The plan called for taxi ranks and individual vehicles to be inspected, with those who met specified standards being issued with certificates. That would, in theory, enable tourists to distinguish between the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ drivers.
An inspection committee comprising members of Chalong police, Karon Municipality and Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) agreed in a meeting on August 29 they would select the best three vehicle ranks to be a model of how to control taxis and tuk-tuks on the island.
The inspections would cover the condition of the vehicles, drivers’ behaviour and how reasonable their fare were.
But since the retirement of V/Gov Niwit, the plan has sputtered to a near standstill, with the director of PLTO Theerayut Prasertpol telling media that neither local authorities nor the drivers were ready to implement it.
Deputy Director of the PLTO, Wanta Phummararossukon, put that statement into plainer language, saying taxi and tuk-tuk drivers in Kata and Karon had not cooperated with authorities during the inspections.
Mayor of Karon Municipality, Thawee Tongcham, this week said only 10 of the total 40 ranks covering the main road from Karon Municipality Office to the Club Med resort had been inspected in the past two months.
He claimed more time was needed to explain the plan to drivers in each rank.
“There is currently no deadline set for the plan to be completed,” he added.
In the meantime, the situation appears to be worsening, with ambassadors now considering appealing to the Prime Minister to push law enforcement in Phuket after yet another driver dispute last Tuesday (November 8) involving tourists.
“If Phuket authorities continue making slow progress, it will be a shame of us as we have to ask outsiders to fix our own problems,” Mr Bhuritt, a Vice President of the Phuket Tourist Association, said.
However, Phuket Vice Governor Somkiat Sangkaosuttirak claimed that local authorities – including OrBorTor, village headmen and district-chief officers – and police had to step up and take responsibility.
The Kata Karon inspection committee, which now is led by the PLTO, is due to meet again this month.