The selection took place during a meeting held at Phuket Provincial Hall earlier this week, chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai and attended by representatives from government agencies and the private sector.
The initiative aligns with the Ministry of Interior’s designation of Apr 1 as the ‘Day to Honour Good Citizens’. Each year, the province selects individuals who have demonstrated exemplary service to the community, with their names submitted to the Ministry of Interior for further recognition, explained an official report of the meeting.
Nominees must have performed their good deeds between Jan 1 and Dec 30, 2024, and have their contributions verified before the deadline yesterday (Jan 31).
Following a review of eight candidates, the committee approved six individuals who met the ministry’s criteria:
- Mr Tharathip Thamrong – Provided aid to an injured motorcyclist in Mueang Phuket District on June 4, 2024.
- Ms. Suwannee Sinto – Assisted a 50-year-old man struck by a pickup truck, providing first aid and coordinating transport to Thalang Hospital on Dec 12, 2024.
- Mr Kittithat Maitrichit – A nurse at Vachira Phuket hospital, helped an unconscious passenger at the entrance of flight PG278 from Phuket to Suvarnabhumi on Dec 13, 2024.
- Ms Wanphen Maitrichit – Also a nurse at Vachira Phukte Hospital, hssisted the same unconscious passenger on flight PG278.
- Rattakorn Paenduang, a Public Health Officer with the Communicable Disease Control and Epidemiology at Vachira Phuket Hospital (but still using his rank 2nd Lt) – Aided multiple individuals, including a pregnant woman in a road accident at the Yee Teng traffic light intersection (Feb 1, 2024) and a victim of a pickup truck accident (Mar 28, 2024), and assisted in the recovery of the body of a tourist who drowned at Karon Beach (May 15, 2024).
- Ms Rungnapa Phromphiban – Assisted an unconscious man hit by a pickup truck, providing first aid and ensuring transport to Thalang Hospital on Dec 12, 2024.
The selected individuals will have their names submitted to the Ministry of Interior for further recognition.
Additionally, Phuket Provincial Office plans to honour all eight nominated citizens with certificates to promote and encourage community service and goodwill, said the report.
This initiative aims to underscore Phuket’s commitment to fostering a culture of altruism and public service, inspiring residents to contribute positively to society, the report added.