Inclusiveness is Key

On February 26, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Transport to address the concerns of Klong Toey community people about the upcoming redevelopment of the Port Authority land on which the community is built. Meeting participants included Mr. Sorapong Paitoonpong (Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport), Khru Prateep, representatives from all 26 communities and the Klong Toey Housing Network. Three demands were put forward by the people:

1. Representatives from Klong Toey Housing Network be included in planning sub-committees.

2. A fourth option for the people to choose, in which 20 percent of the Port land would be retained for living space.

3. That all affected parties be included in planning meetings for government projects, or other joint projects, that may occur in the Klong Toey area in the future.

Mr. Sorapong acknowledged the people’s concerns and told them to have confidence in the Ministry of Transport’s policy of giving importance to people’s participation in developing the Bangkok Port and in developing the country together.