Empty promises on flood prevention

Your excellent report and graphic on the types of expenditures spent by this government since the 2011 floods confirm our doubts about its feeble efforts since that year, when our growth rate was at 0.1 per cent. In sum, Bt120 billion was spent, mainly on repairs to roads and 14,270 water pumps. The government’s message is clear – it is only interested in pumping water out instead of having a comprehensive system of preventing floods, like in Holland. This government’s “never again” words comfort of in 2011 dissipated into the thin air of false promises and hopelessness.

Some Thai officials are brain-dead. One is reminded of Warren Buffett’s statement: “Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.”

Songdej Praditsmanont

Bangkok