Libya

[chiang mai]

I've been asked if I want to do twenty days of work in Tripoli and it just might suit, trouble is I've no idea if there are any associated safety issues for western ex-pats currently, anyone spent any time there recently and give me some pointers? Thanks

[seanocasey]

are you from Switzerland

[chiang mai]

are you from Switzerland

Only if you're Welsh, lol, no but am aware of that issue.

[Richb2004v2]

I've worked in Libya the past five years. One of the few positives there is the safety. The Colonel has the fundamentalist in check and keeps them sedate with oil money. Nothing to worry about.

[Soutpeel]

I've been asked if I want to do twenty days of work in Tripoli and it just might suit, trouble is I've no idea if there are any associated safety issues for western ex-pats currently, anyone spent any time there recently and give me some pointers? Thanks

Its fine, know a few lads working there, no safety issues, but suprised being only offered 20 days, as getting the visa/permission to enter and work is quite a long drawn out process from what I understand these days

My last time in Libya was in the middle 70's , so would guess its changed quite a bit since then

[toasted]

Wasn't the infamous John Mountford murdered in Tripoli last year?

[syd barrett]

Libya 115 disappeared without trace off this forum.

[geriatrickid]

As long as you will have no contact with the locals, the risk assumed my be offset by whatever you will be paid. Libya has a horrible human rights record and that doesn't bother you, so be it. Who cares if black Africans are regularly executed for "crimes".

In the event that you cause injury to a Libyan, you will be imprisoned and then sentenced and obliged to pay compensation. (yes, in that order.) Foreign nationals need a Libyan intermediary to help them negotiate. Sound familiar?

Remember the health workers imprisoned, tortured and then ransomed off in the lLbyan caused HIV scandal? If the Libyans could do this to "allies" (Cubans, Bulgarians and Palestinians) think what they could do to you.

Once you are there maybe you can go visit the Lockerbie terrorist and extend your hand in friendship. He's a national hero in Libya.

[chiang mai]

Thanks for all your comments everyone, really very useful, I've got the flavour as they say.

[Tonto21]

As long as you will have no contact with the locals, the risk assumed my be offset by whatever you will be paid. Libya has a horrible human rights record and that doesn't bother you, so be it. Who cares if black Africans are regularly executed for "crimes".

In the event that you cause injury to a Libyan, you will be imprisoned and then sentenced and obliged to pay compensation. (yes, in that order.) Foreign nationals need a Libyan intermediary to help them negotiate. Sound familiar?

Remember the health workers imprisoned, tortured and then ransomed off in the lLbyan caused HIV scandal? If the Libyans could do this to "allies" (Cubans, Bulgarians and Palestinians) think what they could do to you.

Once you are there maybe you can go visit the Lockerbie terrorist and extend your hand in friendship. He's a national hero in Libya.

Hi geriatricked

You sound knowledgeable about Libya, but only from the prospective of someone who has never been there, have you spent any time in the country? I would not argue with you on Libya’s horrible human rights record, but to slag off a whole people with saying; “As long as you will have no contact with the locals” you are way, way off the mark. The ruling body is the problem in Libya not the ordinary folk. I’ve been working in Libya for over a year now, I’m in the Libyan Desert as I write this, (I rotate back and forth home to Thailand)

I too was a little concerned when first offered a job here. So, “Chiang Mai” I know what you’re going though about taking the job! No worries, what so ever mate….None? The over whelming thing I found was how the locals are genuinely happy and helpful to you, but they respect you enough to leave you along. I have never once feet unsafe in all the time I’ve been here.

As for the Lockerbie terrorist being a national hero in Libya! I think your wrong, I was here when he returned to Libya, OK, sure some were openly happy about his release, but the majority of decent people felt he was returned because of ill health, and feel genuine embarrassment and sadness that there country was involved in that act of tourism.

As far as being genuine and trustworthy, Libyan people knock the Thai’s for six!!!

Note: If you do take the job, when you land at Tripoli……. Get a wiggle on and try and get to the passport control first. Ha ha. You’ll see, and good luck with baggage carrousel.

[chiang mai]

As long as you will have no contact with the locals, the risk assumed my be offset by whatever you will be paid. Libya has a horrible human rights record and that doesn't bother you, so be it. Who cares if black Africans are regularly executed for "crimes".

In the event that you cause injury to a Libyan, you will be imprisoned and then sentenced and obliged to pay compensation. (yes, in that order.) Foreign nationals need a Libyan intermediary to help them negotiate. Sound familiar?

Remember the health workers imprisoned, tortured and then ransomed off in the lLbyan caused HIV scandal? If the Libyans could do this to "allies" (Cubans, Bulgarians and Palestinians) think what they could do to you.

Once you are there maybe you can go visit the Lockerbie terrorist and extend your hand in friendship. He's a national hero in Libya.

Hi geriatricked

You sound knowledgeable about Libya, but only from the prospective of someone who has never been there, have you spent any time in the country? I would not argue with you on Libya’s horrible human rights record, but to slag off a whole people with saying; “As long as you will have no contact with the locals” you are way, way off the mark. The ruling body is the problem in Libya not the ordinary folk. I’ve been working in Libya for over a year now, I’m in the Libyan Desert as I write this, (I rotate back and forth home to Thailand)

I too was a little concerned when first offered a job here. So, “Chiang Mai” I know what you’re going though about taking the job! No worries, what so ever mate….None? The over whelming thing I found was how the locals are genuinely happy and helpful to you, but they respect you enough to leave you along. I have never once feet unsafe in all the time I’ve been here.

As for the Lockerbie terrorist being a national hero in Libya! I think your wrong, I was here when he returned to Libya, OK, sure some were openly happy about his release, but the majority of decent people felt he was returned because of ill health, and feel genuine embarrassment and sadness that there country was involved in that act of tourism.

As far as being genuine and trustworthy, Libyan people knock the Thai’s for six!!!

Note: If you do take the job, when you land at Tripoli……. Get a wiggle on and try and get to the passport control first. Ha ha. You’ll see, and good luck with baggage carrousel.

Thanks Tonto, always useful to hear first hand from someone on the ground, but the baggage carousel surely can't be any worse than Beijing airport in the 1990's, a walk through the bicycle shed to get to it and all!

But to be clear on all of this, I'm fairly relaxed about the visit and the work, an internet search produced quite a few results, all of which pointed to the visit being an OK experience at very worst. What I was hoping to get and did eventually receive was feedback from the likes of Tonto knowing that there's probably a whole bunch of Thailand based ex-pats working out there in the desert who could give a qualified view. Thanks again to all.

[roamer]

No one has mentioned the booze aspect yet....this is Chiang Mai we are talking about

[chiang mai]

No one has mentioned the booze aspect yet....this is Chiang Mai we are talking about

Ah don't I wish, pre-angioplasty perhaps, post, regrettably not.

[Stormyn]

I've lived in Tripoli for the past 3 years and it's perfectly safe as long as you don't do anything stupid, like get drunk publically. OK, there has been a few incidents but no more than any other city in the world.

The worst part is arriving at the airport as it is total confusion and the baggage collection area is a mess...oh and remember don't bring in any booz! It's a dry country, apart from the black market and many types of home brew.

Cheers

[petercr]

I worked there between 2002 & 2004 without any trouble.

The local people are very friendly and easier to get along with than in many other ME countries. No official booze and poor hotel standards except in Tripoli & Benghazi. Driving standards and rural roads are awful

[Somtamnication]

Is this oil work? Any other non oil jobs for expats there? Dying to know.

[chiang mai]

Is this oil work? Any other non oil jobs for expats there? Dying to know.

No, it's a consulting role in telecoms/systems for a UK client, 20 days that's all.

[geriatrickid]

Hi geriatricked

You sound knowledgeable about Libya, but only from the prospective of someone who has never been there, have you spent any time in the country? I would not argue with you on Libya's horrible human rights record, but to slag off a whole people with saying; "As long as you will have no contact with the locals" you are way, way off the mark. The ruling body is the problem in Libya not the ordinary folk. I've been working in Libya for over a year now, I'm in the Libyan Desert as I write this, (I rotate back and forth home to Thailand)

I too was a little concerned when first offered a job here. So, "Chiang Mai" I know what you're going though about taking the job! No worries, what so ever mate….None? The over whelming thing I found was how the locals are genuinely happy and helpful to you, but they respect you enough to leave you along. I have never once feet unsafe in all the time I've been here.

As for the Lockerbie terrorist being a national hero in Libya! I think your wrong, I was here when he returned to Libya, OK, sure some were openly happy about his release, but the majority of decent people felt he was returned because of ill health, and feel genuine embarrassment and sadness that there country was involved in that act of tourism.

As far as being genuine and trustworthy, Libyan people knock the Thai's for six!!!

Note: If you do take the job, when you land at Tripoli……. Get a wiggle on and try and get to the passport control first. Ha ha. You'll see, and good luck with baggage carrousel.

It is said that every whore has his price. Fortunately, no amount of money would get me to go and work in a country that was responsible for the murder of alot of people. Nor would I be able to reconcile myself to the fact that Libya's oil exploration is not subject to the environmental standards we take for granted elsewhere. Every person has to decide for his or herself if they wish to support a regime that executes Africans on a regular basis. If Libya did not have oil, the Europeans, and especially the Italians, wouldn't be crawling on their hands and knees kissing the feet of a nation that is still a pariah. I am sure it is a delightful place for you, good for you. However, the day you run down one of the locals, you will be singing laments not songs of praise. I am not picking on Libya because of its ethnic origins as I wouldn't want to work in Bulgaria or Romania or Botswana either.

The Swedish industrialists that made a fortune selling steel and ball bearings to the Nazis, said that what they did was legal. Perhaps it was, but it was morally wrong, particularly since the merchandise was used to kill British civilans. If you have no problem helping a nation where hundreds of thousands took to the streets to protest the Lockerbie investigation, subsequent to that Pan Am jet exploding over Scotland, well, good for you, I'm sure you sleep at night. I wouldn't, but then I am not seduced by big paycheques from brutal dictatorships.

[petercr]

Is this oil work? Any other non oil jobs for expats there? Dying to know.

No, it's a consulting role in telecoms/systems for a UK client, 20 days that's all.

I was also there for a telecoms contract .........PM me if you need more background