City educates community leaders and students to watch over the local environment

Ariyawat Nuamsawat

The Larn Poh area in Naklua was the latest target for the city administration’s mobile service unit. The monthly project aims to provide services to residents and address their problems.

Residents turned out in droves for free haircuts, medical and dental checkups, and pet vaccinations. The mobile unit also provided needed supplies to those less fortunate.

Free haircuts to those in need.

Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn was joined by his deputies and city councilors in providing advice and listening to various issues.

The garbage recycling project, where residents exchange items for eggs, yet again proved successful, whilst city administrators handed out dried foods, clothes and consumables donated by local department stores and supermarkets.

The city is growing rapidly and there are people who are being left behind in the progress. Local administrators have had the foresight to see their plight and have carried out this project every month, giving advice and listening to residents. City officials see these people as an important part of their work to ease suffering and create a better quality of life for all citizens. Many of them are also eligible voters.

Focus on improving quality of life and ports

Suchada Tupchai

As part of the government’s strategy, provincial officials were given the task of providing a strategic development plan to improve the lives of citizens. Chonburi administrators called a meeting with over 290 district and sub-district officers to lay down the policies for development.

Pisit Boonchuang, Chonburi deputy governor, chaired the meeting at the Tide Resort in Bangsaen, outlining the needs for strategic plans for 2006-2008. The focus for each municipality and district is to improve the quality of life for residents, further industry and improve local infrastructure. Plans will be updated annually.

Pisit Boonchuang, Chonburi deputy governor chairs a meeting at the Tide Resort in Bangsaen with over 290 administrators from the province to discuss a 3-year development plan.

Pisit laid down the guidelines for local administrators to enable them to grasp the need for planning and development in Chonburi if it is to get ahead of other provinces.

“This seminar is to present the 3 year development plan for the province from 2006-2008. We see the importance of Chonburi being at the forefront in development for each area in economic and social growth. It is important that we also maintain the same ideals to move forward as one,” said Pisit.

The seminar also focused on environmental planning issues, local governing by administrative authorities and a leap in researching the correct course of action in building stable growth in all facets of industry and society.

The aim to improve the Laem Chabang port was raised, since it is the main port for Thailand and rated 16th in the world.

The deadline for completion of the 3-year plan has been set for June 2005.

To ensure tourist safety

Ariyawat Nuamsawat

Pattaya boat operators from Naklua to Jomtien, sea rescue personnel, water police and marine transport authorities met at city hall on Monday, March 14 to implement stricter controls on marine activities.

Pattana Boonsawat, deputy mayor and Pattaya security committee chairman presided over the meeting, which looked at enforcing tighter safety controls on the city’s 1,000 plus boats.

Those attending the meeting were in favor of the new guidelines which separated vessels into four main categories; First being dining and entertainment vessels officering food, drink and live entertainment; Second, passenger boats from Pattaya to Koh Larn and boats for hire; Third category for the city’s 990 speedboats and 25 banana boats; and Fourth for jet skis. The new standards include all vessels (subject to the category) to have life preservers and lifejackets for passengers, and stricter mooring controls with vessels being anchored out of high traffic areas.

At the close of the meeting it was decided that all boats and operators are to be registered with the relevant authorities to enable officials to inspect the vessels and operators. Further details of how and when are to be discussed at a further meeting in the near future.

Discussions continue over Bali Hai management

Rental fees still undecided

Suchada Tupchai

The issue of who will manage the Bali Hai pier remains unresolved with officials unable to place a real figure on rental fees for the building. The latest meeting, held at city hall last week, made little progress on the issue.

Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn chaired the meeting with officials to hammer out further details on fee structures. First on the agenda were fees for boat moorings. Initial rates mentioned included passenger vessels using the pier at 100 baht per time, yachts 500 baht per time, jet skis 20 baht per use and supply vessels 50 per use. Boat operators would also have to register with the city to be allowed a concession on the rates with large boat paying 500 baht per year and smaller boats at 300 baht per year. The suggestions were noted, with further details and a final decision to be made after officials meet with operators.

City officials still can’t decide how much to charge to rent facilities at Bali Hai pier.

Setting times for allowing vehicle to use of the pier was also raised, with yet again no conclusion forthcoming. The initial morning and afternoon periods of 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. were discarded. The latest suggestion is to ban vehicles from the pier from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Finally, rental fees for the four rooms in the Bali Hai building were discussed, with initial suggestions put at 8,000 baht per month per room and additional fees for operating the bathroom facilities for 60,000 per month, parking lot at 30,000 per month. The suggested monthly fee for the terrace, which is to be used as a cafe style facility, was 120,000 per month. Some officials said that the rates were over inflated. However, suggestions were based on figures from volunteers operating the pier that selling food and drinks averages an income of 12,000 baht per day. No definitive figure was decided on and discussions are set to continue at the next meeting.

City officially takes over town planning responsibilities for region

Part of new self-governing strategy

Suchada Tupchai

Earlier this month, an important signing ceremony took place at city hall. During the ceremony, Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn and Thanu Srichoo, Chonburi civil engineering and town planning director, signed the paperwork necessary to combine town planning between Pattaya City and surrounding districts without having to go through a provincial approval processes.

This allows the city administration to proceed with town planning under its own authority.

Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn (right) and Thanu Srichoo (left), Chonburi civil engineering and town planning director, sign the paperwork necessary to combine town planning between Pattaya City and surrounding districts without having to go through provincial approval processes.

Chonburi Governor Pisit Ketphasook was also present at the signing ceremonies when provincial authorities officially handed over town planning controls to Pattaya City.

Local government administrators, government department heads, city councilors and members of media witnessed the ceremony at Pattaya City Hall at 1:30 pm on March 2.

Anawat Suwandech, city plan analysis officer said, “The central government’s policy is to decentralize authority and to transfer duties to local administrations. City planning is just one of the duties the local administrations must take over. The announcement to combine Pattaya City with outlying districts came from an Interior Ministry order on May 22, 2003 and will expire on May 21 2008.”

This order for Pattaya covers Pattaya City, Na-Jomtien Municipality, Huay Yai Municipality, Nongprue sub-district, Nongplalai sub-district, Pong sub-district, and Na-Jomtien sub-district.

Mayor Niran Wattanasartsathorn said that city administrators will be able to handle this responsibility, but in order for it to work most effectively, administrators need cooperation from each department.

Governor Pisit Ketphasook commented that this is an important step towards developing a good layout plan for the city, regarding utilities, traffic, and construction, and continue to develop Pattaya as an international tourist location.

City officials talk rubbish

Meet with East Waste Management Company representatives

City officials and department heads met with East Waste Management Company representatives to review and resolve problems associated with the company’s garbage collection contract. Tawit Chaisawangwong, city council chairman, and Wuttisak Rermkijakarn, deputy mayor in charge of public health, chaired the meeting at city hall on Tuesday, March 15.

Wuttisak said that since the company has taken over the contract in 2003, the results have been quite satisfactory, but there are certain problems that need to be corrected.

Issues such as foul smell, liquid waste leaking from the collection trucks and increased numbers of large refuse receptacles were raised. City administrators called for the company to taken action on the various points and continue to improve their services.

“The company operations are quite satisfactory,” said Tawit. “As far as the problems associated with collecting waste, residents must also do their part to ensure such issues don’t arise. A public relations campaign would benefit everybody, specifically on timing and how to properly dispose of waste,” said the city council chairman.

City health officers pointed out two areas where the campaign was needed, along Sukhumvit Road and Pattaya Third Road where specific timings are needed or the problem could eventually escalate.

“A firm plan of action is needed to resolve the problem and keep these areas clean,” said Pramote Supsaeng, Pattaya Health Department supervisor.

Jomtien Mini-mart robbed at gunpoint

Reign of terror in Pattaya continues

Boonlua Chatree

Armed robbers made off with 12,000 baht in cash and pistol whipped the cashier last week at the Orange Mini-mart and Internet Cafe in Jomtien.

Officers from the Dongtan police box in Jomtien were called to the store at around 1 a.m. on March 18 when the woman tending the register at the mini-mart reported the robbery. Officers arrived on the scene to find Rungtip Potecharlie, 18, visibly upset and bleeding after the robbers had pistol whipped her.

The Orange Mini-mart cashier was visibly upset and bleeding when police arrived.

She told officers that two men, aged 17-19 years, entered the shop and pretended to shop. One of the youths stepped up to the counter, produced a gun and demanded money from the cash register. Rungtip complied with the demands and handed over the cash, but the young thug then hit her over the head. She said the thieves also made off with over thirty One-2-Call telephone cards priced at 300 baht each. She said the pair sped off on a motorcycle in the direction of Pattaya.

Police attending the scene radioed officers in an attempt to capture them, but were unsuccessful and both men are still at large.

This latest robbery is just one of numerous crimes that have been committed by gun toting teens, from ordinary snatch and grab robberies to beatings of residents and tourists and armed holdups in convenience stores and banks. Despite their efforts, police appear to be unable to stop the crime wave now sweeping the city.

Boonlua Chatree

Sakdichai Ditbunjong, 20, the nephew of a local policeman, died on his way to hospital after being shot in the chest three times with a .38 caliber.

Witnesses told police that three men, aged 19-21, had followed Sakdichai and shot him before fleeing on an unregistered motorcycle.

The shooting took place at the intersection of Pattaya Third Road and North Road at around 2 a.m. Thursday, March 17. Witnesses told police that they saw a man waiting at the lights, and that three men rode up and shot him.

Investigations revealed that Sakdichai Ditbunjong had been to a nearby club, and that a rival gang had turned up and began to create problems. According to the dead man’s friend they left the pub to avoid trouble, but the gang followed them. One of the gang members was identified only as Pad.

It was also revealed that before the shooting, the armed teens were seen talking to a security guard. Police are interested in talking to the guard to find out the identity of the shooters.

Sakdichai Ditbunjong’s body was sent to the forensic institute for a post mortem examination.