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HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

Pet Paradise featured at Central Festival Pattaya Beach

Sikh women donate 21,300 baht for YWCA scholarships

Thai law is just to Thai and foreigner alike

Thailand prepares to host 8th ASEAN Skills Competition

Pet Paradise featured at Central Festival Pattaya Beach

Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
For four days, Pattaya’s largest shopping mall became a “pet paradise” with gold skunks, prairie dogs and mischievous rabbits taking center stage.

The “romantic performance show” between pets and their wet nurses, performed by Prem Busarakamwong and Ploi Chidchan.

The Oct. 22-25 fair aimed at boosting tourism and giving children on school break a furry diversion, Pet Paradise 2009 featured a floor of domestic and exotic animals, shows and exhibits.
The first-floor plaza featured gold skunks, prairie dogs, marmosets, bushy tail possums, albino bamboo rats and a family of mischievous rabbits to create lots of amusement for the spectators.
There was also a “romantic performance show” between pets and their wet nurses, performed by Prem Busarakamwong and Ploi Chidchan that included animal shows and comedy by “Four Legs Bad Day.”


Sikh women donate 21,300 baht for YWCA scholarships

Women of the Thai Sikh Association contribute
money to the to the YWCA Happy Family project.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
More than 20,000 baht donated by women from the Thai Sikh Association will be used to fund 12 new scholarships for underprivileged children.
YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center Chairwoman Nittaya Patimasongkroh accepted the donation Oct. 18 on behalf of the group’s Happy Family project. Started in 1990, the project, dedicated to making merit in honor of HRH Princess Sirindhorn, provides funds and other aid to children who cannot afford a proper education.
The Thai Sikh women collected 21,300 baht in all, which will be used to fund 12 scholarships of 1,775 baht each. The money will be given to children before the start of the school term in November.


Thai law is just to Thai and foreigner alike

Emcee Judith Edmonds welcomed everyone to the regular Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club on October 25 at the Amari’s Henry J. Bean Restaurant, then called on Gary Hacker to introduce our guest speaker, who really needed no introduction. Drew Noyes is not only a well known business man in Pattaya, but is also a fellow club member and a past chairman of the club. Drew is the president of the recently formed Optimist Club and is the managing director for Pattaya Times Media Group and P.A.P.P.A. Legal and Visa Service Company.

After inviting visitors to introduce themselves, MC Judith Edmonds introduces the speaker of the day, former PCEC chairman Drew Noyes. Drew is owner of PAPPA Co.
Drew started by handing out an outline of his topic. He also briefly described the staff and services provided by his P.A.P.P.A. Legal and Visa Services Company, Ltd. Drew divided his topic into three main areas: (1) overview of Thai law; (2) how to take ownership or complete control of property without using a Thai company; and (3) last wills and testaments.
He advised the audience that Thai law is based on written documents. Because of this, if you find yourself in a Thai court, it is the written documents that prevail; not any verbal promises or assurances. So, he cautioned everyone, if it is important and of value to get it in writing.
Drew pointed out that Thai law is just to Thai and foreigner alike. Once a case gets into the court system, the judge’s decision will be based on Thai law and the evidence.
Drew described the various risks and expenses involved with using a Thai company to acquire property - especially if one uses Thai nominees. One can take the risk, but Drew pointed out there was another way to structure a property transaction that provides the foreigner with enough control to protect their investment. Further, this method complies fully with Thai law.

Drew gave a most interesting talk on living and doing business in Thailand, including land ownership, and preparations for ‘the end’ - making a will in Thailand. The audience was packed, and many questions were asked.
He explained that in Thailand, the Chanote (title deed) on file at the Land Office is the controlling document for land ownership. The front side identifies the property and its location. The reverse shows the owners of the property in succession. Normally, the last name on the Chanote is the owner of record. However, if the owner borrows money against the land, a mortgage can be recorded at the Land Office and the mortgage holder will then appear as the last entry.
In Thailand, a foreigner can legally lend money to a Thai to acquire property and can be the holder (owner) of the mortgage. As the lender, the foreigner can also keep physical possession of the Chanote; a practice that the banks use when they lend money for property. Further, the property cannot be sold without the mortgage holder’s approval - usually upon receipt of all money due.
However, there are more documents required. A mortgage just shows that a certain amount is owed the mortgage holder; it does not describe the terms of the loan. Consequently, a loan agreement must also be executed setting forth the interest rate and terms of repayment.
Drew described how the loan agreement should be structured to protect the foreigner. He then noted that the foreigner usually acquires the property as a place to live. To ensure that the foreigner has the right to live in the property, another document is needed. This is a long term lease. The lease is also filed at the Land Office.
Drew described several provisions that should be in the lease to cover contingencies such as subletting, death of the land owner, sale of the property by the land owner, and inheritance in the event of the foreigner’s death. He said that under Thai law the maximum term for a lease is 30 years; but the lease can have terms to extend it another 20 years. He cautioned that to be legal, the extension cannot set a price for the extension period. This is something that would need to be negotiated at the termination of the original lease term; but all other provisions in the lease remain the same.
Another document that needs to be prepared to complete the process is a promissory note. If done correctly, the lease income to the Thai is offset by the interest due on the loan and mortgage, thus eliminating or reducing the taxes due on the income.
But there is still one more document needed. This is a power of attorney from the land owner to the foreigner that allows them to sell the property to satisfy the mortgage if the loan terms are not adhered to. With this document, the property can be sold and ownership transferred at the Land Office without the mortgagee land owner needing to be present.
After answering several questions over the various documents and their structuring, Drew then concluded by discussing last wills and testaments. A will does not have to be in Thai. He also mentioned that in Thailand, there is no probate. Unless someone challenges a will, property and asset transfer occurs fairly quickly. If the will should get involved in a Thai court, it will have to first be translated into Thai.
Drew suggested that a Thai version be made simultaneously with the English or other language version. Drew said for a will to be valid in Thailand it has to show where it was written, the date it was written, and have two witnesses. Also, the will needs to show the name, address, and age at time the will is drawn, of the beneficiaries. It should list assets and show how they are to be divided among the beneficiaries.
Drew also said it is a good idea to include secondary beneficiaries in case of the premature death of an original beneficiary.
Although there is no requirement for an executor, Drew pointed out several advantages of naming one. He also said that you should include instructions regarding your burial or cremation so that it can be shown to your embassy making them aware of your wishes and to whom the police should release the remains.
Emcee Judith updated everyone on upcoming events and called on Richard Silverberg to conduct the always informative, interesting, and sometime humorous Open Forum where questions are asked and answered about living in Thailand and Pattaya in particular.


Thailand prepares to host 8th ASEAN Skills Competition

Meeting delegates experience Loy Krathong

Representatives and VIPs from the ten-member ASEAN countries led by Labor Permanent Secretary Somchai Choomrat (7th right) conclude preparatory meetings held at Dusit Thani Pattaya for the upcoming 8th ASEAN Skills Competition.

Dusit Thani Pattaya has welcomed delegates to the 1st Organizing Committee in preparation for the 8th ASEAN Skills Competition to be held at the Exhibition Centre at Muang Thong Thani Bangkok from November 18-25, 2010.
Labor Permanent Secretary Somchai Choomrat presided over the opening ceremonies on November 3 at the Napalai Convention Hall at Dusit Thani Pattaya. The event was attended by observer delegates and representatives of the ten ASEAN member countries such as Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand.
In his speech, Choomrat expressed Thailand’s readiness to host the competition which is held every two years with the objective of developing regional skills and making them at par with international standards. The skills consist of twenty fields such as Welding Technology, Information Technology, Web Design, Electronics, Fashion Technology, Food and Beverage Services, Design and Drawing, Computer Graphics and others.
The first night of the event coincided with Thailand’s celebration of one of its most famous and best-preserved traditions, Loy Krathong, the Festival of Lights. After the welcome dinner, the delegates were ushered to the hotel’s Lagoon Pool, the venue where they set their krathong adrift after making a wish or two. The gesture is believed to cast away ones’ misery and ill fortunes as the krathong floats away.
Meanwhile, young couples also believe that Loy Krathong is the time to make a wish together for a long and lasting happiness in love and romance.