Broader role suggested for provincial governors

Changes in budget, resources mulled

Pradit Ruangdit

Provincial governors should no longer come under Interior Ministry control but take on a broader role as "chief executives", said Thaksin Shinawatra. The prime minister inaugurated a two-day workshop on bureaucratic reform in Pattaya yesterday.

Mr Thaksin told a workshop on administrative issues he wanted governors to be given full authority to oversee affairs in their provinces.

He suggested governors work in line with their provinces' strategies.

Interior permanent secretary Chanasak Yuwaboon said the idea would work if governors were empowered by state agencies, and each province had the power to handle budgeting and personnel management.

A source said Interior Ministry staff at one workshop supported a proposal to allow recruitment of people from various agencies besides the ministry as governors.

Under the proposal, governors would adjust their roles to that of chief executives or directors-general.

Changes would be made to budgets and resources in each province. Governors could come under supervision of the PM's office instead.

As for security, a workshop proposed transfer of an anti-international terrorism agency to the Supreme Command.

The agency, once run by the Supreme Command, is now under the National Security Council.

The proposal arose from concerns that the agency, chaired by the prime minister, would not be swift to respond in the face of a security problem.

In the face of the hostage drama at Ratchaburi regional hospital, the army commander was assigned by the prime minister to take charge.

Deputy Defence Minister Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapa said if the agency was moved to the Supreme Command it would not be run by the military alone.

"Civilians and police would still participate," he said.

A workshop on energy and the environment agreed on three ministries-resources and environment, science and technology and energy.

As for commerce, three ministries were proposed-ministry of international trade, ministry of commerce and ministry of foreign affairs and trade.

In principle, trade affairs would be shifted to the private sector.

Restructuring was also proposed to the Finance Ministry, said minister Somkid Jatusripitak.

Under the proposal, the ministry would be divided into three sections: revenue, spending and disbursement, and assets and debts management.

The role of the Fiscal Policy Office would be expanded while the Comptroller-General's department would act as a regulator.

It was agreed the Transport Ministry would supervise transport services while communications would be transferred to other agencies.