HOW many bad roads must we walk on or drive through and how many avoidable accidents must happen before the government does an honest-to-goodness effort to fix these constant headaches to motorists and pedestrians alike?

How many times must tourists be victimized by unscrupulous drivers before authorities see the damage they’re inflicting on the island’s tourism industry and before they get tough, once and for all, on these drivers who don’t use their meters or charge reasonable rates?

How many coral reefs must be destroyed, young fishes trawled and beaches littered before we become truly aware about the need for a cleaner and sustainable environment?

How many times must the police make arrests and how many people’s lives must be destroyed before illegal-drug traders realize their wrongs?

How much more of Samui’s mountains must give way to more resorts, hotels, even the proposed new airport before we realize that the wanton abuse of the environment will one day make Mother Nature retaliate in a painful way?

How many years must human traffickers exist taking advantage of Burmese illegal migrants by making them work for very small pay before the government takes the cudgel on their behalf and allow them to stay legally so they can work without hindrance on the island?

How many times will the people in government turn their heads before they stop pretending that they don’t see the law violations and start to implement the laws?

How many ears must those in position of power and influence have before they can hear people’s complaints against noise pollution and second-hand cigarette smoke?

Like broken records, local Thais, expats and tourists have raised these problems and other issues hounding the island community again and again.

It is good to learn that the new mayor, Ramnet Jaikwang, has reportedly made the initial effort to address these problems. He will be more appreciated if the people on Samui start to feel and see changes for the better.

For now, we can only repeat the lines in the song popularized by Bob Dylan in answer to these questions, “The answer my friends is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind …”