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7.5 million baht allotted for study to solve city’s traffic problems
Eight main bottlenecks to be addressed
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Eight main traffic bottlenecks in Pattaya were addressed
when a new traffic research project was presented at city hall on January 5.
The overall 7.5 million baht research program into solving the city traffic
problems will also investigate the possibility of building underpass tunnels at
major intersections along Sukhumvit Road.
 Mayor
Niran Wattanasartsathorn presides over the meeting.
During the meeting, the mayor and city administrators
discussed short term and long term plans with representatives from private
consulting firms and traffic development personnel from the transport
department.
Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn said that since Pattaya is
growing at a rapid rate, the need for long term plans to ease the flow of
traffic is needed. He added that 2.5 million baht has already been allocated to
resolve traffic problems on Pattaya’s three main roads: Beach Road, 2nd Road
and 3rd Road. Plans are also afoot to widen road surfaces and install traffic
light sensors at intersections, at an additional 5 million baht.
Niran went on to say, “The general opinion is to solve
traffic problems on Sukhumvit Road. It is an important artery for the city,
serving residents and tourists entering and exiting Pattaya and surrounding
areas. Currently there are 8 main points where problems occur: The Banglamung
intersection, North Pattaya, Central Pattaya, South Pattaya, Thepprasit and
Chaiyapruek intersections as well as railway bridges and crossings at
Chaiyapruek 2 and Soi Praparmitr. The initial plans are to investigate the
viability of underpass tunnels as a long term plan. Whatever the case may be,
an adequate study must be carried out.”
The mayor concluded by saying that if the results of the 2005 study prove
beneficial, the budget approval to start the project could be as early as 2007.
Local administrators reminded to run fair elections in February
MOI to keep close watch
Suchada Tupchai
Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula was recently in Pattaya to
spread the word that the upcoming elections should be run fair, and that the
Interior Ministry would be on the lookout for any corruption during the election
process. He stated that election officers will be out in force, and will act
with efficiency and fairness.
 Interior
Minister Bhokin Bhalakula stressed the importance of keeping the elections fair
and free from corruption and that a close eye will be kept on the proceedings to
make sure they are conducted strictly within the bounds of the law.
Interior Minister Bhokin made these statements during a
conference he presided over on December 26 at the Ambassador City Jomtien to
prepare local administrators for the February 6 Parliamentary elections. He
laid down the law, putting a great deal of emphasis on how local administrators
should not promote certain candidates ahead of others.
“The Department of Provincial Administration has stated
that administrative officers should be neutral,” Bhokin said. “They should
support all officers, people in charge, employees, and all officer groups so
that the public can freely exercise their right to vote.”
Bhokin also stressed that the voting public should make sure
they have proper documentation come voting day. “Voters must be in possession
of their national ID cards and be ready to present them on demand. If voters’
ID cards have expired, they must obtain new cards. We urge the public not to
procrastinate on this issue, as current ID cards are essential,” he said.
Chonburi Governor Pisit Ketphasook; Chanyuth Hengtrakul,
advisor to Ministry of Tourism and Sports; Worawit Saisupatphol, Banglamung
district chief, central administrators and representatives from other concerned
agencies attended the conference.
Pol. Gen. Watsana Permlap, president of the Election Members Committee, said
that rules, regulations and supporting details for the election are fixed
according to law, and cover the scope of authority and duty, including
behavior. The regulations will be implemented and used as a standard on
Election Day, February 6.
City lays down the law to cheeky Koh Larn boat operators
Numerous complaints of overcharging lead to clampdown
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
Following a continuing stream of complaints from
tourists, city officials read the riot act to Koh Larn boat and jet ski
operators last week. The meeting, held at city hall on January 6, was
attended by administrators and numerous business operators from the island
community.
(L to R)
Sutham Petchgate, Koh Larn community chairman, Apichart Puechphan, deputy
municipal clerk, Sanit Boonmarchai city councilor and Pol. Capt. Jirawat
Sukontsap, Pattaya tourist police officer.
Apichart Puechphan, the city’s deputy municipal clerk
who presided over the meeting, said that the city has received too many
complaints from tour companies and tourists about the extortionist methods
used by boat and jet ski operators on the island. He went on to say that
such complaints were detrimental to the island’s tourism business and
damaging to the city’s image. He specifically mentioned the problems were
centered on Tawaen Beach.
Sanit Boonmarchai, city councilman suggested, “The city
must take urgent action to rectify this problem in order prevent visitors
losing faith in us, causing a future loss of business. The central committee
would like to see tourist police patrol the island, observe business
practices there and investigate claims of malfeasance.”
Pattaya has already instigated legislation to control
business practices by boat operators. The 2000 legislation, paragraph 60
(12) gives the city the right to control banana boat, speed boat and jet ski
operations, enforce a regular pricing practice and visibly state in Thai,
English, Chinese and any other language deemed necessary that prices should
be clearly displayed.
The city also reserves the right to fine operators 5,000
baht for the first offence in breaching the regulations, 10,000 baht for the
second offence and possible revocation of business license.
As with many regulations in Pattaya, it is still unclear who or which
department will enforce the law and whether the problems can indeed be
solved. Only time will tell.
Pattaya hotels asked not to raise rates
Told not to take advantage of tsunami crisis
Suchada Tupchai
Thanet Supornsaharungsi, president of the Pattaya Business
and Tourism Association (PBTA), made an appeal to smaller hotels to resist
opportunism and not raise their rates, thus taking advantage of visitors.
 Thanet
Supornsaharungsi, president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association
asked hotels not to raise rates so as not to take advantage of the tsunami
crisis.
Speaking on December 29, just days after the tsunami
disaster hit Thailand’s southern tourist destinations, Thanet asked for
cooperation from the city’s hotel industry by not seizing the opportunity to
raise their room rates, which would lead to tarnishing Pattaya’s image with
tourists. He pointed out that many more tourists would be arriving in Pattaya
due to the disaster caused in the six southern provinces. However, he said the
Thai Hotel Association (THA) Eastern Chapter is worried that many smaller
hotels will take advantage of this event to increase their prices.
Thanet said, “Normally, hotel rates are higher during the
peak season, but are not over the THA standard rate. At the beginning of the
year, most of the rooms in the THA were booked, and that brought problems for
the additional numbers of tourists coming to Pattaya City. Some tourists had to
stay in smaller hotels, and some of these hotels increased their prices. These
price increases could bring a negative image to Pattaya City. Therefore we
would like to ask all hotel entrepreneurs to keep their standard service and
price, as not to affect the long-term global tourism image of Pattaya City.”
Thanet said that in this period, most hotel rooms in Pattaya
are booked, especially over the New Year weekend. However, rooms are more
readily available after the holidays. This year it is estimated that many more
tourists will stay in Pattaya a lot longer, because they changed their vacation
plans to stay away from parts of southern Thailand, opting to stay in Pattaya
instead.
Tourists can ask for more information from TAT Mid Thailand Sector 3 at tel.
038-428750 and 038-427667.
City Scope: Mayor announces plans
for the 2005 budget
More improvement projects on the way
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
On December 30, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn met with the
press to discuss the city’s 2005 budget and talk about Pattaya’s plans for
further development in the city.
 Mayor
Niran speaks about future development
The mayor first spoke about the government’s plans to use
some of the 2005 budget to develop Pattaya City’s scenic image. To this end,
10 million baht has been allocated for light decorations at Pratamnak Hill and
Pattaya Beach.
“Currently, the Pattaya City Health Garden, consisting of
a running track, a road, and a lighthouse at the headland, is located on
Pratamnak Hill. It is necessary to fix the lighting and to do so in a way that
would be aesthetically nice, as well as have enough illumination to be
functional. This plan will start in the next few days. There is also a plan to
install a large ‘Pattaya City’ sign on the side of the mountain, and to
provide more light to the sign’s location.”
The next item on the mayor’s agenda was how the East Water
Company would revive and develop the community at Larn Island, including the
island’s water supply system, professional development, construction of a
health center and improving living standards for residents. All of these plans
need over 50 million baht from the budget. Currently Larn Island is a favorite
locale for tourists, and is considered the best place for investing and
developing the economy.
Mayor Niran said, “We must also further improve our
efforts to make our town a healthy place to live. Therefore we’ve allocated
150 million baht from the budget to develop a public park for exercise and
relaxation, and to build a youth sports center at Soi Wat Bunkanjanaram. Right
now the plan is ready. We also plan to build a children’s museum a 50 million
baht budget, because we will have some land leftover after building the sports
center. The children can use this place for exercise, and to gain knowledge at
the museum.”
Lastly, the mayor said, “There is a plan to construct a road along the
west side of the railway to reduce traffic on Sukhumvit Road, and reduce
traffic flow in Pattaya City. This will be given a 160 million baht budget.
This road would start along the Chachoengsao - Sattahip railway on the west
side (across Pattaya City), and continue from Chaiyapornwithee Road to
Chaiyrapruk 2 Road. This will also support Pattaya City’s development plans
to become a tourism center for the country.”
Officials inspect food safety
at supermarkets and food shops
Consumers have a right to safe, fresh food
Suchada Tupchai
In accordance with government policy, supermarkets and food
shops are receiving regular checks from the health department to make sure
consumers are getting safe, fresh food. An information campaign aimed at
shoppers is also underway to educate them on how to make good choices concerning
the food they buy.
 Deputy
Governor Pisit Bunchuang led the Provincial Public Health Officers in inspecting
the quality of goods and food at Big C in North Pattaya.
Chonburi’s deputy governor, Pisit Bunchuang, members of
the Chonburi Public Health Department, Wuttisak Rermkijikarn, deputy mayor, and
Wannaporn Chaemchamrat, director of the Pattaya Health and Environment
Department inspected the food shops at the Big C Department Store in North
Pattaya, and informed customers about food safety.
Pisit said that the inspection and information provided is
per the central government and Chonburi’s fixed policy for food safety from
2004-2005. He said officials have received statements from consumers that foods
in gift baskets from shops and department stores were below standards or
expired. He said he has asked the appropriate official departments to regularly
check on this problem.
Pisit said, “The 2005 New Year’s festival in Chonburi
Province has brought increasing numbers of tourists to the area, both Thai and
foreign. The public will spend money on gifts, especially for gift baskets.
Shops and department stores have been informed that officials will strictly
enforce the regulations geared to protect consumers’ rights to buy quality
standard goods distributed in Thailand.”
Tesco Lotus’s Chonburi branch and Makro were also recently
inspected.
Consumers with complaints should inform the Public Health Department
District Office, by calling tel. 038-276631-6 ext. 115, or fax 038-274932 or
call direct line 038-279464.
Immigration police arrest, deport Uzbekistan nationals suspected of prostitution
Pay for play not considered legal import
Boonlua Chatree
Acting on orders from the regional commander, Pattaya
immigration police detained two Uzbekistan nationals suspected of human
trafficking and prostitution. 23-year-olds Sherzod Shavkatoy and Alesya
Kavalchuk were taken into custody after an investigation revealed there was
some substance to the allegations.
 These
Uzbek citizens were deported for trying to import prostitution.
Sherzod apparently admitted to organizing women to come to
Pattaya to partake in the illegal activities, taking 1,500 baht from services
provided by the women in lieu of accommodation and airfares. His visa was
revoked and he was ordered to leave the country.
Alesya was detained on charges of solicitation and was
deported from the kingdom.
The clampdown comes after government officials from both countries were made
aware of activities of such people.
New Year’s holiday ends
with a clang for some
illegal merchants
Fireworks sellers arrested over New Year period
Boonlua
Chatree
Three of Pattaya’s illegal fireworks merchants saw in the
New Year with the clang of iron jailhouse doors after Pattaya crime suppression
officers caught them trying to circumvent laws restricting the sale of
fireworks.
Police confiscated
over a hundred thousand baht worth of fireworks from the back of a pickup truck,
and detained three women who confessed to selling fireworks to tourists.
The three women, two from Sri Saket and one from Huay Yai,
were detained when police discovered over a hundred thousand baht worth of
fireworks in a pickup truck. Officers confiscated the booty and hauled the three
women into Soi 9 for questioning.
Samruay Jinchinayu, 23, Bee Wangkul, 24, and Chantana
Intanar, 35, confessed to illegally selling the fireworks to tourists in
Pattaya. They claimed they made 50 to 100 baht profit per set and had bought the
items from a factory in Bangkok.
Police charged them with selling controlled goods and fined each of them
1,000 baht, then released them on their own accord. The fireworks were kept,
later to be destroyed.
New Year dragnet leads to string of drug related arrests
Illegal lottery sellers didn’t fare too well either
Boonlua Chatree
Police operations stepped up a level over the New Year
holiday break in an effort to weed out the criminal element. The local
constabulary’s increased activity led to a string of drug related arrests.
A stepped up
police effort over the New Year holiday resulted in several arrests.
In a press conference at 10 p.m. on January 2, Pol. Lt. Gen.
Jongrak Jutannont, Region 2 police commander announced the results of the New
Year holiday crackdown.
The first to fall was Sarnont Pit-int, 35, who was arrested
outside the Niran Condo complex with 6 bags of the narcotic known as Ice.
Second in the dragnet were ‘ya ba’ (methamphetamine)
dealers Pichet Piadee, 37, and Sanritai Gunkaew, 34, who were detained at
Sriracha’s Koh Loy Public Park with 5,600 ya ba pills and 187,000 baht in
cash. Police also confiscated the couple’s pickup truck.
The third to fall was Nicha Poomchareon, 25, after he was
caught with 2 bags of the crystallized drug Ice on Pattaya Third Road.
The final group of the day was detained for selling
underground lottery tickets. In all, four people were arrested for the illegal
gambling scheme and police confiscated a fax machine and 102,840 baht in cash.
All perpetrators were charged with their respective crimes,
including possession of illegal substances with intent to sell and illegal
distribution of lottery tickets.
Police were obviously celebrating the New Year in their own hard working
fashion.
Heartbroken woman jumps to 12 stories to her death
Boonlua Chatree
Police were called to the Niran Condo apartment complex
shortly after midnight on January 5 after receiving a report that a young
Thai woman had committed suicide.
Officers and Sawang Boriboon personnel arrived at the
scene to find the shattered body of Krisana Puangtonsarn lying at the
entrance to the car park of the 14-storey building.
The woman’s brother, who lived on the third floor, told
police that his sister was upset after finding her foreign boyfriend in bed
with another woman. He said that she had told him she wanted to end her life
because there was nothing left for her.
The security guard, who reported the incident, told
officers that he had seen the woman prior to her death. She was drinking and
had already consumed half a bottle of whisky. He said he asked her where she
was going, and she replied, “To see my relatives on the 12th floor.”
Shortly after, she jumped from the 12th floor with a scream. She apparently
gained access via the fire escape. The woman’s body was transferred to the
police forensic institute for further examination.
EDITORIAL: Too slow to be effective
Suchada Tupchai
It has been almost a month since city administrators met
and discussed the muddle of business signs on Pattaya Third Road. Despite
most residents not having much knowledge about the regulations concerning
signs, most can see that the disarray of these signboards were a clear
defiance of any type of enforcement, which appears to be slipping on a daily
basis.
Last month’s council meeting addressed problems on
Pattaya Third Road, brought about by the continuing building madness, as an
increasing number of entertainment venues snap up vacant lots on both sides
and use their road frontage for parking and obstructing footpaths. The
result is an increasing number of road accidents and a direct slap in the
face for the city’s image.
By the way, Pattaya Third Road has a real name -
Chalermprakiat Road – that was named to honour HM the King. The initial
intention was to build shops and retail outlets in a unique style as yet
another face of Pattaya, but problems have arisen due to miscommunication
between government departments and developers, which is the reason why
discussions were held in an attempt to bring order to the present chaos.
The city council meeting and administrators meet
regularly and the topic is constantly re-addressed. The voices of residents
calling out for order and law enforcement and for city administrators to get
off their collective behinds to enforce their policies and regulations, is a
constant reminder of just how long things take. The urgency to meet the
ever-changing environment is lacking in the political and government system,
with suspicions running high as a result.
Even if many business signs have been removed the process
appears to be ongoing while officialdom struggles to keep up by enforcing
the regulations, supposedly for the benefit of the masses. There are those
who see the laws as a hindrance to their own personal gains, whilst some
officers blatantly close their eyes and turn their heads. These are the
people who do not see the benefits for the city and work at a snail’s pace
to resolve problems. Pattaya still has a long way to go to try and achieve
its utopian ideals. Despite the city’s special status, human nature and
bureaucratic red tape will continue to hinder the push for progress.
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