United Surveyor from
Singapore is hired by SBC Company and Star High company to
survey the west of Shwe Kyunn (Ross Island) covering
approximately the same area as Singapore Island itself.
United Surveyor said the findings indicated that the sand
resource found can be extracted for 10 years at least. "Our
boat – Mergui Princess is mainly used for survey jobs as
there are sleeping bunks and air-conditioned rooms on the
boat. Sophisticated equipments need reliable electric power
which is provided by onboard generators which provide stable
220 volts. They work on your boat all week long and go back
to Kawthaung from time to time to refuel and restock the
food and beverages" said the manager from TMC Limited which
operates 2 liveaboard vessels in Kawthaung.
There was news about one of the sand companies which hired
Chinese dredger ran into problems when it extracted sand
from Kyunn Byar Gyi damaging the trees on the island. The
report infuriates local commander and an order was
immediately released to stop the operations. General Thar
Aye also scouted the area on board Fortune Express Speed
boat together with Division commander General Khin Zaw Oo.
Star High Asia Pacific – owned by Mergui native turned
Singaporean family – is now exporting more than 100,000 tons
a month.
During the month of August, Thai construction material
company teamed up with Shwe Phone Aung Kyaw General Trading
Company and surveyed West of Pawel Kyunn (Powell Island).
The sand companies re-breathes new life into otherwise-idle
local boat owners as the sand barges and dredgers needed
supplies regularly. The logistics are provided by local boat
owners for fresh water, fuel and food.
On the other hand, Fishing Industry in Kawthaung complains
that Sand extraction damages the fish and prawn breeding
grounds. The suction power of the sand vessels can damage up
to 1 mile to the fishing nets of small fisherman.
Tourism will be affected but the impact is not known yet as
the tour season has not started during raining season and
there are still a lot of places tourists can go free from
sand extraction concessions. However diving companies
already complains that the marine life is significantly
changed in the past 1 year. The environmental damage
assessment must be carried out quickly to evaluate the
damage before it is too late.
Thailand, Myanmar cooperate to verify nationality of Myanmar
workers
RANONG, July 10 (TNA) –
Thai and Myanmar officials confirmed their readiness to verify
the nationality of Myanmar workers seeking legal work permits in
Thailand.
The nationality
verification process will be conducted at three centers in
Myanmar, aiming at managing up to 600 workers a day except for
those of the Rohingya ethnic minority.
The process is for Myanmar
laborers to be able to legally work in Thailand with an
appropriate visa.
Representatives from
Thailand and Myanmar on Friday jointly checked the readiness of
one of the three citizenship identification centers in Myanmar’s
Koh Song, opposite Thailand’s southern province of Ranong.
The other two centers are
in Myanmar’s Myawaddi province, opposite Thailand’s Mae Sot
district in the northern province of Tak, and in Myanmar’s
Tachilek, opposite Thailand’s Mae Sai, in the northern province
of Chiang Rai.
Director Pichai
Ekpitakdamrong of the Thai Employment Department and Myanmar
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister, Maung Myaint
inspected the Koh Song centre Friday.
Pichai said the centers
were entirely ready and would start their services on July 15.
In order to support the procedure, Thailand provided Myanmar
some necessary equipment for the centers.
Myanmar’s Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Maung Myaint confirmed that the
Myanmar authorities agreed to cooperate with Thailand on the
matter. They would neither deny nor obstruct the process in
verifying the nationality of migrant workers, except for the
Rohingyas, whom Myanmar denies as being one of its minority
groups.
Meanwhile, Myanmar
officials denied rumours that applicants could be subject to
arrest or that taxes would be collected from Myanmar workers
wishing to undergo the nationality verification process. They
argued their government only wanted their laborers to legally
work in Thailand and to be protected under Thai law. (TNA)
10 Things that can
save you money when going to Mergui Archipelago
-
Bargain as the fuel price flautates and
operators can give you better price some time.
-
Find Local Operators as they have more
consessions to operate in Burma Waters.
-
Bring/Buy your own booze.
-
Keep it under 5 days if your budget is tight -
Myanmar Government will charge you zone fees
based on 5 days minimum, extra days will be
charged at 20$ / day.
-
Insist on sea food bought on the way - local
fishermen are more than willing to trade their
catch with foreign alcohol, cigarette and stuff.
-
Internet/ email at the Cyber Cafe near Myoma
Jetty.
-
Sightseeing is cheaper with Bike taxis - one
person one taxi. Cars will be safer though.
-
Stay at Ranong hotel whenever possible. YOu
might have to pay the same amount but more value
for money at Ranong.
-
You can reach to Kawthaung within 24 hrs. from
Europe. There are direct flights to Phuket and
Phuket to Ranong is just 4 hours by regular Mini
Bus which are used by Visa-run expatriates.
Ranong to Kawthaung by long-tail boat is 45
minutes.
-
Always bring Thai Baht to this area as it is
widely accepted. Any other currency like US$,
Euro will change at a very low rate.
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