Cherng Talay to Get New Infrastructure

The Cherng Talay Subdistrict Administration Organization (OrBorTor) recently announced plans to develop more public utilities to support a boom in construction in the area. The move is meant to meet growing demand for developable land in the subdistrict, which has seen land prices double in areas near beaches or in the hills.

Cherng Talay OrBorTor President Manoch Panchalard said in a statement released on June 13 that both foreigners and Thai investors plan new projects in the area, especially hotels, resorts and condominiums. High demand has continued despite the national and global economic situation, and Khun Manoch said that he expects investment in Cherng Talay will exceed 5 billion baht this year.
-- W.K.

Lighthouse Club Supports Local Education

The Phuket branch of the Lighthouse Club raised 70,000 baht for education of local children during the group's second Charity Golf Tournament held at Loch Palm during the third week of June. Winners of the tournament were Tom Gordon in first place, Albert Luth in second and Ken Abday in third.

Local businesses, including the Phuket Post, sponsored prizes for nearest the pin or the longest drive. Ken Gilham and Jim Neilson won two of the prizes. Property Developers the Richmond Group donated a day's sailing on the company's catamaran, which after some lively bidding was bought by tournament second-place finisher Luth.

The Lighthouse Club was founded in the UK in 1956, and the charity seeks to support those who work in construction who have been disadvantaged or who need additional support.

For more information on the Lighthouse Club, email Gary Warton at warton.gary@gmail.com.
-- R.V.

Construction Begins on Local Blood Bank

Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit presided over ceremonies to launch construction of a new Red Cross Blood Centre near the Phuket Red Cross Chapter House in Phuket City's Saphan Hin complex. He was joined by executives from the Thai Red Cross Society, the Honorary Consul General from Finland and the province's chief medical officer.

The project is a joint development of the Thai Red Cross Society and the Finnish Red Cross, which is responsible for constructing the building and providing all the necessary equipment. At the end of construction, which is expected to take 12 months, the facility will be handed over to the Thai Red Cross Society to recruit blood donors, collect and test blood, produce blood products and deliver them to blood banks in Thailand's six Andaman provinces.
-- T.K.

Local Leaders Support Muslim Morality Instruction

As part of the newly elected provincial government's push to make Phuket a "livable city with morality", officials highlighted five months of Muslim morality training that began in early June. Paiboon Uppattising, president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), attended the opening session of the training June 8 at the Phuket Merlin Hotel.

"The project of Islam morality instruction is a project coupled with the Thai Muslim community, and it has been offered in Phuket for more than 20 years by professors in the religion," explained Wirat Patee, chairman of the Islam Morality Instruction Club of Phuket. "The government authorities and the Islam Morality Club in Phuket have supported morality training for Thai Muslims in Phuket and nearby areas since 1987 and continuing to this year."

The project trains students, teachers, community chiefs and mosque leaders, up to 1,000 people every Sunday from June 8 to October 23. Training is given by the leader of the Thai Muslim foundation, Jurarajchamontree.
-- T.K.