Former Samut Sakhon Vice Governor Pol Lt Col Khetarat Chansilp and former Songkhla Vice Governor Romdon Hayiawae both began their new roles yesterday (June 16), replacing Adul Chuthong and Teeraphong Chuaychoo, who transferred to Songkhla and Nakhon Sri Thammarat respectively, effective immediately on Monday.
The new vice governors arrived just one day after Nirat Pongsitthaworn was transferred from his post as Governor of Phuket to Bangkok to serve as Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.
Pol Lt Col Khetarat yesterday visited some of Phuket’s most revered landmarks to seek blessings before formally commencing his duties. Accompanied by his wife, Phichatra Chansilp, he paid respects at the Phuket City Pillar Shrine and the Heroines Monument.
Pol Lt Col Khetarat holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Chulalongkorn University and a Master of Business Administration from Lincoln University, and has completed senior administrative and police training programmes.
Before becoming a vice governor of Samut Sakhon in 2024, he held a wide range of senior positions across several government agencies. His career began with the Tourist Police before he joined the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), where he served as a special investigator in financial and banking crime cases and later headed the Centre for Prevention and Suppression of Influential Figures.
Meanwhile, Romdon Hayiawae also officially reported for duty in Phuket yesterday after transferring from Songkhla Province.
Speaking briefly after reporting for duty, Mr Romdon said it was too early to comment extensively as he was awaiting his formal assignment of responsibilities.
However, he pledged to carry out his duties to the best of his ability and to work for the benefit of the people of Phuket.
"I am ready to perform my duties to the best of my ability and to work for the people of Phuket," he said, adding that he looked forward to working with all sectors to help drive the province’s development.
Mr Romdon brings extensive administrative experience to Phuket, especially from his time served in the South. He previously served as Vice Governor of Songkhla and has also held key positions including Director of the Personnel Division and Director of the Internal Security Affairs Bureau within the Department of Provincial Administration, Assistant Secretary-General of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), district chief in both Satun and Ayutthaya provinces, and a number of administrative posts in Pattani and Narathiwat.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Chulalongkorn University, a Master of Public Administration from Ramkhamhaeng University and a Master of Social Science in Conflict Resolution from the National University of Singapore.