Phuket Governor Lashes Environment 'Guardians'

By Chutima Sidasathian
Monday, January 4, 2010

Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob said today that he was disappointed with the quality of public officials who were supposed to protect the environment on Phuket.

Talking about his frustrations after eight months in the job, the governor said that the Natural Resources and Environment office on Phuket were being paid, ''but they do nothing.''

He said it was similar to hiring a security guard who let in robbers. ''It's no good running to the police after the security guard has let the robbers in,'' he said.

He said the office might as well be closed for all the good they did. The governor was meeting the media for the first time this year.

Approval had been given for a new road that should reduce traffic conjestion at the Central festival intersection.

The road cuts from the bypass road alongside HomePro behind Dalasamut School to Surakul Stadium. It will cost no more than $3 million, the governor said.

He told the gathering at Provincial Hall that a few people were standing in the way of the second highway between the Phuket International Airport and Phuket City.

Although many owners had donate land to the project, some had refused to give without compensation.

The governor said the need for cash transactions would slow down the project by many years.

From : Phuket Wan : 04-01-10