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Phnom
Penh (Ah!)
- CAMBODIA BEGS FOR
MORE MONEY, MONEY, M0NEY
D. J. Ken - National Radio Text Service
This raises the question what is the $1.1 billion in donor money to be used for? - WHY THE FLOODING? If you have the desire to walk in knee deep waters contaminated with excrement and sewage from backed up drainage systems then hurry up to Phnom Penh during the present rain season - MEKONG EXPRESS HAVE PROBLEMS TOO MUCH - TOP 3 PHNOM PENH COLUMNS
Phnom Penh, Cambodia Monday September 27, 2010 WHERE DOES THE BUCK STOP? How does that song go, money, money money? Obviously it's popular in Cambodia. Recently at a bridge opening dedication the boss of Cambodia urged donors to contribute money to build Cambodian infrastructure. This bridge was built by the funding if a high government official. This raises two questions what is the $1.1 billion in donor money to be used for? Question 2 is where does a government official get $20 million dollars to build a toll bridge in Phnom Penh? It's his second toll bridge construction as he owns one in Koh Kong. In an age of supposed transparency their salaries must be enormous. A troubling issue as reported in the Cambodia Daily September 17th issue page 28 is when a reporter was trying to ask the Senator/bridge owner questions about the bridge the reporter was threatened with bodily harm and was surrounded by bodyguards. Is this Cambodia's interpretation of a transparent, corruption free democracy? When you put that into perspective the president of the United States of America supposedly the wealthiest country in the world salary is only $400,000 annual salary a year, along with a $50,000 annual expense account, a $100,000 non-taxable travel account and $19,000 for entertainment. This is public record and required by law for his total worth to be publicized. Obviously US President Obama doesn't earn enough money to build a bridge although he represents the world's richest country but an official in a 3rd world country that is begging for money has the funds to do so. Place that in the GO FIGURE FILE. WHY THE FLOODING? If you have the desire to walk in knee deep waters contaminated with excrement and sewage from backed up drainage systems then hurry up to Phnom Penh during the present rain season. Cambodia's boss claims that inadequate drainage systems are the reason for flooding in the streets of Phnom Penh. One of the major problems is blatantly obvious near the extremely busy intersection of Monivong near Sihanouk boulevards where a huge construction development is underway. We took pictures of drains on Monivong Boulevard in September 2009 that had rugs covering them. A year later on one drain the rug remains while the other has been replaced with a huge board blocking the drain. On Monivong Blvd. water that lacks access to the drainage systems on that street then flows down to Street 63 which is on low ground and becomes a river of sewage with much of it being impassable. The possibility exists of water born diseases as well as businesses on the street suffering due to the lack of customer access. To compound the problem a tourist doesn't have a choice but to walk in the street and excrement since the sidewalks are used for parking and the extension of business. Is it Cambodia's way of saying WELCOME TO OUR NIGHTMARE? MEKONG EXPRESS HAVE PROBLEMS TOO MUCH What was once a good company that we previously recommended has turned sour and is now providing inferior service which places them on the BEWARE list. When a customer purchases a product they expect to receive the product they paid for but that does not apply to Mekong Express in Phnom Penh. A foreigner with a major back problem requiring having to wear a back brace purchased a specific seat two days before departure. It was the first ticket purchased on that scheduled bus. The purpose was to have a seat on the isle to place his legs on his 6'1" frame to relieve the pressure on his back on a 6 ˝ hour trip. On the day of departures he arrived a half hour prior to the departure of the bus. He was then told by the Mekong Express service (?) rep that his seat had been sold. He explained that his ticket was purchased two days in advance for specific health reasons and that it was the first ticket sold on that scheduled bus. The rep who gave her name as Ms. Somporn could care less as she instructed the other passengers to board the bus and ignored the elderly passenger. After every passenger had boarded the elderly partially disabled customer boarded only to find that a college age student sitting in his seat. He informed her it was his seat showed her his ticket and she refused to get up. The bus hostess asked the man to take another inside seat by the window which would create a cramped condition that would create pain in his back. He explained the health problem but she ignored the information. When the student heard about the back problem she only then got up from the seat. In the past Mekong Express was the best bus service in Cambodia. They are more expensive but are more responsible for luggage in issuing numbered receipts for a passengers checked baggage. In the past their busses had carpets on the floor, uniformed female hostess' and gave a small box lunch which included a sandwich, sweets, soft drink and water. Only the water and a sweet roll remain. Their prices have increased and their service and the quality of employee has decreased. TOP 3 PHNOM PENH COLUMNS Our Top 3 Phnom Penh columns took a twist to the realities of the dangers in Phnom Penh for tourists. While the propaganda stresses how embracing the country is there is nothing stated about tourist safety. Aside from having to pay the police to investigate a crime the most obvious danger is noticeable every day is in the streets of Phnom Penh where pedestrians are forced to walk in the streets among cars with many having inebriated drivers. The streets are where one NGO states that 11% of Cambodian deaths occur. Our feature on that topic |
