Monday, March 1, 2010
New Phuket Bus Station to open mid-2010, at the earliest
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The new Phuket Provincial Bus Station in Rassada. Work was completed three months ago. File photo.
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PHUKET TOWN: The Phuket Land Transport Office appears resigned to run the new Phuket Provincial Bus Terminal by itself after two local governing bodies have lost interest in operating the facility.
Work on the new station was completed in early December, but efforts by the Transport Office to find a local government body to administer operations there appear to have failed.
Initially, both the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) and Rassada Municipality showed signs of interest.
Now Rassada Municipality, where the station is located, says it is ‘not ready’ to operate the station.
The PPAO, run by its fiscally conservative president Paiboon Upatising, is also no longer interested in running the station, according to well-informed sources.
With the station lying idle for three months already, the Phuket Land Transport Office now has little choice but to ask the Transport Ministry in Bangkok for additional funding to run the station on its own.
“Hopefully we will be able to open it by the middle of the year,” said Phuket Land Transport Director Kanok Siripanichkorn.
Another glitch in the Land Transport Office’s vision for the complex is that a plan to build a flyover to allow northbound buses to cross busy Thepkrasatree Road is on indefinite hold because Tambon Rassada has yet to approve construction, he said.
The office is now considering an alternate plan that would see buses cross Thepkrasattri Road into Sapam and use smaller roads before making their way north.
“We may have to expand that soi. We will talk about that later,” Dr Kanok said.
The main reason for moving the provincial bus terminal from its current location off Phang Nga Road in Phuket Town was to keep the large coaches off small city streets.
– K. Pornmongkhonwat
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Phuket, Thailand
17:25
local time (GMT +7) |
Friday, July 30, 2010
Phuket eyes ‘huge’ medical tourism boom
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Dr Wirat Seetamanotch said Phuket stands to win big on medical tourism.
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PHUKET: Medical and healthcare providers on the island can expect to get a large slice of the 402.9 billion baht that the Ministry of Health (MoH) expects Thailand’s medical tourism industry to rake in over the next five years.
Phuket Public Health Office Deputy Director Dr Wiwat Seetamanotch said, “Over the past five years, Phuket has enjoyed great success in health services provided to tourists and earned a huge amount of money as Phuket is a world tourist destination that not only is beautiful in nature, but also complete in accommodations, food and transportation.
“In addition, health services here are cheaper than in neighboring countries,” he said.
The MoH, according to its current five-year plan for 2010 to 2014, expects to generate the 400-billion-baht windfall whilst spending only 3.13 million baht in developing the services that are to garner the revenues.
The preceding plan, for 2004-2008, concentrated on providing medical services to patients from abroad. Under that plan, the MoH aimed to make Thailand a “Center of Excellent Health Care of Asia”, through treatment businesses, health supplement businesses, health products and Thai herbs.
The current plan targets developing the same businesses and products, but adds more services in the realms of Thai traditional medicine and alternative medicine.
The move follows Thailand’s enjoyment of huge growth in its medical tourism over the past decade.
According to MoH statistics, 550,161 foreign patients received treatment or healthcare in Thailand in 2001, but in 2007 that number had swelled to 1,373,807. Most were Japanese, followed by Americans and Europeans.
More than 70% of the foreign patients during that period were medical tourists, with 25% being expatriates and less than 5% being tourists who came to Thailand but not expressly for medical or health care.
The most popular health services during that year were health checks, heart operations, knee replacements, cardiovascular surgery, plastic surgery, gender reassignment surgery, dental care and Lasik corrective eye surgery.
Dr Wiwat expects the number of medical tourists to Phuket to increase dramatically in the coming years.
“In the next 20 years, the number of elderly people in the world will rise by 18% to 20% – or one in five of the world’s population. That is an enormous market,” he said.
“In addition to three government hospitals in Phuket, there are also three private ones that are recognized as international standard.
“Some countries have problems with long queues for operations and it sometimes takes two to three years for people to receive treatment. So many tourists choose Phuket because of the international-standard services available here, and it’s cheaper with shorter queues – they are our prominent points,” he added.
– Atchaa Khamlo
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Phuket, Thailand
19:05
local time (GMT +7) |
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Phuket reservoir project stalled by red tape
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Although classified as Forest Department land, much of the project area was stripped of its natural cover long ago.
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PHUKET: Construction of the 5.7-million-cubic-meter Klong Krata reservoir in Chalong has stalled because the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) has yet to approve a request to use a 60-rai plot needed for the project.
According to Isara Anukul, chief of the water allocation division at Phuket Provincial Irrigation Office (PPIO), construction was planned to begin this year and be completed in 2012.
“But approval for 60 rai of forest land from the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment remains outstanding,” he said.
The initial request by the PPIO to use the land was submitted three years ago.
PPIO Director Weerawat Aungsupanith told the Gazette in early March that approval for the plot was not far off. “I think it will take about one or two months,” he said.
In April 2007, Irrigation Department official Theerachart Sangkaha, then in charge of the project, reported during a meeting at Provincial Hall that approval from the Forestry Department for use of 157 rai of the 430-rai, 960-million-baht project had “already been granted” and that the project would be finished in 2009.
What has forced the delay has never been announced, but it is likely not related to protests by environmentalists or attempts by officialdom at environmental preservation.
Local people are generally behind the project, which includes a ring road and recreational park to spur economic development in the area.
As for the environment, its natural beauty was long ago compromised by tin-mining and rubber plantations. The most notable developments in the area are the Luangpoo Supha Temple and a golf course constructed by a family of former tin-mining-concession holders.
Construction of the 720-meter-long, 25-meter-high dam, with all its potential for agricultural development, and recreational and tourism activities, must be considered a boon even by environmentalists.
Beyond question Phuket needs it. Although one of the rainiest places on earth, the island has suffered chronic water shortages for decades – and demand continues to grow with the island’s steadily rising population.
Mr Isara expects demand for water to increase by 27 million cubic meters annually over the next 17 years, an average increase of roughly 1.6 million cubic meters a year.
“This year demand for water will amount to about 51 million cubic meters, or 145,000m³/day. By 2027, demand will amount to 78 million cubic meters, or 214,000m³/day,” he said.
To help meet demand, work is underway on two reservoir projects in Rassada funded under the central government’s Thai Khem Khaeng (Strong Thailand) financial stimulus package.
The smaller reservoir, behind Phuket Rajabaht University, is a former tin mine pond that will be expanded to 15 rai and its storage capacity increased to 50,000m³ under a 14-million-baht budget.
The other, off Pracha-uthit Rd, will hold 500,000m³ of water and cover 90 rai when the 27-million-baht contract is completed. Both projects are expected to improve water supply in Rassada, where shortages are common.
Kamala Deputy Mayor Santi Auttasup also recently said the Kamala Tambon Administration has applied for 400 million baht in funding under Thai Khem Khaeng to build a reservoir near Getnee Hill.
– Phuket Gazette
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Phuket, Thailand
15:42
local time (GMT +7) |
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Over 7,000 alien workers deported from Phuket this year
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An illegal alien worker arrested by Phuket Immigration last year. File photo.
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PHUKET: Phuket is on track to set a record number of deportations of illegal workers this year, with at least 7,086 illegals having been deported from the province in 2010, according to the latest statistics from the Phuket Immigration Office.
In 2009, 10,790 illegals were deported, preceded by 7,867 in 2008.
Announcement of the figures comes on the heels of a nationwide crackdown by special immigration task-forces ordered by Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasart.
The task-force responsible for Phuket was sent from the Surat Thani Immigration office. The force included local immigration officers who sought and deported illegal workers from May 20 to June 21.
The crackdown was conducted in conjunction with the Thai government campaign to register all foreign labor in Thailand. For our previous report, click here.
The worker registration process is still far from complete, as it first requires government officials to compile lists of alien workers in the country.
The lists are then sent to Myanmar, Laos or Cambodia for confirmation of the workers’ nationalities. The workers must also personally obtain documentation proving their nationalities.
The Cambodian and Lao governments have set up identification centers in Bangkok, but Myanmar has not, forcing their citizens to return home to secure personal identification documents.
The list of alien workers in Phuket submitted for review included approximately 50,000 names, of which about 5,327 have been confirmed by their home countries, Mr Nopadol said.
A total of 55,316 Burmese, Lao and Cambodian laborers are permitted to work in Phuket.
“For the remaining people [alien workers], more than 40,000, it will take about a year, as there are many waiting to be approved. In Thailand there are around one million Burmese alone, all of whom must be processed,” said Phuket Provincial Employment Office (PPEO) Superintendent Nopadol Ployoudee.
The PPEO has yet to receive instruction on how to handle cases of alien workers not confirmed as nationals of other countries.
Mr Nopadol said that upon confirmation of their employees’ nationalities, employers must contact the PPEO within 30 days to have work permits issued for them.
Cabinet has set a February 2012 deadline for completing the national identification process, he added.
Mr Nopadol cautioned employers not to hire undocumented alien workers and advised anyone with knowledge of such activity to call the PPEO at 076-219660 or 076-219661.
“The number of illegal alien workers in Phuket is about the same as those who are here legally and is likely higher,” he said.
“Phuket is a developed area with a lot of construction, tourism and fisheries, so many people come here to work because they can get good salaries.
“Also, employers in Phuket really like Burmese workers and feel that they are like family, and the employees are happy to stay long-term,” Mr Nopadol said.
– Atchaa Khamlo
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Phuket, Thailand
15:20
local time (GMT +7) |
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Dems to hold ‘Crisis Seminar’ in Phuket this weekend
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Prime Minister Abhisit has visited Phuket several times since assuming the premiership in mid-December, 2008. File photo.
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PHUKET: Leading Democrats and rank-and-file party members will be attend a “crisis seminar” in Phuket this weekend.
Democrat Party official spokesman Dr Buranaj Smutharaks announced the meeting on Tuesday, saying all Democrats party members “without exception” are expected to attend.
The seminar, from Friday to Sunday, is entitled “Concentrating Energy to Solve the National Crisis”, Dr Buranaj said.
The emphasis will be not on political struggle, but on harmony, he said.
"Members from every region are assembling to support the government's compromise plan to find a way to end the problem," he said.
The "problem" referred to is the dispute between supporters and opponents of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was removed from power by a 2006 military coup and is now in exile.
Former Social Development and Human Security minister Paibool Watanasiritam will give a talk on “Thailand's Future and the Fundamentals of Compromise”, he said.
Another session, organized in conjunction with the party’s committee on reform, will take the shape of a "People's Assembly", it was announced.
Details regarding where in Phuket the meeting will be held, or times of the various seminars, were not included in the announcement carried by the state-run Thai News Agency.
"Red shirt" Thaksin supporters have pursued, during the last year, a strategy of disrupting high-profile events involving members of the government.
As a Democrat Party stronghold and an island to which admission can be monitored, Phuket is generally regarded as a safe haven.
Meanwhile, the opposition Pheu Thai Party and their allied Red Shirt Network have opened another southern branch office in Songkhla’s Haad Yai district, the new center's director Sawai Na Patthalung announced on July 25.
Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, a former prime minister and long-time Thaksin ally, will preside over the opening ceremony on Sunday.
Mr Sawai said the new center is the third in southern Thailand. Other Pheu Thai Party centers have been opened here in Phuket, at the Phuket City Home residential estate in Rassada, and in Nakorn Sri Thammarat province.
The Haad Yai office will co-ordinate campaign activities in Songkhla, Patthalung and Satun provinces in the run-up to the next general election.
“We have 500 members here already,” Sawai asserted, “and by election time we'll have no fewer than 10,000.”
Pheu Thai hopes to capture "at least two" of the nine seats at stake in his area of responsibility, Mr Sawai said.
– Phuket Gazette
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Phuket, Thailand
13:38
local time (GMT +7) |
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Phuket Police arrest 15 for alcohol ban violations in Patong
PHUKET: Fifteen people were arrested for selling alcohol at bars and restaurants in Patong on the Khao Pansa Buddhist holiday on Tuesday.
Kathu Police Deputy Superintendent Praya Chansomwong ordered police to be on the lookout for violators of the alcohol ban that was in effect on Monday and Tuesday, according to a report in the local Thai-language press.
Violators will be fined 20,000 baht each and their cases forwarded to the public prosecutors office, according to the report.
– Phuket Gazette
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Phuket, Thailand
12:41
local time (GMT +7) |
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Phuket F&B Show starts Friday
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An entrant in last year's 'flair' bartending contest. Photo by Surat Kanthanakit.
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PHUKET: The Phuket Food and Beverage Show will take place starting on Friday at Central Festival Phuket’s HomeWorks complex on the bypass road.
The three-day event will feature a wide variety of events including contests and exhibitions in bartending, cooking, linen folding, wine butlering, ice carving and so on.
The event, sponsored by Smirnoff vodka, will run from 11am to 10pm daily.
The event is organized jointly by the Andaman Food and Beverages Managers Club (FBMC Andaman) and the Thai Federation of F&B Management Clubs & Associations.
Other groups involved include the Department of Skill Development, Phuket Provincial Administration Organization, Thai Hotels Association, Phuket Chef’s Association and the local branch of the Thai Housekeeping Management Club.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is promoting the event.
Bangornrat Shinaprayoon, director of TAT South Region 4 Office in Phuket Town, said, “This will be the 27th Phuket Food and Beverage Show. Activities are aimed at helping food and beverage service providers to reach international standards. This will also be a great chance for those in the F&B industry to improve their skills.”
FBMC Andaman Chairman Sakda Wareeporn said the wide range of activities and cooperation from so many different groups helped to make the event an annual highlight for F&B workers in the region.
One new activity to be introduced at this year’s event will be the “Ete Ice Cream Creation Contest”.
Aveeporn Piyadamrong, the public manager of contest sponsors Ete Ice Cream, told a press conference at The Metropole Hotel earlier this month that the winning creation would be featured on menus in Ete home-made ice cream shops all around the country.
Another highlight is expected to be ‘flair’ cocktail-making by bartenders from across the region.
This year’s event also happens to coincide with the Patong Cocktail Marathon 2010, that has its grand opening on Soi Bangla in Patong on Friday night.
For information about the Phuket Food and Beverage Show contact FBMC Andaman at 076-378165 or visit: www.phuketfbclub.com
– Sitthipong Nongkaew
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Phuket, Thailand
15:58
local time (GMT +7) |
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Bt1m stolen from Phuket temple on Buddhist holiday
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The temple gate at Rasadaram Temple, where thieves last night made off with a reported 1 million baht in cash and valuables.
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PHUKET: Thieves used yesterday’s Buddhist holiday to rob a Phuket temple of one million baht in cash and valuables, Siangtai Daily newspaper has reported.
Monks at the well-known Rasadaram Temple, located off the bypass road in Rassada, reported the theft early yesterday evening.
The burglary occurred in the monks’ cell area while they were attending a service that began at 6:30pm in the main prayer hall.
An unknown thief or thieves used the opportunity to pry open a window and gain access.
Upon returning to his cell, one of the monks noticed a collection box lying on the floor, its 50,000 baht in proceeds missing.
In the next room numerous Buddha images were missing and those that remained were scattered on the floor.
The temple abbot put the value of the heist at one million baht.
Phuket City Police are investigating the theft and have already taken fingerprints.
The temple has been targeted by thieves before, but in the past they ran away when spotted by temple monks.
It is not the only time thieves have targeted a temple in Phuket.
In October last year a drunk was arrested at Nai Harn Temple after he attempted to steal a collection box there. The man later confessed to committing a string of similar thefts at other island temples.
He also led police to an employee at the Government Savings Bank who served as an accomplice in some of the heists. The pair used the proceeds to fund drinking sessions in karaoke bars, they said.
In Thailand temples are seldom targeted by thieves – and not only for ethical reasons.
Most Thai temples are home to large packs of stray dogs, many dumped there by their former owners. The dogs also serve as a potent security force for their Buddhist benefactors.
In another disturbing crime carried out at a temple on a holy day last year, well-known local businessman Chalermpol Pranweerapaiboon was left in a coma after he was shot in the back of the neck by an assailant at Wat Luangpoo Supha on Maka Bucha Day in February 2009.
The attack took place in front of the victim's family and just meters from the cell of Luangpoo Supha, a revered monk believed by his followers to be the world's oldest living man at 116.
Although Phuket City Police initially said the investigation was going well, there have been no reports of any arrests in the case.
– Phuket Gazette
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Phuket, Thailand
14:45
local time (GMT +7) |
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
'New York City cop' arrested on drug charges in Phuket
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Mr Wesarat in custody at Tah Chat Chai Police Station.
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PHUKET: Police on Monday arrested two men caught smuggling some 8,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills onto the island at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint.
Tah Chat Chai Police identified the suspects as 35-year-old Nonthaburi resident Wesarat Ninjamrat and his alleged accomplice Jad Jedklang, a 26-year-old from Nakhon Sri Thammarat.
At the time of his arrest, at about 6pm, Mr Wesarat was apparently high on methamphetamines and wearing a black polo shirt identifying himself as a member of the New York City Police SWAT team.
The drugs were stashed in a variety of containers, including a box of Scotch brand bird nest beverage.
Along with the ya bah pills was a small bag of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) weighing 2.85 grams.
Mr Wesarat initially said the packages contained a present for his boss in Phuket Town and that he was reluctant for police to open it because he didn’t want to diminish the beauty of the packaging.
Also seized in the arrest was drug apparatus allegedly used to smoke ya ice, 2,380 baht in cash, five mobile phones, three Bangkok Bank account books, three ATM cards and the Bangkok-registered Toyota Vios Mr Wesarat drove to the checkpoint.
Both men were charged with possession of a Category 1 narcotic and conspiracy to sell.
Mr Wesarat said he was only transporting the drugs and had no intention of selling them himself, but admitted that 73 of the pills belonged to him for his own consumption.
Mr Wesarat told police he was currently out on bail after being charged with possession of ya Ice in Kamphaeng Phet province.
He has a scheduled court appearance in the northern province on July 29, he told police.
Mr Wesarat also confessed that the intercepted shipment represented the remainder of a much larger order and that he had driven 24,000 yah bah pills onto the island on July 22.
Despite the damning nature of the confession, police refused to accept his words at face value as the suspect appeared to be under the influence of drugs.
– Phuket Gazette
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Phuket, Thailand
13:32
local time (GMT +7) |
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Trawler sinks off Phuket after collision with barge
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Fishing vessel 'Sri Thong Prae 7' and her swamped sister vessel 'Sri Thong Prae 4'.
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PHUKET: In the latest marine mishap off Phuket, a crew of 12 fishermen were saved by another fishing boat after their trawler slammed into a sand barge off Wichit last night.
Pol Sub-Lt of the Phuket Marine Police received a report of the accident at 7am.
The 10-meter trawler Sri Thong Prae 4 from Ranong was cruising about 2 kilometers from Koh Tapao Noi when its port bow slammed into the anchored sand barge Kantang Lamliang 6 at about midnight, he said.
The crew of its companion vessel, Sri Thong Prae 7, came to assist as the wooden trawler began taking on water.
All 12 crew were rescued from the wooden vessel, but efforts to salvage the swamped trawler have proven fruitless.
At last report the vessel was completely swamped, with only a small section above the waterline.
Sub-Lt Jeerayuth told the captains of both vessels to file reports at the Phuket City Police Station so that an investigation into who was responsible can begin.
– Sitthipong Nongkaew
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Phuket, Thailand
17:52
local time (GMT +7) |
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
National census underway in Phuket
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A Burmese-language version of the "Participate in the Population and Housing Census" brochure now being distributed at workers' camps around the island.
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Fans, bags and other promotional materials being distributed to encourage participation in the census-taking.
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PHUKET: Thailand’s national census-taking in now underway in Phuket, which is the first province where the data collection is taking place.
Phuket Provincial Statistical Office (PPSO) chief Yuthachai Apichaicharnkit said the census, held every ten years, was initially slated to begin nationwide on July 1, but had to be postponed to September 1 due to the civil unrest in Bangkok in May and June.
In Phuket, students from Phuket Rajabaht University (PKRU) will do the door-to-door data collection.
As there was no violence in Phuket and the students need to sit exams in September, Phuket was allowed to begin the data collection at the originally scheduled time.
Mr Yuthachai, 59, said that for the first time all residents of the island, including foreigners, would be included.
This includes foreigners who have been living in Phuket for at least three months and plan to stay here, as well as low-wage workers from neighboring countries.
There could be as many as 100,000 low-wage workers from lands controlled by the Burmese junta in Phuket, by some estimates.
The Rajabaht students, mostly young women, will need to enter Burmese workers camps to try and get an accurate assessment of their numbers.
To assist in this, fellow Burmese who can speak Thai will help the workers understand that the census will not have any effect on their lives or work in Thailand – even if they are illegal.
If a person’s main residence is elsewhere, not in Phuket, then the survey will count where they are physically present most of the time, Mr Yuthachai said.
“Accuracy is important because the census data will affect government policies. For example, identifying an aging population will affect health care and welfare policies. Survey forms will be scanned by ICR [intelligent character recognition] scanners and staff have been trained in how to fill out the forms correctly so the scanners will read the data accurately,” he said.
Among the problems faced by the census-takers are rain, the two-month time limit to complete the data collection and an unwillingness on the part of many foreigners to take part.
All information collected is treated as completely confidential, he stressed.
“Some foreigners have refused to take part because they don’t understand what is going on. We would like them to understand that this will not affect any aspects of their lives, such as laws, taxation or immigration status. We just want to know exactly how many people are living in Phuket. The data will show only numbers, not details of the people surveyed,” he said.
Asked about the possibility of con-men posing as census takers, he said: “The students helping us wear their student uniforms and have university student ID cards as well as duty cards issued by the PPSO so the public can verify that they are working for us.”
In cases when staff cannot communicate with foreigners, intermediary forms in different languages will be used and staff will transfer the data onto the official statistics sheets later.
“We contacted all 17 honorary consuls in Phuket and we have received very good cooperation. British honorary consul Martin Carpenter has given advice on the forms, which are in English, French, Cambodian, Chinese, Japanese as well as in Thai…He estimates there are some 5,000 to 7,000 Brits staying in Phuket,” he said.
The census taking is the 11th in the Kingdom and also marks the 100th anniversary of census-taking in Thailand.
For an in-depth interview with Mr Yuthachai, as well as opinion and analysis, pick up a copy of the Phuket Gazette now on sale at newsstands all over the island.
– Atchaa Khamlo
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Phuket, Thailand
16:35
local time (GMT +7) |
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Truck crash: Phuket power pole snapped in half
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The damaged truck at 9 o'clock this morning.
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Mr Cha-oum (left) and his relief driver, who got a rude awakening early this morning.
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PHUKET: Two truck drivers emerged unscathed after a high-speed collision that snapped a power pole in two early this morning.
The accident took place on Thepkrassatri Road southbound, in front of the Honda Marine showroom in Koh Kaew.
The driver, who identified himself only as “Cha-oum”, said he slammed into the pole at about 3:30am.
Mr Cha-oum said he had dozed off at the wheel because he hadn’t had enough sleep. He said he was in a rush to deliver the truck’s cargo, small containers of Meiji brand yogurt drink, before it spoiled.
He had been driving the truck from Saraburi province since 5am Monday morning, making deliveries along the way to Phuket, he said.
Both he and the other driver, who was asleep in the back of the cab at the time, were uninjured.
The accident caused a brief power supply disruption in the area, he said.
The 10-wheel truck, belonging to the C. H. Transport company, was heavily damaged in the accident.
In a remarkably upbeat mood despite the accident, Mr Cha-oum said he had already called his employer to report the accident and was not unduly worried about the smash because the vehicle was insured.
– Stephen Fein & Atchaa Khamlo
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Phuket, Thailand
15:29
local time (GMT +7) |
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
MET issued flood warning for Phuket
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Phuket Town residents brave the elements during monsoon season. File photo.
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PHUKET: Due to prevailing strong monsoonal conditions, the Meteorological Department (MET) has issued a flood warning to residents in risk areas of Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Ranong.
Issued by the MET Southern Meteorological Center (West Coast) at Phuket International Airport at 11am today, the warning states that residents in risk areas should be prepared for flooding and flash-flooding.
It is the third warning issued by the center this year.
The 24-hour forecast for Phuket for the period starting at noon today calls for widespread thundershowers covering more than 80% of the province and isolated heavy rain.
Winds will be southwesterly at 20 to 35kmh, with wave heights of about 2 meters or higher in areas of storm activity.
– Stephen Michael Fein
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Phuket, Thailand
15:08
local time (GMT +7) |
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Kids' crash helmets selling like hot cakes in Phuket
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The children's crash helmet sale at Bangkok Hospital Phuket.
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PHUKET: There are only two days left to enjoy special discounts on children’s motorbike helmets on sale at Bangkok Hospital Phuket.
The sale, which runs daily from 9am to 6pm, offers five different types of children’s helmets at prices ranging from just 180 baht to 280 baht. Each style is available in a wide variety of colors.
Sunantha “Jae Taew” Sutthamongkol, owner of the Hup-aik helmet shop on Phuket Road, said she was contacted by hospital staff about setting up a special promotion to increase helmet use among youngsters.
The promotion is part of an effort by Phuket City Police to bring about 100% helmet use in Phuket City Police District.
Police want everyone traveling by motorbike, including passengers, to don crash helmets.
In the past, a traffic law requiring everyone on a motorbike to wear a crash helmet was seldom enforced, but it will be in Phuket City Police District after the public awareness part of the campaign ends.
A review of CCTV footage by police before the campaign found that while many motorbike riders wore helmets, few passengers did.
Worse yet, helmet use among children was found to be “negligible” and until recently standard-quality helmets for children were hard to find on the island.
Ms Sunantha said sales have been brisk and many people are taking advantage of the prices at the Bangkok Hospital event, which are lower than those offered at her shop.
The most popular helmets are those manufactured by the Index company to resemble ladybugs and pandas, she said.
The special promotion ends tomorrow.
Phuket City Police Superintendent Wanchai Ekpornpit, the driving force behind the "100% helmet use" campaign, said police will continue to pull over violators at checkpoints and make them watch a movie graphically showing the dangers of not wearing safety helmets.
Violators' licenses are only returned after they have viewed the movie or paid a fine.
Col Wanchai declined to say exactly when the awareness campaign would end and police will start issuing fines to all violators.
Phuket City Police will review the statistics at the end of the month before making a decision, he said.
Col Wanchai recently said helmet use has reached as high as 95% in Phuket Town and that he expects the campaign to save as many as 30 lives annually, not to mention cut down on countless injuries.
There have been reports from some school teachers of children shaming their parents into buying helmets for them, he added.
– Stephen Michael Fein
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Phuket, Thailand
13:17
local time (GMT +7) |
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