HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]:

Dengue on your doorstep

Beach cleanliness

Another inconvenient truth

Why bother the beach vendors?

Safety?

Dengue on your doorstep

Dear Editor,
I was quite surprised some time back when I asked your paper if anyone in city hall ever actually read any of the mail/moans/whinges that adorn your Mailbag pages week-in, week-out, and you responded in the positive! That most Friday/Monday mornings there were numerous copies of the local English language papers on each multi-linguistically talented city hall individuals’ desk waiting to be pored over to find out what can be done to assist the people in need of this metropolis.
I hope this is one of those mornings!
Many countries over the last few months have issued travel heath advisories to their citizens regarding Thailand being a dengue hemorrhagic fever danger zone. Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health announced in June that the number of dengue fever patients nationwide has risen to over 10,000 and 14 people have been killed by the dangerous disease this year. 44 dead in neighbouring Malaysia. The interim government are issuing warnings to people not to leave stagnant water lying anywhere possible for mosquitoes to thrive in.
Yet attached are photos of Moo 5, Soi 12, Naklua where for more than 12 months there has been a continuous pool of rain/drainage water lying in one low-lying entrance corner of the estate. This has ranged from an approximate maximum height of about 16-18 inches in depth during rains, to a low of 6-9 inches in reasonably dry weather. There has been no occasion where the water comes anywhere near completely evaporating. Walking in and out of the soi is now not an option at any time of year and during rains, motorcycling is a struggle.
Most of us experience some form of flooding now and again during the heavy rains, but having lived there for more than 7 years we have not seen anything like this before until more than 1 year ago and with many young children in the area, it is now becoming a serious health hazard with the smell and previously mentioned disease possibilities.
The reason: Prior-arrival of Big Developer; the gentleman who’s corner house appears under siege in the photo was good enough to allow all drainage water to leave the area via drain-lines under his property.
Post-arrival of Big Developer; the construction of a new hotel/resort (in photo - at back) is underway behind the estate and Big D has blocked all drainage leaving this soi via under this property. You may say he is well within his rights to do so and no-one will disagree. Yes he is. There have been many pleas by the residents of the soi to Big D to be allowed to join the drainage system of his resort, with all residents covering any costs involved but Big D has steadfastly refused.
There have been many petitions and visits made to city hall by the residents in this soi. There have been many unanswered calls to the good mayor. There have been many promises made by his employees. This issue has been recorded by some of the local T.V. stations. The total response has been ... nothing!
Can any of the readers of your paper advise the residents of this soi how to proceed with this potentially lethal situation that the local councillors and Big Developer wish to know nothing about?
Sincerely and Best Regards,
M. Guiney,
Moo 5, Soi 12, Naklua

Beach cleanliness

Editor;
I read with great interest the views of several writers about the cleanliness of the beaches. I also have an issue with the incredible amount of trash that litters the beach areas.
I live in Ban Ampur just down a ways from Pattaya. I bought a condo that is just a short 250 steps from the beach. In the morning I like to take a walk. Recently a hard top walking/jogging path has been extended from the Ban Ampur public beach south. It is coconut palm lined on both sides with overhead lighting.
However, the residual garbage and litter from the construction diminishes the beauty of the addition. This is something I do not understand. I am from the USA where the maintenance of the beaches is done by the government agency assigned the responsibility. In Ban Ampur there does not appear to be anyone responsible for cleaning the beach. The result is a beach that is something less than beautiful because of the trash scattered about.
It seems to me that one way to improve the appearance is for a responsible agency to provide litter baskets along the beach areas so that visitors have a place to put their trash. The agency could periodically (daily or on some other schedule) come by and collect the trash. Over time visitors would become more responsible themselves and avoid littering. I see it as an education issue that over time and with some promotion could improve the beach scene markedly.
Thank you for your indulgence.
Burt Schatz

Another inconvenient truth

Editor;
Anyone that knows Pattaya prior to the internet has no illusions as to what attracts people to Pattaya; it was the guaranteed promise of the 3 S’s sun, sea and sex. Other destinations can offer the first two but cannot guarantee the third; Pattaya can and does. The internet communication boom around the year 2000 launched Pattaya into a huge period of expansion as the word was out and people from everywhere wanted to find their fantasy fulfillment for most and the realization of a dream for some.
Foreigners led the way in creating new condos and housing estates of a quality never seen before to accommodate the droves of people ready to retire or set up house with their loved ones, have children, etc. From this a whole support industry was created in furniture, electrical goods, DIY stores, supermarkets, hospitals, car showrooms, etc., in fact everything that is needed to support a thriving society and thousands of new jobs were created for locals and people from underprivileged areas also. It should also be noted that thousands of these “sex tourists” had decided to keep a connection with their loved ones and were transferring often large sums monthly and also providing lump sums for building houses in Essan and elsewhere thereby creating a thriving invisible export. Just go to any village in the northeast and you will spot the farang house.
Everything was going swimmingly well with the illusion being provided that much of this wealth was being generated from the expansion of the eastern seaboard. This is indeed true to a point but I believe that Chonburi and Bang Saen get more of a benefit from that source. The expansion in these areas has been equally phenomenal but no-one is going to retire to Chonburi.
Towards the end of 07 when the Thaksin government had seen the writing on the wall they decided mischievously to remind everybody that you cannot own land in Thailand and that the companies people had been advised by their lawyers to form to hold their land and houses were not really legal and that nominees were not acceptable and transfers could be a problem. That day the housing and to half an extent, the condo market died and is flat dead to this day.
The current military government has done nothing to change this situation; no long lease arrangement, no foreign ownership of small plots, nothing. The sad thing is that although nothing has radically changed the confidence is destroyed. The result is empty stores, construction layoffs, resulting in a spin off of job losses in every area of business. Job losses = poverty = crime.
To make matters worse we have seen increased visa controls sending tourists and residents in droves to other countries, coupled with a baht going through the roof making it impossible for many to afford to come to Pattaya, resulting in empty hotels on a scale unseen ever.
Some see the answer in family orientated holidays, so suppression has been applied to the nightlife industry even to the point of censoring articles in local papers on what is good and bad in this area. Looking at Pattaya as a family destination, it would be possible to say orient Jomtien Beach as a family area but then what about the beach? The sea is polluted and the beach bar owners appear to be regimented by the same rules which insist on Victorian deck chairs and ragged parasols with little or no services beyond the vendors who are now banned. Why not encourage some competition here and raise the standard and allow cushioned sun beds and services the same as all leading destinations in the world? Do those in control ever go and look at the competition?
I love this town and hate to see it deteriorate unnecessarily by bad decision or no decision. It is what it is, a bit tacky, doesn’t always work properly but it is also exciting, sexy, and most of all fun. I implore government local and national to remember what Pattaya is, embrace it and make the decisions that will give prosperity back to this unique and fabulous city.
Richard Franklin

Why bother the beach vendors?

Dear Editor,
I just got back from 5 weeks in Pattaya and had an excellent holiday. Each day, even rainy days, I spent 2 or 3 hours in a beach chair reading, drinking coffee, and looking at the sights. The beach vendors started to recognize me by the second day and stopped trying to sell me things. Many would smile and wave. There are always falangs and Thais making purchases and these people keep working, which shows that there is a demand for their wares. I would rather that these hard working people make their living on the beach selling than be unemployed and have to resort to illegal activities to support themselves.
Yours,
Bill Turner
Los Angeles, CA USA

Safety?

Editor;
Safety first and rules are rules; I can understand that. Except when police stand everywhere everyday to pick up people not wearing a helmet. The things costing 180 baht will crack like an eggshell when you go down. I suspect they go too much the European way (Dutch) only making money, because by not wearing a helmet you cannot hurt anybody but yourself. Why they don’t show up in the evening (at night) when there is a lot better work to do, when drivers go out on the road after drinking and harm other people? Why is it that 15 people in the back of a pick-up don’t have to wear helmets? It’s a strange world, isn’t it?
Dutchie
Jomtien

Letters published in the Mailbag of Pattaya Mail
are also published here.