Phuket Deputy Governor Suwit Phansengiam on Friday (Dec 26) chaired a meeting at the Damrongtham Centre at Phuket Provincial Hall to address the impasse, with senior officials including Phuket Local Administration Office Chief Wutthichai Bamrungrat and representatives of relevant agencies in attendance.
The Kamala Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor) has already received a special budget from the Tourism Authority of Thailand for the upgrade and has contracted Pavitachart Construction Co Ltd to carry out the work under an agreement dated Nov 20. Construction was scheduled to begin on Nov 21 and be completed by Feb 6, 2026.
However, when the contractor arrived on site to start work, the Moo 3 headman and members of the village committee refused to leave the facility, effectively blocking the project from moving forward in accordance with the signed contract, explained an official report of the meeting.
The report said that officials at the meeting were informed of the reasons presented by the village headman, but the report failed to make it clear to the public exactly what reasons were given.
Yet the official report was willing to explain that the OrBorTor gave its clarification of the project’s legal basis, planning process and intended benefit to residents and tourists using the memorial park.
Apparently Vice Governor Suwit stressed that the project "must proceed in full compliance with the law, government regulations and the rules governing the use of state property and public funds".
At the same time, he said, it was important to ensure that the development does not adversely affect the community’s ongoing use of public spaces.
The meeting called for relevant agencies to work together urgently to resolve outstanding issues relating to land use rights and documentation so the improvement works can finally begin.
Provincial officials underlined that the upgraded public restrooms are intended to enhance facilities at one of Kamala’s key tourist and memorial locations, ensuring they are hygienic, safe and properly maintained for both residents and visitors, said the official report.
Further discussions between the OrBorTor, provincial authorities and the village headman are to continue in a bid to reach a solution that allows the project to proceed transparently and efficiently, the official report said.