Jobless beach workers deliver plea to Phuket Gov

More than 100 beach vendors from the Karon Beach area met Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong to hand him a letter asking for help after they lost their jobs in a crackdown on misuse of public space six months ago. Saran Mitrarat has the story for The Phuket News:

Their leader, Palat Jantarasopin, head of the Tourism Service Operators Club, explained, “We met former Governor Maitri Inthusut [three months ago], but we have not yet met Governor Nisit. We wanted to hand him a copy of the same letter we gave to Governor Maitri so that he understands our problems and needs.”

“It has been almost six months since we lost our jobs [due to the Army-mandated cleanup of Phuket’s beaches], but our monthly bills, car payment, mortgages and our children’s education costs remain the same,” he added.

Gov. Nisit accepted the letter and committed himself to finding the best solution for all of the island’s beach vendors as soon as possible.

Manus Yenjit, a beach chair operator, told The Phuket News, “In the past, we cooperated fully with local officials in order to arrange our beach chairs properly, and I think our management was the best of any beach in Phuket.”

“If officials want to ask us to explain what good management of beach chairs involves, we are happy to them them. I hope this will be the final solution for us all living together,” he said.

“It’s already high season in Phuket. I think officials should made a clear decision whether or not beach chairs operators can work in our zone,” he added.

The Phuket News has learned that just two days before the beach operators went to meet the governor, summonses were issued by Karon Police to 114 former beach operators to answer charges of public area encroachment.

Story: The Phuket News

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