Asked about the fly problem, Paiboon Upatising, president of the Provincial Administration Organisation (OrBorJor), said he thinks the problem lies with Phuket’s trash incinerator at Sapan Hin.
“I expect this is happening because the incinerator cannot burn all the trash, so they take the remainder and bury it. That landfill has become the flies’ breeding grounds.
“I want this problem solved at the source and I want every spot that serves for the flies’ spawning grounds eliminated.”
Yesterday (June 18), Jaral Sangsan, a member of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce board of directors, talked about discussions held on Friday (June 15) by the Civil and Private Sector Committee to Solve Economic Problems in Phuket, chaired by vice governor Miss Sommai Preechasilapa.
“The Chamber has received many complaints about the number of flies swarming across Phuket province,” Mr Jaral said, “and each day the number increases.
“If we allow the problem to continue unabated it could turn into a terrible mess and affect tourism. We want the relevant government units to hurry up and solve the problem. It is urgent.
“We therefore brought the issue before the Economic Problems Committee, which is charged with carrying out measures in a logical and thorough fashion.”
V/Gov Sommai said that at the next Economic Problems Committee meeting, officials from the relevant units would be called to explain the situation. “Activities will be co-ordinated so as to solve this problem with as much urgency as possible.”
Phuket provincial health officer Dr Sak Tanchaikul agreed that flies have become a problem.
“We must accept that the number of flies now is tremendous because of spawning grounds in Phuket,” he said.
“The relevant units must take care of this problem, which is urgent, and must do it from the source.
“As a first step, the Provincial Health Office is now aware of the problem and will consult with other agencies in order to solve the problem.”
A vendor at Sapan Hin complained of the flies swarming over her stewed meats, adding that when she complained to the Municipal Office, the response was that the incinerator operated by the city at Sapan Hin was presently out of order.
When asked when it might be working again, the answer was that no one knew.