PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said the country’s future could be determined by individual citizens and they should avoid repeating their past mistakes.

“The power is in the people’s hands. If you make wrong choices, things will continue to be wrong. If you choose good people, that is good for the country’s future. The good policies started by my government will be carried on,” Prayut said.

“People can choose if they want the country to progress and has a bright outlook. The future will depend on what people choose,” he added.

The PM also noted his government had set a 20-year national strategic plan for the country, but admitted that changes to the plan could be made by future administrations.

He spoke while giving a special lecture entitled “Phuket as Smart City and Start-up Paradise”.

The event was held as part of the Start-up Thailand and Digital Thailand 2016 fair at Duangjitt Resort and Spa in Phuket.

The prime minister said that his government was taking care of people throughout the country, and not just particular areas.

“But we need to improve the strength by regions and groups of provinces and build connections between them,” he told the audience. “The government is like the father of the house and he has the duty to make the children of the house happy,” he added.

General Prayut, who heads the National Council for Peace |and Order, also presided over the opening of the new international |terminal at Phuket Airport.

Prayut congratulated the airport’s management for the expansion, which will help extend its capacity to cope with 12.5 million passengers a year, up from 6.5 million at present.

The PM also stressed the importance of upgrading the airport’s public utilities and safety. He said mafia figures must be removed from the airport’s operations, as part of the government’s policy of suppressing influential figures.

After the ceremony, he went on a brief tour of the new international terminal, chatting with foreign tourists. He asked them to come back to visit Thailand again.

Prayut was joined in the opening ceremony by a number of his Cabinet members, including Deputy Prime Minister Narong Pipatanasai, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda, and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikalya.

The four-storey international terminal at Phuket airport has a total space of 73,103 square metres, including the arrival and departure halls.

The new terminal will handle |international passengers only. The old terminal will be used for domestic flights. Previously, there was only one terminal handling both domestic and international flights.

Yesterday morning, the PM’s flight from Bangkok’s military airport at Don Mueang was delayed for about half an hour. A plane originally designated for the trip had to be replaced after its air-conditioning system broke down, according to a source.

The source dismissed an earlier report that the original aircraft had a problem with its control system.

In his speech during the start-up event, General Prayut said Thailand must tell the world community that Phuket was ready to become a “smart city” and serve as a hub for start-up businesses in Southeast Asia.

He said the island province was part of the government’s pilot project to develop digital infrastructure and the digital industry. “We will see that Phuket become a complete smart city by 2020,” he said.