Phuket governor urges Red Cross to add stronger cultural focus to activities

Phuket Governor Chotinrin has called on the Phuket Provincial Red Cross Committee to combine its charitable work with stronger efforts to preserve and promote the island’s local arts and culture.

The proposal was made during a committee meeting held on Wednesday, July 8, at the Phuket Provincial Red Cross office. The meeting was chaired by Gov Chotinrin and attended by Paveenrisa Kerdsum, the governor’s wife and current president of the Phuket Red Cross, along with Phuket City District Chief Siwat Rawangkul, committee members and representatives of relevant agencies.

Members reviewed recent operations, including financial reports and the sale of remaining tickets from the Red Cross charity lottery. The committee also received an update on a proposed solar power installation project, which has been delayed because of structural limitations at the building. The project is intended to support the Thai Red Cross Society’s environmental and greenhouse gas reduction policies.

The committee approved a range of activities for the 2027 fiscal year, including fundraising campaigns, charity lottery sales, scholarships for underprivileged students, human resources management, appointments to leadership positions and guidelines for managing accumulated funds while maintaining financial liquidity.

During the meeting, Gov Chotinrin said the provincial Red Cross should help promote Phuket’s Thai-Chinese heritage and traditional way of life, encourage community participation in preserving local traditions and publicise the Baba-Nyonya cultural identity, which has been recognised as intangible cultural heritage.

He also proposed integrating cultural activities into the annual Phuket Red Cross Fair, saying the event should create opportunities for local businesses, associations, foundations and other organisations to take part while serving both charitable and cultural goals.

The source noted that promoting local cultural heritage is not a traditional core function of the Thai Red Cross, whose main mission is humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, health services and blood donation. However, Gov Chotinrin said adding cultural elements to the Phuket fair would help showcase the province’s identity while supporting fundraising efforts.