Stranded American
Stranded American still struggling for a way out
By Peter Townson
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=253100...
A US citizen who has found himself stuck in Qatar for the past 10 months is still no closer to finding a solution to his plight, and is growing increasingly desperate to find a way to settle his finances and return home.
Kenneth Greene, who took out a loan whilst employed as a basketball coach at one of the major sports clubs in Qatar, has since had his contract terminated, been forced to move out of his house and left with no funds whatsoever to support himself.
He has been staying in a hotel since spending time in an abandoned house, but has worked up a bill of some QR20,000 and has no way of paying for his accommodation.
Greene says he took the loan to pay for treatment of his mother who was diagnosed with colon and lung cancer. He says the money was paid for her treatment in a number of hospitals around the world, but she died in 2005.
Following his dismissal, Greene claims the US embassy has not been helpful in finding a solution to his plight.
“They have made promises that they haven’t kept, and at the end of the day, the assistance they have offered hasn’t helped me at all,” said Greene. He explained that he had been told they were looking to find him some accommodation, but was later informed that they could offer housing only to women.
An embassy spokesman confirmed that they had been in contact with Greene, and had provided him with consular assistance.
“We are aware of the case and have been actively assisting him,” he said, explaining that they had “provided information on legal procedures in Qatar, as well as a list of recommended lawyers for providing legal representation.”
“We are always looking out for US citizens’ interests, and we will keep in close contact with Kenneth and do what we can,” he added.
However, Greene says his major problem is a lack of money, and as the embassy will not pay for a lawyer, the list of attorneys is “not very helpful at all.”
“An embassy official got back to me the other day to tell me that there was nothing they could do. And the bank says defaulters will be imprisoned,” he said.
Gulf Times has previously reported on cases where expatriate communities and societies have got involved to help community members in need. These drives have often been “endorsed” by embassies.
For instance, the Indian embassy played an active part in mobilising the community to help pay for the return home of an Indian who had been stranded in Qatar for a number of years.
But the US embassy said that for any specific community involvement in this case, “you should contact Mr Greene himself.”
According to Greene he has been left without food for up to three days at a time, and is feeling completely helpless. On top of his own situation, he says his lack of wages has put his family in the US in financial difficulty, and he recently had to borrow money to put back an eviction order on his family home.
“If it was just me I could handle this situation, no matter how bad it gets,” he said, “but my family are suffering and I need to get this resolved for their sakes.”
Members from online community Qatar Living have been providing food and money to Greene over the past months, and the leader of the volunteer group on the site, Speed, has said that he would be launching a campaign to help raise funds and other essential items for Greene.
Speed said that anyone interested in helping should keep an eye on Qatar Living, where details would be posted soon.
It is amusing that people still have this imagined image like in the movies that the American embassy is in a foreign country for reasons other than giving some rich friends of the president a sweet job and having a base in every country to execute espionage from....
Any service the embassy is willing to do in reality it could do online and through secure post....
They are a bunch of clowns.... As sad as Kenny's story is (And I sincerely hope for a quick resolute solution Kenny) the positive that can be gained from it is that Americans realize that the embassy doesn't give 2 squirrel farts about you...
The American government is broke and paying for 2 wars.... What would they want to help Kenny for... It is the sad reality...
They call it the American dream because you have to be asleep to see it... --George Carlin
then we will be in the position to run the 'Donation Campaign'
Meantime, If anyone willing to help him by providing food and shelter is welcome.
Just send me a PM.
[img_assist|nid=53652|title=|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=|height=0]
Speed, Count me in
Speed..Wats the status of things.. can u pls update us?
Ballinkg..dont worry brother.. we all are with you
ok lets wait for a official cick start...
cick start ??
[img_assist|nid=53652|title=|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=|height=0]
that will be great PitStop... and i think no need to wait for some official cick start...
azilana - that is very nice of you. I'll ask from my side as well. I might be able to find a room for him or something similar.
lets start collection for the poor American..After all he is our Colonial Cousin..lol
-----------------
HE WHO DARES WINS
accommodation for the meantime? A spare room where he could stay?
Him staying at the hotel (is he still?) with the bills soaring steadily is not viable as whatever we money we could pool would only end up paying the hotel bills.
If he's not very finicky...I'll ask from my friends (kabayans)for help on this matter.
Should I start collecting the money?
thats the spirit required....
Count me in too, Speed.
/Wish I could help in legal matters here but I'm out of my depth for the time being.
*****************************************
Life is short. Live it to the fullest!
show the world that ordinary people of Qatar cares and are willing to help him... im 100% sure, the US EMBASSY will be there to assist this man like they were on his side from Day 1
Ballinkg, have you tried it yet? There's no harm in trying. what's the worst thing that's gonna happen to you if you try to enlist in the military? Or you can check the Dyncorp company, they are the ones providing perimeter security in the US Base. We have to try every possibility...i can't help you much, so i'll just give you more suggestion. :D
It's not because things are difficult that we don't dare, it's because we don't dare that makes things difficult!
Have you been following the story? He cannot pay off the loan as he has no income anymore.
Well like they say..If you cant do the time dont do the crime..simple pay off the loan and go back..
-----------------
HE WHO DARES WINS
Dear Winnie, fnd the answer to your question below from the article
"He has been staying in a hotel since spending time in an abandoned house, but has worked up a bill of some QR20,000 and has no way of paying for his accommodation.
Thanks appreciate it...
i am in,Speed!
take care ballinkg bro.
hi, You can send me a pm and i will inform you more about what is happening...
all over the world and we can't help them all. But now and then a story reaches us where we think we can as an individual make an impression. We have to pick our battles in life and hope at the time we are making the right choices. Hindsight will tell us the truth later.
As for Kenneth, does anyone know if he has a place to stay? What actually is happening to him right now? And how can we help? This is what we should concentrate on, not criticising those who want to help.
Desert Witch
Majnoon, habibi, we Americans have to pay taxes while working overseas! Hope you haven't forgotten yours!
Mandi
well Winnie I'm sure you can come up with the loan money if you want. I am just trying to be realistic and I have never figured the Government owes me much especially if I created the situation considering a lot of expats do not pay taxes while overseas. The emabassys are not here to give finacial assistance unless our rights are being violated. I don't want a social govt. so I don't want anything from them except what i have coming I do have stuff coming because I served in the military because I figured I should do something for my country. I am sorry he is in a jam and I hope he can get out of it but there are a million ooops ten million others out there also. It seems to me his ex-employer has some responsiblites also but I do not know the whole story.
Doesn't his mum have an insurance pay out that could be used? Assets? Family help? seems bizarre to me!
lol .... you want him to serve 10 yrs in jail instead of 3 ?
coz as per the law if you are caught in any crime and later police found that you have previous case then that will add to your jail term ....
[img_assist|nid=53652|title=|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=|height=0]
legal way is to do a misdemeanor that will entail him to be deported e.g. drunk driving, driving w/o license, fighting eith a local. very legal but scary.
[img_assist|nid=53652|title=|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=|height=0]
I've sent the information that I have to my contacts at the Bank. Tomorrow they will look into and get back to me. Nothing official from my side, so it will not interfere in anything that you are working on.
tortor, once we get everything together, I will let you know the details for where and how you can pitch in. Thank you!
Can't count on them for anything... although I did get bad advice once that had we listened certainly would have gotten us deported.
Don't expect assistance there...
then lets wait for the campaign that SPEED is planning to start...
Pitstop.. i'll pitch in. just tell us when and where to send it. i've been following this story for quite sometime now and i would really like to help..
not paying the loan back to bank (say they will put you in the jail for 3 yrs) after completion of 3 yrs they will deport you and your are free .... but cannot return to Qatar for life.
But who gonna like to spend 3 - 5yrs in the Jail ? He did not take the money from the bank for stealing purpose .. after all he paid that loan for 3 years (2005 - 2008)
I am meeting the Banks tomorrow to see how much they can reduce his amount ...
[img_assist|nid=53652|title=|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=|height=0]
i dont think so its a crime on his account... Yes its a bad and difficult position and he is paying back by living in Qatar and looking for work...
He owes money to the bank.. He is unable to pay because he has no work..
I seriously doubt they would allow a 41 year old to enlist not re-enlist. never been in the military.
ballinkg,
why not join the Military again? If you re-enlist, then maybe you can get a loan and then pay your debts here and go back to the states and serve like, 5 years? there is a re-enlistment officer in Camp As Sayliyah at Industrial area.
just my 2 cents.
It's not because things are difficult that we don't dare, it's because we don't dare that makes things difficult!
I was thinking the same thing. But are the authorities looking for him? Is he wanted?
I like what Mandilulur said. Who wants to pitch in, I'd take the money put together and do the necessary.
Trust me, not a day goes by without me trying to find a way to offer something to help.
britexpat, on which grounds he give himself up to the authorities?? i mean what wrong he did??
drastic is a understatement.. :-)
Im doing the best i can thanks for asking. Hope you had a good time on your honeymoon and many blessed years in your marriage..
Its a catch 22 situation faced by expats in many countries..
You are building up more and more debt..
One drastic option ..
Give yourself up to the authorities.. In the meanwhile we try and raise the funds and also petition the Emir / Authorities to pardon you..
I have seen this work in Saudi, but as I say, its drastic..
It is nice to see you online. I hope you are better.
as well as some of the other QLER'S who know me actually know that we have basically exhausted all avenues in trying to resolve my situation and I am truly appreciative for all that help.
Majnoon Ajnabi. Your response is indicative of the "Im ok so sod the rest of you" attitude that pervades most societies today. I was not suggesting the embassy pay off his debt but to organise a financial buffer zone to help citizens in such catch 22 situations and when said citizen is back in home country the debt is paid back to the government or embassy. In fact Qatar immigration should insist on such a system from all embassies then they would not have to deal with the the bad press such situations create.
Desert Witch
I know it seems like an impossible task but if we all pitch in, WE CAN GET IT DONE! C'mon, everybody!!! We are the last resort for Kenny. QLers are all he has left. We can't say, oh the Embassy will help or his employer or bank will relent. It's been ten months. Let's get this done and just think of how good we will feel and the party we will have afterwards. Not to mention the fantastic write-up in the Gulf Times. It's SO worth it.
Mandi
discussed with US Consular and he promised to come back to me with positive response but till date I am waiting for his call ... i tried calling him his mobile either switched off or else he is sleeping at home :-(
That is why I decided to take his matter to the media and run the campaign and to them that there are people who really cares for others ....
[img_assist|nid=53652|title=|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=|height=0]
US embassy can put him into a bond... pay the money here, let him join his family in USA... where he can work and pay back this money to US govt...
But this is a different case.
No RP - penalty payments due.
No Job - no income.
No Salary - no money.
Accommodation needs money.
Food needs money.
Even transport needs money.
I wish there is something more that we can do.
discussing Kenney that the 'Tax' he has been paying to US Govt is for what purpose ? His family was almost forced to vacate the house in USA for not paying the rent ....
Thanks to Gulftimes news reporter Mr. Peter who went out of his way and immediately provided financial help (without a second thought) to Kenney and his family ...
Also special thanks to our QLVG member PITSTOP who was in France and send financial help when she came to know about his family ordeal in USA.
I am sure there are several kind hearted people like Peter and PITSTOP here who will support our Campaign and help kenney to leave Qatar and join his family back home soon...
It's not only kenney here suffering .... he has wife and 2 young children who are suffering the same in USA...
God Bless you all
[img_assist|nid=53652|title=|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=|height=0]
God bless you and others for trying to help.. Hope the issue is resolved soon..
I am at a loss as to why the US embassy can't help. Surely they can pay the debt and recover it from the gentleman when he's back in the states..
i can not understand, that US embassy is so helpless in Qatar against its own companies to get a one simple job vaccancy from them... and also not professional vaccancy just ordinary vaccancy....
happen only GOD knows ...
Currently we have his case and we are trying to help him on the humanitarian ground regardless of his Nationality/ religion or skin color...
No one is asking Embassy to pay his debts ... we are just asking them to provide him with food and shelter?
Or at least US Embassy can request US Companies operating in Qatar to provide him ANY KIND of job on humanitarian basis so that he can payoff his loan ....
As per my discussion the US Consular few weeks back and he supported my idea but till date he never came back to me with any solution or reply ?
But I just wanted to tell Kenney that he is not alone ... QLVG and other Qlers are here to provide him all kind of help they can ....
[img_assist|nid=53652|title=|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=|height=0]
Valid point Majnoon, but in the US there is more of a government safety net available. I would presume that Ken would be eligible for unemployment, for instance, if he were in the US. Or food stamps etc.
Mandi
what would happen if every expat that runs out of money for whatever reason received finacial or legal aid pro bono from their respective embassy? The embassy would be converged on by everyone. Should all the people in the US that are going broke start heading for the Embassy or statehouse for assistance ?
Please let us know how we can help. Food money or contacting the emabassy to voice our disgust at the way he has been treated by them?
Kenneth Greene's situation is one many of us could find ourselves in overnight if we suddenly lost our jobs and had loans to pay. It must be a horrible nightmare to go through. It also highlights the indifference of some embassies towards their own citizens. I know they cannot get involved in every problem but this is a problem created by the qatari laws. Surely some kind of system could be put in place by embassies to provide some kind of fund/bond to help people with the understanding that they pay back the money in their own country. The poor guy can't do anything until he gets a job and that's not going to happen here. My heart goes out to his family and the frustration they must be feeling.
Desert Witch
may be they were waiting for the ......... CHANGE
provide any kind of help or assistance to him.... although his case is genuine ...
I approached the Embassy and spoke to the Consular and he was of no use .... just talks in the sky !
His health is also going down day by day ...
[img_assist|nid=53652|title=|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=|height=0]
let gethered all the necessary information.. if can get all the supporting documents, it would be easier to run the campaign...
Yes, please let us know how we can help.
Mandi
announce the 'Campaign'.
[img_assist|nid=53652|title=|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=|height=0]