile service visits residents in the Roi Lung area
City and private sector aid those in need
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Residents of the Roi Lung community in Pattaya-Naklua
were the latest recipients of Pattaya’s monthly mobile service. The
program aims to aid residents and allow them to discuss their problems with
people in charge.
 City
officials handed over rice and dried food to residents.
An array of services, including free health and dental
checkups, hair cutting and consultation services, was offered last Tuesday.
The mobile service drew great interest from residents who turned out in
force to partake of what was on offer.
The monthly service provided by the city is an important
part of the city’s commitment to its less fortunate residents and aims to
improve their quality of life through the activity.
Locals deposited recyclable rubbish in exchange for eggs,
received consumables, necessary day-to-day items and sporting equipment. The
Pattaya police all-stars were again the main attraction providing
entertainment for the community.
“This is an important service for the community and
allows them to discuss problems with city management so they feel taken care
of. We also survey the area and see what we can do to help,” said Mayor
Niran, who was also part of the service team.
The monthly service program has also received great support from the
private sector, which donates food and consumable items.
KRC suggests 10 energy-saving approaches
To
provide the government with more alternative measures to cope with the
current oil price crisis, the Kasikorn Research Center (KRC) has suggested
10 approaches to saving energy consumption. The nation’s leading think
tank said local gasoline prices broke the level of 21 baht per liter to a
recorded high on August 17, and were likely to go higher soon.
Pressed by the continual rise in fuel prices, the
government was going to allow gasoline prices to float, and finding short,
medium and long-term measures to save the energy consumption. Among them are
mandatory measures to close oil service stations after midnight and
switching off lights on advertisement billboards. Department stores will be
asked to close at 20.00 hours and discount stores to close at 22.00 hours.
Other measures will also be introduced to encourage Thais
to make more use of the mass transit systems, increase the number of buses
and other means of public transport to meet the needs of Thais, especially
Bangkok residents, and promote more use of alternative fuels, like ethanol
or natural gas.
The construction of more “park and ride buildings” to
help reduce the number of cars on Bangkok’s roads during rush hours, and
the introduction of special taxes to discourage the use of personal cars
will also be introduced.
To add the mandatory and voluntary measures to those
announced by the government, KRC suggested the following 10 energy-saving
approaches. They include overhauling a plan for travel to offices and
educational places, taking short cuts, strictly complying with traffic
rules, checking car conditions, studying a smart drive scheme, choosing to
fill up fuel at quality service stations, changing behaviors of consumption,
eating and relaxation, using communication systems more frequently, adopting
a car pool system, and shopping at nearby places. (TNA)
City Scope
with Mayor Niran: Plans, problems and obstacles
addressed for city’s future
Suchada Tupchai
In an effort to create awareness among the community,
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn held a press conference at city hall last
week to reveal his plans for Pattaya. “I want the people of Pattaya to
know what’s going on and what are the future plans for the city,”
announced the mayor.
 “After
the first 2 full months we have managed to upgrade our procedures and
provide better service for residents. During that time we have focused
mainly on the planning phase and restructuring the government
departments,” Niran stated.
Niran went on to reveal the city’s 1.412 billion baht
2004 budget was divided into two areas. The first being expenses, including
salaries and utilities. The second is for investment and maintenance, to
which city taxes contribute.
“We have set up numerous projects to effectively deal
with the budgetary allowances to further develop the city in the areas of
environment, maintenance, and human resource development to name just a
few,” said Niran.
Local government employees are to receive additional
training to enhance efficiency over a three-year period. The mayor stressed
this is important because it would enable the city to better serve public
interest.
“We have just opened the Service Link Center that
enables residents to use important services at one place, i.e. various
permits, telephone, water and electricity requests, and more.”
Further development of education at local schools and
creating new curricula in which students will learn a second language is now
considered vital for the growth of the city. The mayor added that plans are
being finalized to begin a free bus service for the city’s school
children, as well as looking at the potential to build a university campus
in Pattaya.
“We would most likely join with Burapha University for
this project but not until the various logistics are worked out. I think we
should focus on the hospitality and service industries initially, since it
is a driving force in Pattaya,” Niran said.
The mayor also touched on Pattaya’s traffic problems,
saying that plans to change songtaew routes are being discussed with the
provincial transport department and training seminars are being held for
drivers to instill a service mindset.
Moving onto environmental issues, Niran said that the
city now has a successful recycling program underway and that he intends to
clean up the city, especially the beaches, and repair infrastructure as well
as local tourist destinations to create a better image of the city for
visitors.
On the tourism front he said, “We are presently in
discussions with a professional PR company to bring about a regular
newsletter and news releases to inform visitors of what’s going on in
advance. This has been suggested by the Tourist Authority of Thailand and
we’ll also market the city to international visitors,” he said.
Niran commented that the city’s main lifeblood is
tourism and that he intends to develop language skills for the city to
enable better communication with international visitors. “This is the
intended plan, problems and obstacles that we are looking over the next 2
years. I will inform you on the progress as things continue to happen,” he
concluded.
On the first and second Saturday of the month, Mayor
Niran will appear on Sophon Cable TV at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., Banglamung Cable
TV at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., Baan Amphur-Jomtien Cable and MCOT radio from 2
p.m. to 2.30 p.m. Also, every 3rd and 4th Sunday of the month on Sor Tor Ror
5 (Navy Radio 5) from noon to 12.30 p.m. Regular articles about the mayor
and his work appear in the Pattaya Mail (English) and Pattaya Post (Thai).
Royal Thai Navy hits Pattaya in huge cleanup operation
Recruits scour city in honor of HM the Queen
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Over 1,000 naval recruits took part in an annual Pattaya
cleanup project on August 17 as part of their tribute to HM the Queen.
Joining them were 200 of the city’s sanitation crew as they spread about
through the city collecting rubbish, sharp rocks from the beaches and
removing weeds and long grass.
 Naval
recruits out in full force do their best to clean up Pattaya.
The day began at city hall where the mayor joined RTN Lt.
Anuchart Intrasen, deputy commander of the recruit training center, Sattahip,
in paying respects at the city’s King Thaksin memorial statue. The 1,200
plus team then spread out through Pattaya, Jomtien and Naklua to perform
their duty.
“It is important to remind residents that they must care for the
environment and keep the city clean, especially since Pattaya has many
residents. As a result, we do not have enough staff to take care of every
area and thanks to the navy’s assistance we can maintain many areas often
forgotten,” Mayor Niran commented.
Foreigner fined for slapping service girl for services not rendered
Some items just not on the menu
Boonlua
Chatree
Police were called to a disturbance at a hotel in Central
Pattaya between two women and a foreigner at around 2 a.m. on August 19.
Arriving at the location police witnessed the three in a heated argument.
Officers broke the group apart and escorted them to the station.
 Mikael
Persson was fined for slapping a service girl for not providing “special
service”.
Mikael Persson, a Swedish national, told police that he
had been to a local beer bar and had decided to take a girl back to his
room, spending over a thousand baht in drinks and a bar fine.
The woman in question, Lamyai Soonklarng, 25, told police
that she had intended to accompany the foreigner back to his room for an
evening of bedroom activities but the agreement turned sour when the man
demanded oral satisfaction, which she promptly refused.
Lamyai was adamant that she would not perform the act and
requested to go back to work. Perrson demanded his money back from the bar.
Lamyai claimed it was not part of the agreement and refused.
The woman then called on a friend as back up and all
three began shouting match. Angry, Persson allegedly slapped Lamyai as her
friend arrived. As the woman’s friend, identified as Suwannee, tried to
stop the fight, she too received a slap for her interference.
Police, acting as mediators in the civil dispute, questioned the injured
parties. Lamyai said she did not want to make a big fuss and just wanted to
go back to work. Suwanne, however, called for compensation. Persson agreed
to paying the woman 1,000 baht and police fined him an extra 500 baht for
disturbing the peace. They were all given a warning to behave before being
released.
Drunken Finns crash motorcycle while showing off
Wild ‘wheelies’ put pair in hospital
Boonlua Chatree
Two Finnish tourists were injured after crashing a 900cc
motorcycle on Beach Road, near Soi 9 at around 3 a.m. on August 18. Abslem
Sikri, 25, and Ramzi Belgacom, 26, both from Finland, had apparently lost
control of the bike after attempting to ride along on the back wheel.
 Maybe
this downed tourist learned that sometimes discretion is the better part of
valor.
The impact also caused the fuel tank on their rented 900cc
motorcycle to rupture and spill fuel onto the road nearby, creating a dangerous
situation.
Witnesses told police that they saw the men ride along Beach Road and upon
reaching the beer bars they attempted a wheel stand to impress onlookers. Abslem
Sikri was trying to control the large bike while pillion rider Sikri, who was
wearing a helmet, hung on for dear life. The victims were rushed to a hospital
for treatment of broken arms.
Four injured in bus crash
Big bus slams into u-turning mini-bus
Boonlua Chatree
Four passengers in a mini-bus received cuts and bruises
when a large tour bus rammed into the back of the smaller vehicle shortly
after midnight on August 19 on the Naklua stretch of Sukhumvit Road. The
four people, including the driver of the mini bus, were taken to hospital
for treatment.
 A
daring late night U-turn ended with two buses on their sides and four people
injured.
Banglamung police and rescue personnel arrived at
accident scene to find both vehicles laying on their sides. The mini-bus had
sustained major damages to the rear end.
Police questioned the driver of the Rungruang bus, which
travels regularly from Bangkok to Pattaya, Bunlue Prasopsuk, 42. He told
officers that he was on his way home when the mini-bus pulled out in front
of him after completing a U-turn. Bunlue added that he slammed on the brakes
but was unable to stop in time and hit the smaller vehicle before careering
off the road. He told officers that company insurance would take care of the
damage and medical expenses incurred in the accident.
The injured people, Saengarun Naegratoke 33, mini-bus driver and his
passengers Sanong Rairua, 77, Sod Kianthong and his wife Chin Kiantong, both
66 and Vasin Rairua, 7, sustained injuries and were treated at Banglamung
Hospital. The other 6 mini-bus passengers were uninjured in the accident.
One dead, one injured
in construction accident
Hit by falling material
Boonlua Chatree
Carelessness and neglect were cited as the cause of a
construction accident that killed one man and critically injuring another at
a Soi Khaotalo condo block.
Banglamung police were called to a Pattaya hospital after
staff reported the death of one man. Police arrived at the hospital shortly
after 6.30 p.m. on August 20. They examined the body of the deceased, who
was identified as Kaemchai Thimasarn, 42. There was a gaping wound to his
head and his neck was broken after being crushed by a falling object. The
injured man, who was undergoing emergency care, was identified as Somkwan
Goodphae, 35. He had sustained multiple fractures to his arms leg and neck.
Police questioned Somnuek Saenghaew, 35, and Chokchai
Chimnoi, 19, who brought the two men to the hospital for treatment. They
told officers that they were working at a 13 story condo in Soi Khao Noi and
that they were lifting furniture to the top of the building when the
accident occurred.
Somnuek told police that both Kaemchai and Somkwan were
supervising the lift of five heavy cabinets to the top of the building. The
heavy items began to swing and knocked against the wall at around the
seventh floor. The jolt caused the bindings to come loose sending the
furniture plummeting to the ground directly on top of Kaemchai and Somkwan.
Somnuek added that his foreman instructed them to take the two men to
hospital immediately.
Police visited the construction site to find no one
around. A pool of blood was found where the accident had occurred and it
appeared that attempts had been made to cover it up. They also found the
large cabinet and steel girders, weighing over 200 kilograms, nearby. They
recorded their findings as evidence and intend to talk to the project owner
and the contractor for further details. The foreman and crane driver are
wanted for questioning.
Major drug dealer netted in police crackdown
String of arrests follow
Boonlua Chatree
Criminal investigation officers learned that a major drug
dealer was in the Pattaya area, known for distributing his wares at numerous
entertainment venues around the city. At 5.30 a.m. on August 13, Banglamung
officers spotted the dealer’s car in Pattaya-Naklua and stopped it to
conduct a regular inspection.
The vehicle’s owner, Ruj Suwantat, 43, was arrested
after police found 100 ecstasy tablets and 40 bottles of ketamine (‘ya
K’) underneath the car seats. The drugs, the vehicle and a mobile phone
were confiscated and officers detained Ruj for interrogation at the
Banglamung police station.
After questioning, police moved in on the man’s
Sattahip residence where they arrested a 25 year old woman in possession of
a further 25 ecstasy tables and crystalline amphetamine known as ice.
Another two men were arrested in the operation, each in possession of
ecstasy tablets and ice crystals. All were charged accordingly.
The operation comes after Pol. Gen. Jongrak Jutanont
Region 2 police commissioner ordered an earnest crackdown on drug dealers in
the province.
Back at Banglamung, police inspecting the evidence
against Ruj Suwantat suspected that his ID card was a fake and proceeded
with further interrogation. Ruj eventually confessed that it was fake and
told officers that he paid 50,000 baht to have the document created.
Ruj Suwantat, whose former name was Amnart, told officers
that he had been arrested in 1997 on charges of possessing 10,000
methamphetamine pills. He posted bail and later registered his former
identity as having died to escape the case altogether before moving to
Bangkok to return to his criminal activities.
Editorial: Running on a fine line-time
Suchada Tupchai
In June this year, all eyes turned towards Pattaya’s new
mayor and administrative team to see if the old familiar faces would continue as
in the past. We were more or less waiting for some sign as to how the new
management team and councilors would handle themselves in the public arena, and
how they would respond after winning the election. What new things would be
installed for the city and can they resolve the city’s social and economic
slump? This was uppermost on people’s minds.
Promises to the people
Pattaya’s newest executive, the mayor, asked the public,
“Give me time to work.”
Well, almost 10 years of problems pounding on the mayoral
door begging to be solved, right down to the newest projects aimed at addressing
Pattaya’s social, environmental and tourism malaise, was not an easy mouthful
to swallow by any means. The ghosts of the past still haunt the present, as
Pattaya has been considered a civilized anarchy, a haven for unemployment,
escalating crime, environmental and tourism woes that are more like unsolvable
mathematical problems. The new execs must break the code and solve the
calculation if they are to succeed.
Two months on!
Still not time to make a decision on Pattaya yet! The
management team is just getting warmed up and has plenty of opportunity to prove
themselves, even as they detract attention away from the lure of benefiting
those in power. As in the past the mayor promised - like an engagement ring that
never appeared - to become the almighty salesman, selling the city’s wares and
its postcard picture to develop tourism in a new way. However, we see the same
old activities, with the only change being more local cooperation as the
inter-border tourism market plummets to disturbing levels.
What about PR?
One of the most important aspects that the new management
seems to have left by the wayside is good public relations - not just sending
out press releases, which don’t reach the masses, residents or tourists. Most
residents are left in the dark as to what activities, festivals and events are
happening right in their own city, leaving the ever-present questions on many
lips, “What is the city administration doing? How and what are they planning?
What are the results?” Even the mayor confesses to this downfall and is
apparently making an effort to “rectify” this and many other weak points in
the administration. Hence, meeting the people head-on to reveal “the master
plan” and create an air of transparency to all concerned is imperative.
Asking for “time to work” and manage
Despite looking more like a major research project in which
the local populace studies the outer workings and results of the “new
management”, many still feel confident and are prepared to give them time to
work through the problems one step at a time. Most hope that they will “stay
on fire” and continue in their quest to continually develop the city and not
just save their own faces.
Annual bartender contest ready to shake it up
Retro Shake Contest’ on September 1
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The annual Pattaya Bartender contest is set to shake
the Dusit Resort Pattaya on September 1 at the hotel’s ballroom. The
yearly competition featuring the eastern region’s best bartenders and
liveliest hotels staff will be held under the theme ‘Retro Shake’
from 6 p.m. this coming Wednesday evening.
The competition, considered one of the highlights in
the region’s hospitality industry, will feature a ’60s theme this
year. This is also a popular spectator event and always a crowd pleaser.
More than 20 of the region’s hotels will compete
for over 100,000 baht in prizes. Competitions included fruit and
vegetable carving, table dressing, flower arranging, wedding photos,
cake decoration and one of the most popular, the ‘Miss Bartender’
pageant.
The aim of the event is to further develop and
improve the standards in the nation’s hospitality industry, which is
in line with the government’s tourism promotion policies.
This year’s contest is jointly organized and
supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Pattaya Hotels
Association, Thai Hotel’s Association-Eastern Chapter, Eastern
Housekeeping association and Pattaya Business and Tourism Association.
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