New Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun said on Sunday that he had begun what he termed his most important task – upgrading and beautifying the coastal areas to benefit local residents and tourists.

Chamroeun was appointed provincial governor on June 29 in the presence of Minister of Interior Sar Kheng and outgoing governor Yun Min after the latter resigned following the recent seven-storey building collapse that killed 28 people and injured 26.

On his Facebook page, Chamroeun said that after inspecting Independence Beach and meeting with tourists, parks and pedestrian walkways would be upgraded and there would be regular cleaning operations to ensure the beauty of the beaches.

He said that under his leadership, priority would be given to listening to local residents. “Residents’ participation, collaboration and support are vital so we can upgrade all the beaches in the province.

“We will ensure order and sanitation, protect the environment and lay concrete paving blocks for residents to take a stroll,” Chamroeun said.

He declined to comment further on Monday, referring questions to provincial administration spokesman Kheang Phearum, who told The Post that following the governor’s announcement, the authorities would hold an emergency meeting to discuss measures that could be swiftly implemented.

He said the first step that could be solved immediately was to solicit residents’ participation.

“We will establish a working group and hold an emergency meeting to divide duties among all officials. If residents’ participation is lacking, then it cannot be achieved. So it calls for participation to keep our environment and beaches clean,” Phearum said.

Cheap Sotheary, the provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc, lauded the new governor’s commitment but said without national-level collaboration, success would not be achieved.

“I don’t dare say he will fail, but it depends on him overcoming the obstacles because, as some projects are decided by the senior leadership, it is difficult. I just hope that the remaining beaches can be preserved and cared for. Indeed, our residents in the province don’t want any development close to the beach."

“We want development to be far away from the beaches on the other side of the road. To the new governor, I say: please preserve them,” Sotheary said.

Provincial infrastructure and sewage flowing into the sea have received much attention since the coastal province became a target for Chinese investment companies.

The province is continuing to lose national and international tourists and there has been much controversy, not helped by the recent deadly collapse of the building owned by a Chinese national.

Provincial spokesperson Phearum said an investigation had been launched into the collapse with a joint committee formed by the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction.

He said he could only now wait to see the ministry’s report after specialist officials had ascertained the cause of the collapse.

On Monday, Prime Minister Hun Sen spoke about the collapse at a ceremony to transfer the management of Krousar Thmey School for the deaf and blind to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

He said it was a tragic event that no country wanted to see, but such incidents did not only happen in Cambodia.

In response to the tragedy, Hun Sen said, victims’ families have received great assistance.

“Recently, this terrible thing occurred in Preah Sihanouk and we take responsibility for the issue. Civil compensation is to be provided. Let the courts solve any other concerns. But the governor and generous donors came forward to help deal with the issue. Families who have lost loved ones, in some places they have received more than $100,000."

“Although $100,000 cannot replace a person’s life, at least if those families know how to use the money, they will not fall into poverty,” Hun Sen said.