The vendors submitted their appeal to the Phuket Provincial Damrongdhama Center (Provincial Ombudsman’s Office) yesterday (Dec 4).
Present to receive their appeal was Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat.
Fresh produce vendor Rueangsak Saetan, 45, explained to Governor Sophon that the new mall threatened their livelihoods.
The current plans allow for vendors at the new mall to sell fresh produce, thereby instantly threatening the incomes of the vendors at the long-standing Phuket City Municipality Fresh Market, he explained.
Mr Rueangsak urged Governor Sophon to investigate and immediately suspend construction of the new mall.
Governor Sophon formally received the request and ordered the Phuket Provincial Damrongdhama Center to coordinate with Phuket city Municipality and those responsible for the construction of the mall, including representatives of the Agricultural Market Committee, to come together to find ways to solve the problem.
Of note, Phuket City Municipality Fresh Market 2 is located directly across the the building that was once home to the original Robinson department store in Phuket, which operated for some 20 years and also sold fresh produce as part of the department store.