Kittiratt reflects on tough choices

Governments will need to act with more far-sightedness if serious impacts from natural disasters such as the recent Thai floods are to be avoided, Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong told a gathering at the World Economic Forum.

Speaking at a session on "Tough Choices in Times of Crisis" with a panel that included Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault-Nissan Alliance, Kittiratt said he had to make his toughest choice after an aerial survey of the flooding and saw the massive volume of water surrounding the country's economic zones.

"What should I do? Report to the public or the prime minister?" he said, referring to the magnitude of the expected devastation.

"We had to make a decision that is not for ourselves but for the others," said Kittiratt, who is now also the finance minister.

Kittiratt looked back at the Thai flooding situation and noted that reports were issued by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and others before the floods last year, recommending that something be done to avert serious damage from possible floods. But the reports were shelved and nothing was done. "I think we have to act with more far-sightedness ... [if we had done so] the devastation would have been avoided."