Exploited, duped trucker slams brake on dicey job; driver plunges into deep financial Gulf

Narinder Thappa had big dreams.

The Nepali wanted to marry off his two younger sisters, and buy a two-bedroom apartment for himself. His father had retired as a factory worker.Being eldest of the brood of three, the 32-year-old was sandwiched between responsibilities.

Though Narinder was employed as a truck driver, he was struggling to financially support his family. Narinder always wanted to emulate the success of his friends who were drawing fat tax-free salaries in the Persian Gulf. But somehow the Gulf-dream kept eluding him like a mirage.

That, however, changed one day. A Gulf-returned friend informed him of an ongoing recruitment drive for a Gulf country, and gave him a few pointers on the selection process. Armed with the advice, Narinder descended on the office of the recruitment agent, and with that began the preparations.

Everything went off like clockwork for him. He successfully passed the interview, even as the recruitment agent informed him that his visa would be ready within a few weeks.

He then told Narinder that he would have to fork out CAN $ 2,500 as the recruitment fee.Narinder found himself in a quandary as how to raise that kind of money. Being the sole bread winner of the family, he had a measly $200 in savings.

Closing ranks behind him, his family managed to get a bank loan for him. All preparations were done for his journey to the cradle-to-grave welfare state.

Narinder finally bid a tearful farewell to his family, and boarded the flight with a heavy heart.Upon landing in the Gulf country, a feeling of joy blanketed him. He was ecstatic to see the glitzy cars, swanky malls and well-paved roads---a far cry from his home country.

Everything was going on fine until his supervisor informed him that he is being transferred to Iraq as the company had secured a fresh contract there. Narinder offered stiff resistance to the proposal, but was told in no uncertain terms that he would be sent back if he failed to comply. This was in stark violation of his work contract.

Narinder explored every possible channel to highlight his plight but failed in his efforts. With a huge debt to pay off, Narinder had little choice but to take up the dangerous assignment much to his chagrin. Once in Iraq, he was driving his truck near violence-torn Fallujah region when he came under heavy sniper fire.

Narinder managed to dodge the bullets, and drove to safety.Horrified by the ordeal, Narinder told his supervisor that he will not take the wheel again, and soon his supervisor allegedly began harassing him. 

Narinder stuck to his guns and with no solution in sight, he was repatriated last month.His family was devastated, but sympathized with him. He is now sinking in debt and each passing day is piling on his misery.

“This is like a death sentence to me, and my family. I don’t know what I am going to do now.” says crest-fallen Narinder.

Narinder’s is not an isolated case, there are hundreds of instances where gullible workers have been short-changed and forcibly sent to Iraq in violation of labour contracts. Many truckers in Iraq have been killed in sniper attacks or by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Iraqi insurgents often ambush transport vehicles, and take the occupants hostage before demanding huge ransom to secure their release.

With oil prices booming, many Gulf countries are in the grip of construction and this has spawned a demand for foreign workers.There are millions of contract workers from the Subcontinent working in the Gulf in various sectors ranging from construction to oil to cleaning.

Many sell their properties to pay off recruitment fees. Though some Gulf countries have scrapped the sponsorship system, there is still a long way to go in improving the living conditions of the workers.

The most common grouse of the workers is contract violation, and abominable living conditions. Workers who protest are often deported, and with that their dreams are smashed to pieces.

Parliamentary Secretary Deepak Obhrai discusses democratic development with Mongolia

OTTAWA: Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, recently visited several key partners in Asia to promote and expand Canada’s interests abroad.

Obhrai is seeking to nurture Canada`s bilateral relationship with Mongolia, a country that contributes to Canada`s prosperity and has publicly expressed its desire to emulate Canada. Following the Mongolian Prime Minister`s visit to Canada in September 2010, Canada developed a long-term engagement strategy and PS Obhrai’s highlights the breadth of the Canada-Mongolia relationship.

In particular, PS Obhrai discussed issues of economic and democratic development. In Japan, PS Obhrai discussed with his counterpart the progress on a range of common bilateral objectives, and strengthen the friendship and understanding between Canada and Japan.

Following his visit to Japan, PS Obhrai made a stop in the Philippines to discuss issues of good governance and economic development with his counterparts in the Filipino government. Moreover, his visit will coincide with the 35th anniversary of Canada-ASEAN relations, a group in which the Philippines is a member.

Furthermore, PS Obhrai will take this opportunity to raise the issue of human rights. Canada values its strong relationship with the Philippines and looks forward to further nurturing this relationship.

Above news release sent by Obhrai’s office

Cameron Hopkins initially refused to accept the honour saying he was only doing his job

TTC bus operator honoured for rendering timely aid to seriously hurt man; Cameron sets fine example for his co-workers

Francis Cardoso


6:30 p.m.

The traffic light turned green at an intersection.

I began striding down the road to catch an east-bound bus on my way home.

Little did I realize that destiny had something else in store for me.

I suddenly felt a heavy blow in my chest as I began spinning before landing in a partially-snow covered traffic island.

A Cadillac Escalade had struck me in what can be described as a hit-and-run case.

With serious head injuries, I lay in a pool of blood as dazed passersby halted in their tracks to take a stock of the situation. None stepped forward to check on my well-being.

A TTC bus operator, who was at the wheel, and saw the incident unfold, immediately rushed to my rescue. In a swift move, he offloaded the passengers, and took me inside his bus before nursing me.

He then called 911 before securing all the evidence at the scene. He stuffed my shattered wrist-watch and eyewear in my blood-soaked jacket pocket.

Such was the impact of the hit that my head began reeling. But I could recognize the familiar face of the operator, Cameron Hopkins, who was a regular on the route.

Unassuming and polite, Cameron and I often exchanged pleasantries on less busy hours. Cameron was sitting beside me assuring me that everything would be fine.

From there on, I lost consciousness only to wake up in the hospital to find two constables by my side. They began their probe in the right earnest.

As the news of the accident spread, worried friends and relatives thronged my bedside, and began comforting me.I knew I had cheated death. Simply put, it was a miracle, nothing short of it.    

I was finally discharged, but the pain was terrible and rendered me incapacitated for quite some time.

For me, TTC had assumed a new meaning. In my mind, I rebranded TTC as Takes Timely Care. I wanted to make the Toronto SUN shine on Cameron but by then the story had gone cold.

I then decided to get in touch with TTC. I shot an email to the customer service.

In my email, I explained the chain of events that transpired on that fateful day. I also thanked Cameron for providing me timely assistance. I got an acknowledgement from TTC saying they would look into the matter.

           Frost (R) speaks at the award ceremony while Cameron and Gigi look on.

I then began frantically looking for Cameron to thank him personally. However, my persistent efforts to find him drew blank. Upon enquiring, I was told that his term on my route had ended, and he was plying the bus on another route.

Then, one day, I got a call from Cameron’s supervisor saying that TTC had decided to honour him for his good deed. She then asked me if I would be able to do a presentation on the day of the felicitation.

I said I would be more than happy to do so. Several weeks passed and I didn’t hear back. Then, after several months, I got another call from the same supervisor saying that the ceremony had to be called off due to unavoidable circumstances.

She again renewed her invitation to me, and I delightfully accepted it. Then months passed and nothing happened. I began to wonder what was going on, and blamed the management for dilly dallying.

On a chilly afternoon, I was waiting for the bus, and as the bus pulled up at the stop, I saw the Cameron at the wheel.

I let out a yelp of joy. I shook hands with him, and identified myself. He remembered the incident and recalled some scenes. He was happy to see me back on my feet.

Then I asked him why the felicitation ceremony didn’t materialize. Cameron said he had declined to be part of the event for personal reasons.

Upon pressing him, Cameron said: “I just did what I am supposed to do, and I didn’t want to make a big deal about it.”

In response, I said: “I am not trying to glorify you, but only giving credit where it’s due. You have earned the honour, and you cannot turn away from it.”

As the conversation went on, I managed to drive home my key message.

Cameron after a brief pause, said: “If you feel strongly about my role in the incident, then I will speak to my supervisor, and see what she has to say.”

Finally the award ceremony was confirmed by Gigi Porteous, Assistant Superintendent at Eglington Division.

At the event, Cameron was presented an award by Gigi in the presence of Bill Frost, General Superintendent at Bus Transportation.

In his presentation, this writer recounted how Cameron had come to his rescue, and capped off his speech saying: “You drove into my heart with your noble action,” as a thunderous applause greeted him. 

More than a year on, the scars have not healed yet. I still see red at the traffic light, even when it’s green. I now embed with other road crossers, and ensure that all vehicles have come to a complete halt.

Note: The writer spoke to Cameron, and others to put together this article.

                  Stephen tipped Manchester City to win the Premiership title

Coach boots Tweets on club policy, disciplinary matters; Success continues to follow Stephen

Call Stephen Constantine a transformer.

The soccer coach has transformed many struggling teams into winning units.

From coaching national teams to professional clubs, Stephen has delivered timely results that many coaches would envy. He is currently the boss of Nea Salamina F C, a Cypriot top division team.

Stephen fashioned a 17-game unbeaten run for Nea Salamina to top the table.Besides being a UEFA pro license holder, Stephen became the youngest FIFA instructor at 38.

He has also authored a book titled: “A Year in the Championship.” A first-of-its-kind, the book chronicles training sessions conducted by the coaching staff of Millwall Football Club.

Among his notable achievements was coaching Millwall F C in the Championship league. He took over the side at a time when it was in the doldrums. Stephen managed to stem the rot with seven back-to-back wins that galvanized the team.

Under Stephen’s coaching, team India registered wins against some soccer powerhouses in Asia. He injected discipline and killer instinct into the team.

Stephen guided the Indian U-23 side to victory in the 2002 LG Cup final against Vietnam's full national side, and also led India’s U-18 in lifting the Ian Rush Trophy in Wales.

His other achievements include successful stints with Nepal and Malawi national teams. Stephen piloted team Nepal to the finals of the SAF Games for the first time ever. In recognition of his efforts, he was awarded by the King of Nepal.

Stephen built a team that helped Malawi reach the final stages of the World Cup qualifiers where the side beat Egypt and DR Congo.

Stephen in an exclusive interview with this writer touched on various issues, including social media, Premiership league and his achievements, among other things.

Question: How has social media impacted soccer?

Answer: Social media has not only raised the profile of the game, but has also created an information machine that is thirsty for any and all news gossip and the like.

Q: Professional soccer clubs are increasingly engaging their fans on social media. How does this benefit a team?

A: I am not sure if it has helped teams or not. Having said that, I believe it has a brighter side to it because you can access information you want. However, when players and staff members start leaking confidential matters, then it becomes a problem.

Q: Some managers don’t encourage players to Tweet about club policies and other issues. Players in the Premiership sometimes land in hot water for Tweeting about club policies and disciplinary issues. What are your views?

A: Personally, I don’t allow my players to Tweet about club matters or disciplinary issues. I believe some things need to remain in the dressing room, especially in our line of work. In other words, players need to accept that not everything needs to be in the public domain.

Q: Dropped players often vent their anger on Twitter…don’t you feel this can backfire?

A: Of course it can. As I said, we don’t need to air our differences in public. Moreover, it makes the player look childish. Clubs and managers monitor social media, and this could affect a player if he or she indulges in any negative communications.

Stephen with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

Q: As a team manager, do you engage in social media?

A: I have a website wherein I offer regular updates about myself and the club’s activities in general terms. But I never indulge in anything relating to the club policy, discipline or team matters.

Q: Many English teams now ask their fans to pick the team line-up on Twitter. Do you believe such an exercise helps a team’s cause?

A: Some clubs are making money out of this exercise. That’s fine. Everyone has their own view but the manager deals with the players on a day-to-day basis. He also deals with the daily personal problems as well. So when fans think so and so should play…are they aware of all the things that transpired that week? 

It’s not just about a player’s ability and playing. Things that need to be considered include: Did the player train right? Was he attending the training sessions at all? Consequently, there are many things that need to be considered before a team takes the field.

Q: The dynamics in the Premiership league are shifting with teams like Manchester City and Tottenham putting up impressive performances. Whom do you attribute their success?

A: In City’s case, it`s money power. They have spent, as we all know, millions to improve the team.  It`s down to the manager to gel those players and get them playing the way he wants, and so far this season they have done that.

Manager Roberto Mancini is doing a great job. It`s not easy to get those top players to play for the team, but he has done that and deserves a lot of credit. In the Premiership, a team must have the depth if it wants to go the distance.

On the other hand, Tottenham have also done really well. Manager Harry Redknapp over the last few years has done a great job. He is slowly, but surely building up the club and putting them in a position where they can beat any side on their day. Spurs qualified for Champions League football for the first time ever, and this underscores the club`s ability.

Q: We are seeing a sudden interest among Arabs in professional soccer clubs and they are investing heavily in them. For example, Manchester City is owned by Abu Dhabi royals. Spanish La Liga outfit, Malaga, was taken over by a Qatari businessman while another Spanish side, Getafe, was purchased by Dubai’s Royal Emirates Group. In addition, Qatar Foundation has a majority stake in Paris St Germaine besides being sponsor of FC Barcelona. Why has soccer become so attractive to Arabs? Do you foresee more Arab investors jumping on the bandwagon?

A: To be honest, I don’t think its sudden interest. Having coached Sudan, I can tell you they are as interested in their football as anywhere else. The fact that Arab countries are looking to buy clubs in Europe indicates that they want to be successful. Owning a club in Europe can also help the local country in terms of building relationships, sharing of knowledge and of course be a huge incentive to the local players. With the World Cup due to be held in Qatar, it’s going to a huge shot in the arm for soccer in the region.

Stephen with FA Cup

Q: Certain African players playing in the Premiership accused their managers of victimizing them, and not releasing them in a timely manner to play for their countries. Your comments.

A: As someone who has been on both sides of the fence, I understand the reason why this can cause a problem. Firstly, the clubs need the players. Secondly, there is a risk of the players getting injured, and then the length of time they are going to be away for. Are they training the right way? And what are they doing?

Most African players end up in Europe as a result of having played for their respective national teams.

Managers who rope in African players for their clubs are aware that they will be called up for a national team game, so I am not sure why they complain when they get selected. The best solution is for CAF to get in line with the rest of the world. Like all the other federations, hold the African Nations Cup in summer.

Q: Who you see as the favorite to win the Premiership title and why?

A: Man City of course. They have quality players and more depth than the other teams. Not only that, whoever comes off the bench is not reducing the quality in any way. For instance, Carlos Tevez has not been missed at all, but at any other club he would have been a big loss.

Q: FC Barcelona is going great guns. The way they demolished Santos recently underscores their supremacy. Their brand of soccer is exciting and unique. They control the pace by keeping the ball in their own territory before launching an attack. Wish this style of play was adopted by others. What are your thoughts?

A:It`s one thing to want to play like them. It’s quite another to have the players they have. You need to have the players to fit your style. You can’t copy teams if you don’t have the players to match that style of play. You must find a style that suits you and your club, and then bring in players that can fit into what you want to do.

Q: You have been instrumental in lifting your current team from the bottom to the top. How did this happen?

A: I have had a lot of help in getting the team where I wanted it to be, and we are not finished---you never finish. It’s about the staff, players and the selections we made during the summer. 

There was a great deal of effort exerted by everyone associated with the club to achieve what we have achieved in the last two years.  So basically it all boils down to hard work and people working together.

 Q: Which was your most challenging coaching assignment and why?

A: Every job I have had has a different challenge, there are always going to be highs and lows, and fortunately for me the highs have been many.  

For more information on Stephen, visit: http://www.stephenconstantine.co.uk/

Model Jesse loves working with designers Wendell Rodricks, Gavin Miguel and Rohit Verma.

Pilot Jesse aborts takeoff to pursue modeling career

Pilot Jesse Randhawa’s career was set for a takeoff.

But the commercial pilot found herself in a bit of turbulence. She began to realize that piloting was not something she wanted to do.

Jesse then decided to ground herself, and follow her true passion: modeling. Proving to be as talented as she is pretty, Jesse sizzled on the ramp, and started featuring on  covers of fashion magazines.

And if that wasn’t enough, she began getting roles in films, and since then her career graph has seen consistent rise. Jesse has acted in many Bollywood films but is well-known for her roles in “No Smoking,” and “Gulaal “ in which she plays a lecturer.

Jesse is also a trained kick boxer and ballroom dancer. As a dancer, she cast her magical spell on the audience at the World Economic Forum.

The media shy-actress rarely offers interviews, and calls herself a “private person.” Jesse was among the finalists in the Miss India contest alongside Miss Universe Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen.

From Wendell Rodricks to Gavin Miguel to Rohit Verma, Jesse has teamed up with the industry’s top designers.

Success has not changed the tall and graceful star as she has her feet firmly planted on the terra firma.

In an exclusive interview with this writer, Jesse talks about her career path, Indian fashion industry and ballroom dancing, among other things.

Question: What prompted you to switch career from a pilot to model? Was it a difficult transition?

A: Yeah it was difficult because I had spent a lot of time and money to get my pilot’s license. But at the same time, I was passionate about modeling. Having said that, I was ready to get back to flying if modeling didn’t click for me.

Q:Do you have any regrets when you look back on your airline career?

A: I have no regrets that I sacrificed my pilot career for modeling. I am very happy with the way things are going for me both as a model and an actress.

Q:Can you tell us something about your kick boxing career? Did you receive any formal training in that?

A: During my school and college days, I practiced Taekwondo regularly but lost touch as modeling took off. However, later I took to kick boxing to stay fit and healthy. I attained senior belt level.

Q: Which profession you enjoy the most?

A: I like to balance them all---be it modeling, acting or dancing. I enjoy each of them, and do it to the best of my abilities.

Q: How did ballroom dancing happen?

A: Ballroom dancing happened when I met the king of dance---Sandip Soparrkar. His posture, body language and attitude inspired me to take up dancing. In a nutshell, Sandip’s vivacious persona drew me into dancing. We later got into a relationship, and we are now happily married.

Q: Can you talk about some of your ongoing projects as a model/actress?

A: I am currently associated with many shows, including fashion and Television. I am also doing a few films, but not in a position to divulge the details due to the non-disclosure agreement. These projects are keeping me pre-occupied.

Q: Of late we are seeing a lot of foreign models entering into the Indian industry...do you believe they use the fashion industry as a gateway to Bollywood?

A: To be honest, some of them enter Bollywood with that in mind. However, for many it’s pure passion. It would be unfair to paint everyone with the same brush.

Q: A lot of foreign brands have come into India, thereby creating a stiff competition. Many local brands are now struggling...what’s your take on this?

A: Competition is always good. It improves creativity and the quality of products, and this is great from the consumer’s point of view.

Q: Name some of the fashion designers who you enjoy working with, and what sets them apart?

A: I love working with Wendell Rodricks, Sabyasachi, Gavin Miguel, Shahab Durazi, Rohit Bal and Narendra Kumar. They are all distinctive in their creativity and style. In short, they are the true trendsetters of fashion in India.

Q: What advice would you give to young aspiring models?

A: The things that work well for a model is...be yourself, never copy, feel comfortable and enjoy being you. Only then people will love you.

Q: How much importance do you attach to social media to promote your personal brand?

A: I am not into social media. I am neither on Facebook nor on Twitter. I am a very private person and like to keep myself that way. I am very happy with my family and my close friends knowing me.

Q: Are you content with what you have achieved so far as a model and actress?

A: I believe no artist has a sense of contentment. We all keep raising the bar and I am no different. 

SAM IN ACTION: West Ham boss injects self-belief and urgency into his side. 

EXCLUSIVE: ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW (FILE) WITH SAM. VIDEO BY DIANNE KAVI. COPYRIGHT.

West Ham boss off to good start, needs to carry on the momentum; manager backs application of technology to make crucial decisions

Sam Allardyce has a burning ambition.

He has set his sights firmly on coaching the English national soccer team.

"I'd walk over burning coals to get the England job," he recently told a pack of reporters with a sense of pride in his words.

This comes after the current England coach Fabio Capello confirmed that he would quit after the Euro 2012.

Sam is currently the boss of West Ham United, and faces a challenge in that he has to lift his club to the top of the Npower Championship table if his ambition is to get wings.

Sam was ostensibly considered for the top job in 2006 but Steve McCLaren eventually turned the tables on him. Managing the English side has proved a daunting task for Capello, and his predecessors; even as the team has produced some spineless performances in the past despite plenty of talent.

Sam took charge of West Ham after his predecessor Avram Grant was shown the door following a string of losses. Sam's only downside is that he was never at the helm of a top flight club in the Premiership league.

However, going by his past performances, Sam is riding on some good results at Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers.

I believe Sam deserves a chance to prove his mettle provided his team finishes among the top two. Sam is an Englishman who knows the psychology, style and strengths of the players. On a personal note, I am impressed by his showing at West Ham.

Before his arrival, West Ham was tottering. Sam injected self-belief and urgency into his side and the result is there for everyone to see. West Ham is now sitting pretty in the second position.

They face stiff competition as only four points separate the top four clubs. Though West Ham fans have accused him of not playing the West Ham way, he has produced results, and that is the bottom line, rest everything takes a back seat.

Interview with Sam

I had the opportunity to interview Sam during his visit to the Gulf where he was eyeing to attract investment for his club. Back then, he was the boss of Bolton Wanderers.

During a marathon interview with Sam, I bombarded him with queries relating to English soccer, application of technology, and his views on Spanish league, among others.

Sam came across as a very focused and dedicated manager who was determined to finish among the top four in the Premiership. What struck me most about Sam was his oodles of positive attitude which seemed to have rubbed quite well on his present side.

Responding to a question, Sam noted that the Premiership league is superior as compared to the other leagues in the world, and that the ferocious tempo and athleticism of the players sets it apart.

Elaborating further, Sam added: “The strength and athleticism of the players in the Premiership is much higher for the complete game. The tempo of the match is ferocious and goes at a higher pace throughout the game.”

He said a Premiership game starts on a fast note and stays that way until the final whistle, and as a result skilful players need to produce their skills much quicker as compared to Italian or Spanish leagues.

Sam buttressed the application of technology in soccer and that there was an imperative need to review critical decisions because a wrong decision could prove devastating for a club, especially in competitive leagues.

Sam lamented that the number of English players playing top-flight soccer had dwindled, and as a result the national manager had not enough pool to choose from.

Responding to the claim that English players were unable to deliver outside England, Sam refused to buy the argument.

When pointed out that former Manchester United hitman David Beckham had come cropper at Real Madrid, Sam thundered:  “Beckham was under a lot of pressure because Real Madrid was frequently changing its coach, and as a result blame cannot be heaped on to the star.”

Sam stonewalled a query when asked whether he would coach a foreign national team.

Can Sam pull it off? Sam’s future hangs in balance. If West Ham manages to bag the Championship, then Sam could find himself in the reckoning for the top job. It’s a formidable task but not impossible.