Posted by David at July 8, 2003 10:02 PM:

I heard about these "camps" on a recent NPR program. The interviews with parents were telling-- all the parents seemed scared to death of their kids. One expressed gratitude that, with his kid in Jamaica, he no longer had to bolt his bedroom door at night. I'm not sure how these kids get this far out of control, but they do...

I agree that Tranquility Bay and friends are pretty messed up, but I think our traditional juvenile justice system has failed these parents (and kids). I can't even begin to offer an alternative, since the experiences of these families are worlds apart from my own childhood. Being afraid of your own kids... that just doesn't compute.

Posted by patrick everett at September 24, 2003 10:50 PM:

I was at that hell hole where there was lots of abuse and torture. If you want info Email me at epat61883@yahoo.com

Posted by Richard Titsch III at October 18, 2003 10:23 PM:

Early this year (2003) I vacationed in Jamaica. I had heard the stories and had spoken to some press that were investigating the issues. My curiosity was somewhat peaked, and since I was staying in Jamaica for about a week, I decided to hire a driver and see, for myself, what this facility looks like. My experience and the pictures I personally took of the facility are available for the asking. For those interested in an abridged version - - here it goes:

First and foremost, you must understand that this place is in the middle of nowhere. It's a shock to travel Jamaica's countryside to begin with, because driving in general is so dangerous, away from the resorts (I happened to be staying in Ocho Rios) and the poverty is omnipresent. The city (Treasure Beach) is as remote as it gets, and when you arrive and ask where Tranquility Bay is (or to it's local folk the "Olde Warf Hotel"), you are outrightly lied to -- they say they don't know exactly where it is. Once you arrive in town, past the Motorcycle merchant, look for an old Jamaican (looks to be 300 or so) sitting on a rock, for it is at that dirt road you have to turn and follow a path about a half-mile long to the rather un-glorious "Tranquility Bay".

My first awareness that I was in the right place, was that I saw 10 or 20 boys riding on the rim of an old Pick-up Truck in front of us. They all looked unkempt and the ride looked dangerous. They were allowed inside the gates (the children and the dilapidated truck) and I had the driver stop so I could take in this nightmare, that I had only previously read about or had seen by way of very unclear pictures on the internet.

It's bad -- the first thing that catches your eye is that all of the windows (99%) have been "boarded-up". It hales from something out of a Hitchcock movie. The place has an odor and it is not pleasant at all. The beach could never be utilized because it looks as though the sewage is emptied on it regularly. If that's not the case, then a blanket statement that the beach is in horrible and unusable condition for whatever reason is a completely fair assessment of the situation.

The place has guards; it's ominously quiet (it was while I was there). Even if you did manage to escape, I don't know where any of its "guests" would run to. The trip just to the main road (if you could call it that) would wind even the most fit athlete, and the townspeople are rumored to get rewards for turning run-a-ways in. Remember that many Jamaicans work for the facility and even if the reward does not exist, they have a stake in making sure the "guests" stay imprisoned.

Obviously, I could not go inside, but I snapped many pictures and they clearly illustrate, that the place is a broken-down second-rate motel from the past, and should have been leveled many years ago, and that any beauty that the structure or the beach on which it sits may have once possessed is gone. It's a frightening site (and this is just from the outside). Notably, there is garbage in large cages outside the structure and I did have the feeling that something or someone, other than it's intended contents, may be placed in there from time-to-time.

Interestingly, I was not approached, although I was taking pictures like crazy (and my presence was somewhat obvious).

Another important fact, for people to keep in mind, is that this "hell-hole" is hours from both Kingston and Montego Bay Airports -- it's a drive you will never forget and it runs upwards of $300 round-trip.

Truly, all of this is moot, because the Headmaster (and I use this reference loosely) has no credentials at all which justify his position of management over this facility. The parents are bad parents -- plain and simple -- for taking part in this plan. An inquiry about this program by any parent, by itself, should result in a parent being jailed with no due process for the rest of their life.

Eventually, the United States Government will have to deal with this mess -- hopefully by invading Utah again -- it is time for that (government intervention) -- they have short memories from the last time (The Invasion of Utah.) Utah's inhabitance (and others) need desperately to come to terms with the fact that troubled children are a part of normal life and that having them kidnapped by paid morons (mostly because the parents are too cowardly to do this themselves)and then surreptitiously smuggling their child/children off to a foreign country to be tortured indefinitely is contrary to the mores and values of a civilized society.

Do not send your kids to this place! It's awful to look at, the manager is unqualified and all your doing is stuffing the bulging coffers of the nuts and religious fanatics that run these torture chambers.

Richard R. Titsch, III
New Jersey

Posted by at November 1, 2003 04:01 PM:

Tranquility Bay

TreasureBeach.Net: Forum: Tranquility Bay

By Richard Titsch III on Saturday, October 18, 2003 - 09:47 pm:
Early this year (2003) I vacationed in Jamaica. I had heard the stories and had spoken to some press that were investigating the issues. My curiosity was somewhat peaked, and since I was staying in Jamaica for about a week, I decided to hire a driver and see, for myself, what this facility looks like. My experience and the pictures I personally took of the facility are available for the asking. For those interested in an abridged version - - here it goes:

First and foremost, you must understand that this place is in the middle of nowhere. It's a shock to travel Jamaica's countryside to begin with, because driving in general is so dangerous, away from the resorts (I happened to be staying in Ocho Rios) and the poverty is omnipresent. The city (Treasure Beach) is as remote as it gets, and when you arrive and ask where Tranquility Bay is (or to it's local folk the "Olde Warf Hotel"), you are outrightly lied to -- they say they don't know exactly where it is. Once you arrive in town, past the Motorcycle merchant, look for an old Jamaican (looks to be 300 or so) sitting on a rock, for it is at that dirt road you have to turn and follow a path about a half-mile long to the rather un-glorious "Tranquility Bay".

My first awareness that I was in the right place, was that I saw 10 or 20 boys riding on the rim of an old Pick-up Truck in front of us. They all looked unkempt and the ride looked dangerous. They were allowed inside the gates (the children and the dilapidated truck) and I had the driver stop so I could take in this nightmare, that I had only previously read about or had seen by way of very unclear pictures on the internet.

It's bad -- the first thing that catches your eye is that all of the windows (99%) have been "boarded-up". It hales from something out of a Hitchcock movie. The place has an odor and it is not pleasant at all. The beach could never be utilized because it looks as though the sewage is emptied on it regularly. If that's not the case, then a blanket statement that the beach is in horrible and unusable condition for whatever reason is a completely fair assessment of the situation.

The place has guards; it's ominously quiet (it was while I was there). Even if you did manage to escape, I don't know where any of its "guests" would run to. The trip just to the main road (if you could call it that) would wind even the most fit athlete, and the townspeople are rumored to get rewards for turning run-a-ways in. Remember that many Jamaicans work for the facility and even if the reward does not exist, they have a stake in making sure the "guests" stay imprisoned.

Obviously, I could not go inside, but I snapped many pictures and they clearly illustrate, that the place is a broken-down second-rate motel from the past, and should have been leveled many years ago, and that any beauty that the structure or the beach on which it sits may have once possessed is gone. It's a frightening site (and this is just from the outside). Notably, there is garbage in large cages outside the structure and I did have the feeling that something or someone, other than it's intended contents, may be placed in there from time-to-time.

Interestingly, I was not approached, although I was taking pictures like crazy (and my presence was somewhat obvious).

Another important fact, for people to keep in mind, is that this "hell-hole" is hours from both Kingston and Montego Bay Airports -- it's a drive you will never forget and it runs upwards of $300 round-trip.

Truly, all of this is moot, because the Headmaster (and I use this reference loosely) has no credentials at all which justify his position of management over this facility. The parents are bad parents -- plain and simple -- for taking part in this plan. An inquiry about this program by any parent, by itself, should result in a parent being jailed with no due process for the rest of their life.

Eventually, the United States Government will have to deal with this mess -- hopefully by invading Utah again -- it is time for that (government intervention) -- they have short memories from the last time (The Invasion of Utah.) Utah's inhabitance (and others) need desperately to come to terms with the fact that troubled children are a part of normal life and that having them kidnapped by paid morons (mostly because the parents are too cowardly to do this themselves)and then surreptitiously smuggling their child/children off to a foreign country to be tortured indefinitely is contrary to the mores and values of a civilized society.

Do not send your kids to this place! It's awful to look at, the manager is unqualified and all your doing is stuffing the bulging coffers of the nuts and religious fanatics that run these torture chambers.

Richard R. Titsch, III
New Jersey
By Kathy on Sunday, October 19, 2003 - 06:34 am:
We were able to walk past this place last winter on one of our walks into town. You are absolutly right about it. It broke my heart to see the kids in the yard, they looked so afraid.
If you talk to people in the area about that place you come away with horror stories to match the unkempt outward apearance. No matter how bad things got with one of my children, I would never send him/her there, and wonder what can be done for the kids that are already there.
By Andi on Sunday, October 19, 2003 - 05:47 pm:
Whoa, don't hold back, tell us how you really feel!
Tranquility Bay is something I have no knowledge about and therefore not a topic I can discuss with you. But I have to take issue with your statements about the area it is in.
Many of us find that is is not a "shock to travel the Jamaican countryside" In fact we love the ride, look forward to it and for the most part find it breathtakingly beautiful. Yes, Treasure Beach is remote but I wouldn't call it the 'middle of nowhere." And we regularly take this trip for $75 to $100.
Maybe they took you for the upscale North Coast type tourist and overcharged you. You seem to be the type of tourist that is most comfortable in an all-inclusive resort. Most of us on this forum come to Treasure Beach to get away from that type of atmosphere. We love Jamaica and want to stay in the real Jamaica, not some cookie cutter type resort, that could be on any beach in any country.
If you found "poverty to be omnipresent" why the heck did you come to a third world country for your vacation?
Another thing, why should the US govenment "have to deal with this"? Haven't we invaded enough places already? And finally, please forgive my ignorance but what does the "Invation of Utah" or for that matter the state of Utah have to do with Tranquility Bay?
By Kate on Sunday, October 19, 2003 - 11:55 pm:
Well said Andi...
I have been close to Tranquility Bay... by way of the beach. It looks prison-like and I did see guards, but none of the boarded up windows.
Anyway, I don't know much about Tranquility Bay, but do take issue with the comments about Treasure Beach.
This is Jamaica. NOT New Jersey.
The drive across the Island is incredibly beutiful. I'd rather drive over the mountains from MoBay than the Jersey Turnpike any day.
By nurse ratchet on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 08:44 am:
I know nothing about Tranquility Bay.

But, Treasure Beach is about the best place on earth, to me. Too bad you were not able to spend a few days there / you would see. It is common to see people in the back of pick up trucks. I seldom see an unkempt person. I love to drive around Jamaica and drink in all of the beauty.

I agree with Kate. It is rural Jamaica, not the NJ turnpike.
By Rebecca on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 09:36 am:
I have been driving the road from TB to Mobay almost daily for 10 years now and am still in awe of the beauty around me.

The road from Ocho Rios to Treasure Beach if you travel through Brown's Town, Spaulding, etc. is especially beautiful as you are traveling through the hills and get to see a part of Jamaica that most tourists don't see. I am sorry that you could not see that beauty. We may not have two cars in each driveway, but I would be willing to bet that per capita we have less hungry people here than American.

Did you happen to see all the fruit trees and vegetable patches in the hills as you were driving along? Did you stop in Cave Valley at the wooden stand on the side of the road and get some of the best fresh cane juice spiced with fresh ginger that I have ever tasted, or tried the roast yam and salt fish from the vendor across the road? Or maybe you took time to stop at one of the many jerk stands on Spur Tree Hill and tasted one of Jamaica's best foods while enjoying the expansive view of the valley below.

As for Tranquility Bay, in addition to being one of the largest employers in South St. Elizabeth, it has to comply with the Jamaican laws and standards. Again, as a business person I have found those laws to be quite strick and in many cases more so than America.

I too have seen the students sitting on the back of a pick-up truck as I have seen many many people do here. Gee, I remember when they passed the law to make it illegal to ride in the back of a pick-up in the States. I was so disappointed because I just loved riding in the back of a truck.

I guess bottom line is, everyone has their own perspective and observations of which it is interesting to hear. Thankfully, there are different options for tourists so they can pick what option they feel most comfortable with. I hope you come back to Jamaica, and when you do, I would encourage you to stop at a jerk stand, go into a local rum bar and start up a conversation. You might be surprised at what you see.
By Andi on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 10:00 am:
Thanks Rebecca, I wanted to say something about the pickup trucks, folks riding in the back and how we do it too when we visit, but I figured I had come down on Mr. Titsch III hard enough. But in reading it again as well as other comments, I also have to take issue with him saying the "local city folk outrightly lied to" him. Did he really mean to say that all the residents of Treasure Beach are liars and all are taking part in a great big conspiracy to cover up what ever is happening or not happening at Tranquility Bay?
How rude! I've always said that people only accuse people of doing what they would do. Putting aside what he says about that facility because I truly have no knowledge of that place, I think he owes the residents of Treasure Beach a big apology. Comments such as he made, could make a first time visitor to this website not even want to come to Treasure Beach. That's so unfair because as Kory's parents said and painted on the Sunset Resort wall..it really is a "little piece of heaven."
By Mair on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 11:14 am:
That was an amazing article, I must say. Amazingly rediculous. First of all, a simple keyword search would have revealed that the tranquility bay topic has been beaten to a bloody pulp and ought be left alone.

The pictures that I've received- (yes, I wanted to see the hideous, macabre images that were so thoughtlessly painted in the above article) showed no more than the images in my mind, from my visit to Treasure Beach, and my pokings around the same place which holds (and I quote)"torture chambers"

I'm not stoked up about the words said about Tranquility bay. As I've said, we've been there already. I'm fuming over the thoughtless statements made by someone who has never apparently stepped out side the all inclusive box. I must wonder what the authors intent was, in posting such a thing? Was there a thought of expected gratitude for sharing such information (and bologna)?

Disturbing to me, is the fact that this "author" referred to an elderly man in the manner that he did. look for an old Jamaican (looks to be 300 or so) sitting on a rock Nice!

I should interject for those trying to locate Tranquility bay via the "Authors" directions, Not once did I notice a 300 year old man OR the rock for that matter, any of the 3-4 times I walked past there. Nor did I notice any unpleasant aroma. So one might take care to seek official directions.

Perhaps you should have started your "investigation" right here eh? Instead of putting yourself through that traumatic experience?

Sorry Rebecca, but in response to your final paragraph, inviting this person to try out a jerk stand or rum bar... I have to respectfully and very humbly disagree :o) Not saying that I'm right by any means... (and would fail my tourism classes for saying so!) That sort of attitude, and judgmental bahavior can stay right here in America where it belongs.

Oh, and by the way... Dude! You totally got ripped off on your ride.(giggles sinisterly)
By Andi on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 03:34 pm:
He really must be a soft American Mair, for he also said it was "about a half mile long" up the road and in the next part said that if someone did escape "the trip to the main road (if you can call it that)would wind even the most fit athlete"! See, there is a reason for those all-inclusives, they are holding pens for these kind of folks so the rest of us are shielded from their horrified expressions. I totally agree with your last statement, he should have stayed home with his attitiude, it's plenty big enough to keep him company.
By swimmer on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 06:36 pm:
One of the most glorious experiences in my life has been a good long swim in the little cove below Tranquility Bay. How this person could bash this little beach is incomprehensible. He obviously didn't even take time to dip his toes in the cool calm waters at miss panty.
By Eric from NY on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 07:06 pm:
The reason tranquility bay is not in the US is because what they do there would be illegal (in the US). As much as I love Treasure Beach, a little research on the topic (off the TB website) tells a chilling tale. Many of the kids that are imprisoned there have done nothing more than many JA residents do daily - smoking ganja. Others are there because they got pregnant, or are getting bad grades in school. The bottom line is that some parents in the states would rather throw money ($30,000 US a year) at their problems, without concern for the moral implications of their actions. I realize that Tranquility Bay is the largest employer in TB, but to protect them while there is so much damning info is remiss. Both the BBC and NPR have sent reporters to Tranquility bay, both reports tell horrible tales of physical punishment (that is simply illegal in the US).

While I may not agree with the original poster's insights on TB, or Jamaica in general - there is no doubt that Tranquility Bay is a horrible scar on the face of a beautiful community.

Eric from NY
By Concerned on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 07:18 pm:
Tranquility Bay is a controversial topic. It has recieved alot of press both in the US and in the UK in the past few years.

The facts as I can acertain are that it is a privately run "school" for troubled teens ages 11-18. Its part of a larger organization called the world wide association of specialty programs and schools, WWASP for short.Essentially it is a residential treatment facility.It is owned an opperated by a US citizen who runs a number of other facilities in developimg countries.

Apparently it is the parents who decide if their teen is troubled. Entry criteria can be as benign as smoking to as severe as violent acts, drug abuse and teen prostitution.

One report suggested that teens not be told of their enrollment in the program. It was suggested that armed guards should accompany residents from their source country to the gates.

Once there they join a same sex "family unit".
There are 6 different levels of priveleges for the students. Level one is completely restrictive. Level 6 allows for limited freedom within the residence.

Unacceptable behaviors include inappropriate eye contact and body language. Fraternization with the opposite sex is not permitted. I have spent time observing from outside the gates and have never witnessed boys and girls together at anytime. On one occasion I watched as girls were lined up on an outside terrance , at attention , with eyes forward, while they awaited access to a room, one at a time. The girls were not allowed to look down at me below outside the fence. They were not allowed to talk to each other.

The report said that transgression of the rules resulted in loss of priveleges. One consequence for inappropriate behavior was to be placed in a room and forced to lie face down on a gym mat for 50 minnutes of every hour. They were allowed to stretch for the remaining 10 minutes. The duration of this consequence and others like it are at the mercy of "chaperones". One report suggests that one resident spent most of 18 months undergoing this form of behavior modification.

Overall the experience sounded like a mix of military boot camp and dogmatic cultism, where the rights of the child were sacrificed in the name of behavior modification. Presumably the goal was to create a compliant, non questioning, non defiant young adult.

The reporter did interview the president, Ken Kay. He did not refute any of the above points. He felt they were justified in order to achieve the goals of the program.
He felt that the behavior modification approaches applied were necessary as other interventions and treatments for the youths had failed. He pointed out that most of the teens came from broken homes, and that all earlier interventions had failed. He cited a very high re integration rate of graduates to society.

Graduates were also interviewed. Most told of their salvation thanks to the program at Tranquility Bay. The observer reporter felt it sounded more like pre programmed dogma rather than genuine insight or personal growth.

I have a number of concerns that are unlikely to ever be resolved.

The facility itself is intimidating and has obstructed a section of coastline traditionally used as a pedestrian walk between Great Bay and Calabash Bay. It has ruined a picturesque beach and swimming hole.

The stench of raw sewage is a testament to Tranquility Bays's approach to waste. I appears to flow directly into the sea due south of the facility.

What screening is applied to residents? I suspect the only entrance criteria is a cheque book. Based on reports I can find, there is little attention paid to social, emotional or psychiatric pathology that the teens may bring with them to Treasure Beach.This despite an on sight"independent" psychologist. The entire approach appears to be one of behavior modification. The "acceptable behaviors" sound machine like in reports and bear little resemblance to normal teen behavior/development.

Why did they choose to locate this facility so far away from prying eyes?
The regulations and standards that the facility must adhere to fall within the jurisdiction of Jamaican law. I don't wish to sound cynical, but a little graft with US cash goes a long way in Jamaica in smoothing the waters. More directly put...is this facility in Jamaica because they couldn't get away with their treatment prograams in "developed" countries?

Clearly I am not convinced that the residents of Tranquility Bay are truly having their needs met in a progressive or positive fashion. I do believe that the program can modify behavior as the alternatives to compliance are not pleasant.
Placing any teen in a set up like Tranquility Bay is likely to result in the desired effect as there are really no viable alternatives once the gate closes behind them.

Despite gainfully employing local residents, does Tranquility Bay really provide any positives to the community?

As for some of the previous comments:

Richard Tisch raises some valid concerns about the facility itself and I would encourage him to persue his concerns with US and Jamaican authorities. As for his obsevations of Treasure Beach, they resonate of someone who has looked, without seeing.

Andi - I believe the owner of Tranquility Bay resides in Utah. I also believe that is the sight of one of the other facilities he opperates. Hence the reference to invading Utah.

Rebecca - with due respect, the laws in Jamaica may ideed be quite strict, but their enforcement is somewhat variable. Tranquility Bay has been dumping their sewage into the sea for years. This is no secret to anyone who has walked south of the building. I suspect this is not compliant with any laws, but the sewage persists.

Finally for those with enquiring minds.

Tranquility Bay has a home website, Just search on google.
For the source of many of my concerns check out the observer magazine, an article entitled "the last resort" by Decca Aitkenhead. It too can be found by Searching "Tranquility Bay" on google.
Another source is "CBC radio- the current- tranquility bay" searched on google.
I'm sure there are others.

Make up your own mind
By Andi on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 10:29 pm:
Thank you Concerned for the info on where to go to read about Tranquility Bay. I am sure, just like a lot of folks, other than what was said on the forum a few months ago, I knew nothing about it. I have just spent the last 3 hours reading about this place. Including the court transcripts from the case where a child was rescued by his family. It sounds like a horror story come to life. Mr Titsch lll may be all wrong about Treasure Beach, but he has brought more attention to this scary sounding place and that's a good thing. (I found this same posting we have here on many of the sites) Sounds as if one of the major networks could do an investigative report and bring even more attention to it. May I suggest that we all write to them and see if all of our attention can get some more light shed on the subject. A ton of email could do wonders. If the reports coming out of there are just some disgruntled former students as Mr. Kay says, he shouldn't have a problem with letting them in to investigate. If the stories are true, the more publicity the better. Even if we can't get the goverment of Jamaica or the US to do anything about it, the publicity might encourage parents of theses troubled children to look for another solution, possibly even force them out of business. This sounds like a topic for an in depth program like Nightline or 60 Minutes.
By nurse ratchet on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 10:44 pm:
This is interesting.

On my 1st trip to TB (Jan 01 / I think)I stayed in Billy's Bay. I walked up to Frenchmans. I stopped at Jakes for breakfast. There was a couple from California with their son at the next table. They where there to bring him home from Tranquility Bay. To hear them talk (including the boy) the place was wonderful. I remmember the kid saying "I was on the wrong path "
But, even is Tranquility Bay is a "chamber of horrors" the things said about TB are hurtful. I have enjoyed a few rides in the back of a pickup truck.
By T_Beach_Son on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 11:23 pm:
One, or many may not agree on a given subject, or simple put, be opinionated.
The presence or absence of discipline is not limited to a geographic area, ethnicity, or
financial status.

Parents are inclined to see their children succeed; as a matter of fact children are expected to be better than their parents.

I am therefore fortunate to have parents from Treasure Beach, who taught us the Treasure Beach Way (proper methods of parenting). As a parent now living in the USA, it's now my turn to pass on those parenting methods to my four American children. With three in Universities and the forth will be online soon, I am surely thankful for the Treasure Beach Way.

I am therefore sorry to disappoint those who say I am not contributing to the Treasure Beach Economy. MY REASON BEING, I AM FROM TREASURE BEACH.
By Eric from NY on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 10:02 am:
Interesting that someone could have met the parents of anyone being brought to Tranquility bay, at Jakes or anywhere else in Treasure Beach... The management of tranquility bay clearly directs parents to have their child brought to JA by a private security service. This service (at the parents expense) comes to the US and takes the child from their house while they are sleeping. The child is woken, forced into a waiting van, and flown to JA. This method is well documented on both the Tranquility Bay website, and by the CBC interview with the management of Tranquility Bay. The Tranquility Bay management directs parents not to inform their child that this will be happening. A little research with Google will find the Tranquility Bay website, as well as a few rather chilling articles by a number of news services.

It is important to remember that these children have not necessarily committed a crime, and are not sent to Tranquility Bay by the state. Children are sent to Tranquility Bay at their parents choice and expense. Tranquility Bay COULD NOT EXIST IN THE US - American laws do not allow this type of activity. This is why Tranquility Bay has been in the US and British news so many times, with investigations by many reputable news services. It is also notable that the imprisonment of an individual of this type is illegal in any country (including JA) if the person is 19 years or older. If the person is 18 years or younger (a child) this is allowed to happen (in Treasure Beach).

That residents and regular tourists would simply turn a blind eye to this type of activity is very questionable. Some who post on this site seem more concerned that someone has offended them (or TB) by referring to Treasure Beach as the ñsticksî. Indeed, if you were a child who had escaped from Tranquility Bay, you would find that you were indeed in a very rural area . This is part of the reason that Tranquility Bay is in Treasure Beach, and not in Negril or Montego Bay. Believe me, if Tranquility Bay were in Negril, the tourists would have long ago put an end to it, through threats of discontinued financial support. There is no doubt that if tourists to TB were to complain loudly enough (i.e. threaten to stop visiting) the citizens of TB might not turn such a blind eye on Tranquility Bay. Tranquility Bay is (of course) actually the second largest employer in Treasure Beach, with tourism being the largest by far.

Be careful, tourists to TB, that you are not guilty of ñcopping outî by simply saying ñI donÍt know what they do to US kids there, but Treasure Beach sure is a great place to vacation...î Do some research about Tranquilty Bay - even if you would rather not know...
By nurse ratchet on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 10:13 am:
Read the post again !

They were bringing him home !
By Uggie on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 10:23 am:
Eric, Nurse Ratchet said she met the parents and boy when they had come to collect him, not deliver him.
By Eric from NY on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 10:31 am:
Oops - my mistake... My apologies to Nurse Ratchet...
Eric
By Andi on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 10:50 am:
Eric, I used to stay at Sunset Resort the first few years I came to TB. (the only reason I don't stay there now is that my financial situation has changes, I love that place) From my very first trip, I met parents that had kids there but they just said it was a school for troubled teens with drug,violence, or other serious problems. Over the years I saw maybe 6 sets of parents. They looked sad, unlike tourists and that is why they stood out. Last summer, I was sitting on the beach in Calabash Bay and I stuck up a conversation with a woman and her mother. They had a child at Tranquility Bay and this was after I had read the last discussion on this site about it. She told me her daughter was cutting herslf and hurting herself and they had tried everything, thru her school, thru the church,therepy, medication etc and nothing had worked. This seemed to be a despiration move to me. But they said the girl had been there a year now and she was doing better. That's all I know. But it is possible to run into these parents in Treasure Beach.
By nurse ratchet on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 12:44 pm:
Andi,

The same thing was said re "school for troubled teens". I just assumed it has to be Tranquility Bay" (It's the only one in the area, correct ?)

As far as a kid escaping, yes the would be in a remote are. But, it is a very safe area.
By Andi on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 05:47 pm:
Nurse Ratchet, I think it's the only one. Yeah, it was said very matter of factly. When I would meet these parents at breakfast we would talk for a while about general things like Jamaica and how they wished they were here for a vacation instead of the reason they were there for. I didn't want to pry, so I listened but I never asked any personal questions. I remember Mrs South telling me that they get quite a few parents staying there while visiting their children. She would say that these parents were so frustrated by their child's destructive behavior not improving by traditional ways and that this was a place to go when all else failed. I took it at face value and went on with my vacation. (I am in no way implying that Mrs. South was involved in any cover up by the way, I really loved her, she was always very kind to me.) The 2 women I met last trip felt that Tranquility Bay was the only way left that they could try to stop the girl from killing herself. They said that they were not rich and it took this girls parents and her grandparents to pay for it.
The reading I did from the results of the Google search last night haunts me and now I am very interested in this place. Did you read some of it?
By Dee DiPiero on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 08:40 pm:
I have a child at TB. Since he left in May, one of his friends is in a wheelchair from drunk driving and another friend has gone nuts. I tried rehab for my son before he left. Other parents told me that marijuana is not addictive or he would grow out of his drinking. He had about 15 friends. All heavy users. No parents willing to do anything. My son was out of control cheating drug tests and a decline in his moral character included lying ,cheating and stealing. He was soon to become out of control. I am sorry that I am a "bad parent" judged by some. I am sure that you have walked in my shoes. You also seem so aware of the bad press of TB. Do you really understand how involved all of the parents are? Do you know about the seminars and support groups? Do you see me speaking to other parents and grads on the internet that is just for parents with children in the program? Do you know that my son writes weekly and I speak to a representative each week?Do you know that there are schools in Utah, Montana, South Carolina, Iowa, New York and mexico? Woud you like to have been killed by a drunken teenager? Do you think it was easy for me to have my son escorted? My son is doing 100% better. I had to get him away from that environment. I cannot stand shallow people who make judgements without all the data!!
By Ive heard the screams... on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 11:30 pm:
Are you sure you have all the data about what happens inside those walls?
By Rebecca on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 07:27 am:
Thank you Dee for your honest reaction. I think it is important for this discussion to stay balanced. We have mostly heard from one opinion so far and it was good to hear another opinion.

Dee's point is well taken as she quotes an old Jamaican parable, "You cannot judge someone unless you have walked a mile in their shoes.". Those of us who have not been faced with making this very difficult decision cannot know what it is like and, therefore, should not judge. I had the opportunity to speak with each one of the reporters mentioned above and although we all agreed that we wish this place did not need to exist, we could not say what we would do if faced with this decision .

My friend sent me an article a few years ago which stated an interesting fact. Twenty-five years ago there were 50 such facilities world-wide, now there are over 250.

Oh for a perfect world . . .
By Oh Dee! on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 07:31 am:
Dee - Yes, there may be similar "schools" in the states, but Tranquility Bay has a few major differences. These differences are (of course) the very reason you chose Tranquility Bay, instead of a "school" in the states. Most US kids smoke and drink, fortunately not all their parents send them to "kiddie prison" in a foreign country.
By Been There on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 08:19 am:
Agreed... I HAVE walked in those shoes. As far as our situation was concerned, we took a tough love aproach, and it has been working ....so far. I am not too sure that the traditional treatments actually work.
I have two brothers that have been addicts for 30 years. One lost his battle nearly two years ago, at the ripe old age of 40. Broke our hearts, but he had been in rehab and counseling for years....did him zero good. We need something else, though I , for one, am not sure what is going to work for drug and alcohol abusers.
All that I am trying to say, is our son seems to have inherited this addiction gene. Yes, I believe heridity has some part in it. I just could not bear having him so far from us. But, that's only my opinion. And, after talking to a few residents of T.B., this place scares the h*ll outta me.
By Dee DiPiero on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 08:23 am:
It is not just that my son smoke and drank. I have 2 older children that i know have smoke and drank. The problem is, my son's life was wrapped around smoking and drinking. I had to threaten him with the police because he wanted to harm me. Boundaries are lost when drugs and alcohol become your primary goal.We are Catholic and attend mass every sun. My son was stealing and lying. I also know that i am not a co-dependant and since he is turning 18 in a year, I would have kicked him out. I took a choice on"kiddie prison" instead of real prison or worse. Have you read any of the success stories? I am so impressed when I speak to the graduates.Also, read up on alcoholism and drug addiction. I cannot tell you how disruptive our home was. I would never have dreamed that i would send my child away.But, I have always disciplined my children and did what I said I was going to do. I told Joe that if he did not embrace rehab and the meetings, he was going away. I even showed him the paphlets and the internet site.I know this is hard for my son but he really made his choice here.His letters show that he is really thinking and working hard. My husband and I are going to visit next month. Would I do this agin given the choice-yes.I am also much stronger thru the seminars and my child sees that as well-Dee thank you for your supportive feedback.
By Dee DiPiero on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 08:29 am:
Also, My son at first wrote letters telling me there were cockroaches in his food and he received no lotion, he had body sores etc. A graduate assured me he was being manipulative. I called him on his crap and it stopped. He has never mentioned abuse. I have spoken to many graduates. They have never mentioned abuse.Again, I was amess the first month that he was there-but relieved that he was not out drinking and driving. I also wish that the rehab and tough love aproach had worked but his friends and their non-caring parents were far too influental.
By Web Suggestion... on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 08:33 am:
Dee - this is a very friendly site, and the discussion being held here is quite interesteing. I would, however, suggest that you not give out your (last name) when you participate in online discussions. Just a suggestion...

Eric from NY
By Been There on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 09:05 am:
Bless you, Dee. I hope all will work out for the best. I really believe if some one rises above addiction it makes them a stronger person.
I will be praying for you both.
By Mattsdad on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 09:19 am:
My son has been home from Tranquility Bay for 14 months after spending 17 months there. I did visit and love the place and the staff. My son is clean, sober and moving ahead in life. Don't believe this would have happened without some type of strong intradiction.

The spartan, controlled life they lead at TB school is nothing compared to the jail he was heading for or the fights he was getting into, etc. Keep in mind that these kids need to change their whole mind set and that takes a major culture shock.

Trust me-it does work.
By A.A. on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 09:45 am:
Some kids are escorted to TBay. We drove our daughter to the facility, toured it, and left her there. A month later, my husband went back on his own and investigated the place without out daughter knowing he was there, and without it being a "parent weekend". We have both been back again and visited with our daughter and stayed at Sunset for 6 days. It was great. The facility is the cleanest place (even outside) that I've seen. It is a beautiful, remote location that has an impact on the kids when they arrive. Most of these kids have been in life and death situations at home, spent time in jail, in psychiatrict hospitals, etc. in the U.S. THis program is a wonderful alternative that turns them around and gives them life skills to return and have a chance at a productive life. THe people (Jamaican) are the best thing about the program. THey are very intuitive, and have a better grasp of our daughter's situation than therapists and psychiatrists in the U.S. did for 4 years before she went. This is my opinion of Tanquility Bay. It was a life saver for us.
By Tucker on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 11:04 am:
My daughter spent 13 months at Tranquility Bay before transferring to one of it's "sister" schools in Iowa. I thank the Lord each and every morning for Tranquility Bay's existence.

My wife delivered our daughter to the school. She was not "escorted" by armed guards. The place is spartan, yes. (Good place for kids with entitlement issues) Falling apart, no. Should it be torn down? Didn't look like it to me. There are no cockroaches in the food. The grounds and the facility are immaculate. The primarily Jamacian staff is wonderful. The facility director loves these children as much as their own parents. My daughter cried when she left, and vowed to go back to vist. She loves the place. I wouldn't mind staying there myself.

Sewage smell? Yeah, I've heard about it. It happens. IT'S A THIRD-WORLD COUNTRY! The plumbing isn't the best and it occasionally backs up. I've smelled the same thing in downtown Chicago at times. They lose power some times too. Oh, here's another horror for some of you. The kids have no hot water. How horrible is that? They get to do their laundry by hand in a bucket too. (I love that part)

I have Tranquility Bay to thank for my daughter's life. She loved the people and place and wants to go back. Like someone else said, "Walk a mile in my shoes first".

As far as Treasure Beach, how can I get that slice of heaven moved closer? We have stayed at Treasure Beach resort, dined at Jake's and spent the most WONDERFUL weekend at 4M's cottages. (Where we didn't have hot water either) It was incredible. More than worth the $100 or so to get there from MoBay. The place is real. The people are real. A good portion of the US population could learn a lot from this little community.
By Kath briguysmon on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 11:18 am:
I want to add a little to your forum. I am a parent and a good one. I have 5 children, we my husband and I both work, he outside the home, and me with a home based business. We have raised all of our children in the same manner, with love, and displine, One of my children decided to go out side the family values( ie love respect family) and got involved with drugs, alcohol, theft, not attending school, staying out all night not attending family things. These were choices he made, they were not good ones. Nothing that we tried helped him, we did the therapists,the rehab hosp NA AA court mandated programs, I Choose to send him somewhere, away from the friends he had that continued to bring him down with them, to somewhere he could get help. I was down at Tranquility Bay (TB) two weekends, I got the horror story's from him in the beginning, I also called him on those stories, he said they were lies, I also gave him the chance to return home to a school in the states, HE CHOOSE TO STAY WHERE HE IS and thanked me that I saved his life. Since he has been gone , one of his friends killed himself, another stabbed someone at a party, several of others were taken away from a football game three weeksago, by a an ambulance for passing out becuase of drugs. Yes I agree that the place is not a resort, it is clean, and it is in another country. But that is now my choice because I actualy got to hold my son in my arms, and after only 4 months he is the son I used to know prior to his daily drug use. You may say what you want but if you don't live it how can you say it.
Kathi
By Mair on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 11:27 am:
RE: The place is real. The people are real. A good portion of the US population could learn a lot from this little community.

Amen.

It's nice to hear some first hand experiences. Thank you for sharing. There are 2 sides to every coin; and it seems most of the time, we only hear the tails. It's like that with everything though, If the media were only to give good news... no one would watch.
By SaraGe on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 03:26 pm:
There is no doubt in my mind that my son was headed for prison or death if he had continued down the path he was going. He was selling drugs, using drugs, wrecking cars, stealing from neighbors, huffing, etc. I had tried everything: tough love, love and logic parenting (I attended several different types of parenting classes), religion, therapy (for my son alone and also for our family as a whole), drug rehab, Narcotics Anonymous---at one point I was even escorting him to his high school classes in an effort to keep him from skipping school---and we also tried a CHINs petition with the court and he spent time in juvenile detention. Nothing worked. I finally found out about the World Wide Association of Speciality Schools and Tranquility Bay was a godsend. I couldn't afford it on my own so my son's grandparents are helping to pay. My daughter and I got my son out of juvenile detention and the three of us drove to the airport and got on the plane for Jamaica---he was not escorted by armed guards. In deciding whether or not to send him to Tranquility Bay, I had sent out an informal survey to 25 families who had at some point had children in this program. None of the families/children had any of the problems you've been talking about---and there was no reason for them to lie. I saw for myself the situation there and can only re-iterate that the place is spartan but is in good repair and I have had nothing but good experiences with the people of the Treasure Beach area. When my son first got there, he wrote that he couldn't sleep at night because they were beating kids in the room next to his and their screams were keeping him awake. If you knew my son, you would know this was pure manipulation on his part. My son knows how to communicate with me if something were really wrong. He doesn't like it there and it is tough for him but he has not said the words he knows would bring me down there in a flash. He has been there for four months now and his progress is slow but real. Tranquility Bay is saving his life and mine.
By GODS DAUGHTER on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 03:53 pm:
HI. I AM A STUDENT FROM TRANQUILITY BAY. I'VE BEEN HOME A LITTLE OVER 1 WEEK. I SPENT 16 MONTHS IN TB AND,NO, I DID NOT GRADUATE.READING THESE INTERPRETATIONS ON TB IS PRETTY FUNNY. I SAY THAT B/C SOME OF THE STUFF IS TRUE. NO, MAYBE THE FACILITY IS NOT UP TO PAR,BUT THERE ARE A LOT WORSE PLACES.I DO BELIEVE THAT SOME STUDENTS ARE MISTREATED BY THE WAY THEY ARE RESTRAINED,BUT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN A STUDENT IS RESTRAINED IT'S, FOR THE MOST PART, B/C THEY MAY BE OUT OF CONTROL. IN SOME CASES THE STAFF NEED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THE OTHER STUDENTS.NOW, THIS REASON IS NOT THE CASE ALL THE TIME.I HAVE NOT BEEN MISTREATED(BEATEN, DEGRADED,STARVED,ECT.)IN MY WHOLE STAY IN T.B. ALSO TO SOME OF YOU PARENTS WHO SAY TB CHANGED YOUR CHILD, DO GET IT TWISTED. CHANGE COMES FROM THE CONSCIOUS DECISION TO DO SO. I SPENT 5 MONTHS OF MY TIME IN TB IN ISOLATION ON ONE OF THOSE BLUE MATS YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT B/C I BEAT UP ANOTHER STUDENT, THIS WAS MY 3RD TIME ASSULTING SOMEONE.I DO HTINK IT WAS VERY UNFAIR THAT I WAS KEPT IN CAPTIVITY IN ONE ROOM EVERYDAY FOR 5 MONTHS, HOWEVER I ONLY ALLOWED THAT TO STRENTHEN ME INTO A BETTER PERSON. MY SITUATION DIDN'T MATTER. I MADE THAT DECISION ON THE INSIDE TO NOT LET THAT GET ME DOWN. AND ALTHOUGH I AM NOT A PROGRAM GRADUATE I'M DOING 100% BETTER NOW THAN I WAS B4 I WENT TO TB.I'M NOT PROMOTING TB BECAUSE, HONESTLY, I DISAGREE WITH A LOT THAT GOES ON THERE,AND I'M NOT KNOCKING THE PLACE EITHER B/C I REALIZED A LOT BEING THERE.THE PLACE ISN'T FOR ALL TROUBLED KIDS AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF PARENTS FAIL TO REALIZE.YES, TB HAS MORE FLAWS THAN WHAT THE EYE MEETS,BUT I THINK IT'S THE FLAWS THAT GET US TROUBLED TEENS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN OUR LIVES.IF THE PLACE WAS THE RITZ OR HYATT THE STUDENTS WOULDN'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT BECOMING BETTER PEOPLE.
By DanishJess on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 04:28 pm:
I spent 2.5 years in TB. I actually went willingly. I flew down by myself. Yes, TB isn't a 5 star hotel, but kids that go there don't deserve that. My mom tried everything. She is a psychologist herself and that didn't even help. I had been seing someone since I was 5 years old and I was still going down the same road. I wasn't as bad as a lot kids that went there but I definitly needed something. I was there when it seemed every month that TB would close, but it didn't and I am glad that it didn't because I wouldn't want to know where I would end up. But the whole time I was there there was no abuse I was never mistreated. I was able to complete high school and year ahead of my class. I hate people who say bad things about places or people that have never been there first hand. It would be like for me to judge everyone else on here for something that they said and I actually didn't sit down to actually meet them. Reporters will lie just to sell what they are writing for. I actually have sat down with one. So before judging TB I challenge all who have something bad to say about the place to actually visit it and walk in the gates. Kids that are there will say stuff just so that parents can pull them. Most kids that go there are for manipulation and lying problems.
By deb on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 05:52 pm:
My daughter has been at TB since July of '02. Prior to sending her there, we sent her to therapy with 3 psychologist, 2 shrinks, our church counselor, our youth pastor, school psycologist, tried her on 3 different types of medications. She has big issues with neglect and abuse from her early childhood. Although she is no longer in that situation, puberty hit her hard. As a gifted student, she flunked out of half of her freshman year, mostly because she was drinking and smoking dope at school every day. She became promiscuous and was about to start having unsafe sex. She was having blackouts from drinking. She was jumping out of her second story window to get out at night. She drove without a license and while drunk and stoned, with others in the car. She was arrested for assualting me repeatedly. She broke hundreds of dollars worth of things in our home during violent rages. We put locks on our sons doors to protect them from her, even though she is younger and smaller. Nothing worked to make her agree to consider therapy honestly. She talked of killing herself and me. She is not mentally ill, so she could not be committed. Anger management from the community would not be available for at least six months along with most other services provided by the state after her arrest. One night I happened upon the webite for TB. After calling them, I asked for references. I talked to about 10 parents around the country who like me were without hope for their kids, found TB and now have their kids back. I knew that I would never get her there on a plane, she would become violent. I got references for an escort service and used them. It went very smoothly, and she was treated gently the entire time, they spent the whole 15 or so hours of transit and layovers talking to her. She really loved her escorts, in fact has asked me to contact them so she can communicate with her escort, she really bonded with her. My daughter really hated the place when she first arrived. She was scared and home sick. She begged to be pulled. I know that she would have bloodied her own nose if a reporter came by to make it look as if she were being abused. No doubt. At about 3 months, after lots of structure and feedback from the staff and other students, she really came around. We went to visit her and attend a seminar with her in March and the change in her is nothing but miraculous. I objected to what one poster said about an interview with a graduate being fake or something. Listen, take what they said for what they said, and don't second guess and color it with your own bias. My daughter now sends us lists of old friends that she thinks would need the school. She thanks us every letter for "saving her life". Her words. The facility is beautiful. Spartan but clean. Most of the students who are there were messed up with the typical American sense of entitlement and have to re-learn (or learn for the first time) the idea of responsiblity and accountability. I really loved the staff, so warm and bright and committed. I chose Jamaica over other schools because I really wanted my daughter to experience another culture not based in the local shopping mall. I wanted her to grow to be a tolerant adult. She complained about the lack of warm water when she first got there. It was funny, but when we visited, we only took cool showers as well. When we had time with her, there were no staff nearby, and while she said she missed us and her home terribly, she never asked to be taken home. She said she has alot to work on to make sure she has the future she is planning for herself, as a doctor.
I really believe that the magic of Treasure BEach is the distance one has to travel to get there. For us, the solitude was more than worth expense and time it took to get there. If someone objects to that, maybe they should stay in Miami or Las Vegas. How "ugly American" of you to criticize this haven.
Listen, all of you who chose to throw rocks at the school: I hope you are never faced with the heart-breaking decisions that my husband and I and all the other parents of students at TB had to face. But, if you are, I hope you do something before your child, crying for help by their actions, kills themself or someone else.
I have nothing but praise for both the school (having been there, had my daughter know it and love it), and for the village (low-key, laid-back, not McVaction Land.)
Shame on you for second guessing me and my well researched decision. Shame on you for being condescending to a lovely people and their home.
By Now thats creepy! on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 05:55 pm:
Boy, some of the testimonials from people who went to Tranquility Bay, or had kids there, are just a chilling as the NPR and CBC reports. Especially the comments from God's Daughter, who says I DO THINK IT WAS VERY UNFAIR THAT I WAS KEPT IN CAPTIVITY IN ONE ROOM EVERYDAY FOR 5 MONTHS, HOWEVER I ONLY ALLOWED THAT TO STRENGTHEN ME INTO A BETTER PERSON. Wow, it's amazing how malleable young minds are. Can you say BRAINWASHING - the CBC reporter sure did... Can you imagine being that girl's parent and hearing her tell about being kept in one room for 5 months? Kind of makes you wonder if the ends always justifies the means. A frontal lobotomy would fix these kids up too, but would you do that to them? Where do you draw the line?

Another example of this type of thinking is the fact that the US holds the record for drugging their kids with Retalin. It's sometimes easier for parents to drug their kids, or send them to another country, then being good parents, or moving to a new community...

This whole issue, as well as the responses from parents and alum's, starts the seem more like a CULT the more you read about it. With the US imprisoning a larger portion of it's population than any other country in the world, is it that surprising that we would build prisons for our kids in other countries. Unfortunately, it seems there will always be communities that are financially desperate enough to welcome such horrors as Tranquility Bay.

As a regular visitor to Treasure Beach, I have visited Tranquility Bay...It kind of reminds me of Lord of the Flies meets Dantes Inferno, with kids doling punishments out to other kids, and students undergoing such horrors as physical punishment and solitary confinement.

It is a credit to Treasure Beach that all who live there do not approve of what goes on at Tranquility Bay. Despite the economic benefits that Tranquility Bay brings, I would urge those citizens of Treasure Beach who know what really goes on there to be persistent.
By Speaking_from_knowledge on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 12:12 am:
Interesting discussions certainly. I would say that out of all the posts on this topic, only about 6-8 seem to be real information based on some real life personal experience. I see parents of students talking about threir visits and what their kids say about Tranquility Bay. I see former students post (and yes even a negative comment) I am sure if you read the suggestion box at your favorite restaraunt, hotel, store, etc, you will find both positive and negative comments.
I am a parent of a student that goes to Tranquility bay. My son too, was heading for prison. Are we "bad parents"? I personally don't think so, but if my results indicate my intention or my success, fine put me in that category for a minute. But then certainly anyone who has walked in my shoes (or some very much like it) can see that by taking action, not giving up on my child, and not letting a prison record ruin the chance at a good fruitfull adult life, may agree that a "good parent" can also recognize when they need help.
That is where I was. My son has been at Tranquility bay since May this year. He is doing very good and has started to make some great inroads into why he does some of the things he does. Is it perfect? Of course not, but I would also be the first person running a charge to shut the school down if I really believed that children were being abused. I know what the school does. For example, I know that the school has a policy to "restrain" a student if they are posing a danger to themselves or others. I also know that everyone on the TB staff involved in "restraining" utilizes and is trained in the M.A.N.D.T methodology. A search on the net will give you the details about it. Basically it is restraint only as a last resort and it is focused on calming the person and stopping the immeadiatte danger. It is not about "torture" as some have implied.

I know for me, my family, and my son at Tranquility Bay, this has been and still is, a life saver.
By lindsey on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 12:35 am:
Lindsey here, i graduated from Tranquility Bay and all of you that seem to put it down are CRAZY. it is the most amazing place in the whole world. I am in college now and i can say that it is assisteed me in more ways than one in dealing with this life. I don't live with my parents and every choice for the first time in my life is up to me and no one else. So the windows have bars on them. If you know anything that you know that TB is for kids who are misguided and take the wrong path in life and need some guidance. They are often not in the right state of mind and do things that are not ok and accepted in our scoity so Tb takes it seriously and it puts bars on the windows so no kids do things that they shouldn't since many get ideas. I was one of the fast ones that graduated and i can tell you that it is the best. SO FOR ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE NOT WENT THERE THAT WANT TO CRITIZE IT... TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IT DOES AND UNTIL THEN... KEEP YOUR BIG MOUTH SHUT BECUASE YOU ARE WRONG AND IT IS AMAZING

love,
lindsey
By donna on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 09:32 am:
I'm one of those parents, who didn't know where to turn next to get help for my then 14 year old daughter. She was failing school; she was violent (breaking furniture, walls, doors, throwing knives, punching, slapping, hitting, kicking her younger sisters and brother and mom, etc.); she was sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night and going off with guys she had just met online (some as old as 24!); she'd been in therapy since she was in 3rd grade, on/off meds since 6th grade, attempted suicide a few times, cops at the house on a regular basis......you cannot imagine what a parents life (or a families life) is like when this is reality in your home. This sweet darling child stole credit card receipts and used the #'s for purchases; she took the routing #'s and account # off a holiday gift check from her grandma and used it to shop for herself. She spit in my face, and cursed like a trucker. She went to school, and did no work....her gpa was .2, the only reason it was above zero was b/c her p.e. teacher gave her some points just for being there.She threw a computer monitor at me. She threw knives at me. She was Baker Acted (when the police take her to a mental health facility for a required 72 hour observation period) and manipulated her way around the doctors/psychiatrists/psychologists/social workers and got herself released inside of 48 hours when the 72 hour hold is a requirement of Florida law!
I had investigated "programs" previously, and kept telling myself I wasn't going to go there, that things would get better with love and attention. NOT. I quit my job, stayed home 24/7, did no good. Life got worse and worse, and my daughter got more and more out of control. I was afraid her poor choices were going to lead to her death, probably at the hands of some stranger she was sneaking out with in the middle of the night; if not at her own doing. I tried it all, every program offerred by the city, the county, the school.......to the point where they told me they could no longer help me. The last night that the police were at my door, one officer pulled me aside and said he had a brother when he was a teen who behaved very much like my daughter; the brother's funeral took place the day before he would have turned 17. The officer urged me to look at non-traditional methods to save my daughter's life. He had been to my home several times, knew the options we had pursued, and he knew there were none left. Three days later, I got on an airplane with her and took her to Jamaica.
She is still there.....we have visited her at Tranquility Bay a few times, she has been to the states for seminar with us, and soon will be having trips up for home visits to see which issues still need to be addressed before her graduation. She is still my daughter, still has the same quirks, the same personality, the same sparkle in her eye. The difference is that she is now reasonable, she is clear of all psych meds (and actually, tests prove she was misdiagnosed here in the states and on lots of meds unnecessarily). She thinks before she acts. She has plans for her future (her future used to mean what was going to happen in the next couple of hours). She is doing well in school, and plans to attend community college after her high school graduation. She talks about her feelings, her problems, her fears.....with the staff, with her psychologist, with her family, with us.....she is open both in giving and in receiving. She has learned that she is a worthwhile human being.
My goal when I first took her to TB was to keep her alive until she chose to keep herself alive. That goal has been meet and exceeded. She embraces life these days, and as a parent who has been to hell and back with their child, I will be grateful to God and the program at Tranquility Bay for the rest of my life.
Those of you who slam the program and slam the facility, without every having been inside; those of you who base your "knowledge" upon slanted news articles; those of you who think of us parents as some kind of freaks......I pray that you will never have to go through the hell of watching your child try to end their life. And, in case you ever do, and you have nowhere left to turn, I also pray that Tranquility Bay will be there for you and anyone else in that situation....staffed with the wonderful, warm, caring, open hearted Jamaican men and women who have been instrumental in turning the lives of so many troubled youth around.
Peace on your journeys......
Donna
By We have woken the tiger! on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 10:46 am:
It seems that we have awakened the indoctrinated masses here... This shows the power of such a (well funded) organization - to reach out and solicit assistance from itÍs patrons.

This conversation has been going on for a very long time on this website. Are we supposed to believe that the mass of emails from Tranquility Bay parents in the past 2 days is simply a coincidence? Obviously not... We havenÍt heard a peep from them, and then they start showering this site with emails... Obviously this mass of emails is not a simple coincidence. Therefore, these views hardly qualify as unbiased... It is quite clear that this mass of emails from ñhappy customersî was prompted by the management of Tranquility Bay.

There are obviously (2) conflicting views of the facility. What is the unbiased observer to believe, the claims of the indoctrinated (biased) parents, or the reporters from CBC, NPR, BBC, etc... ? Have these national news services suddenly become disrespected? We arenÍt talking about the National Enquirer or some other tabloid news service here...

Many of these responses from parents and graduates have the tone of a religious cult. This is some pretty scary stuff... Again, this raises the question - Why Treasure Beach? Why didnÍt these parents ship their kids off to a similar facility in the USA? They would save money on airfare, and would more easily be able to visit their kids... Tranquility Bay exists in Treasure Beach because itÍs methods would be illegal in the USA. Period... Tranquility Bay exists in Treasure Beach because the economic conditions there allow it. It would be a shame to see the existence of such a facility in Treasure Beach hurt their economy even more - by curtailing tourism to the area. Would Treasure Beach be better off with Tranquility Bay. While some may say NO, a look at the bigger picture may point to YES. For most people in the world, the only time they will ever here of Treasure Beach will be in the numerous national news stories about Tranquility Bay. Is this what Treasure Beach really wants to be famous for? Perhaps it would be better if Tranquility Bay were moved to an area less dependent on tourism. With so much fuss about the proposed sports complex, it seems the citizens of Treasure Beach might be a bit more concerned about the biggest detractor to their town. Just a thought...
By Curious on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 12:22 pm:
Who owns the hotel that is now Tranquility Bay? Is it owned by someone from Treasure Beach?
By C. Crouse on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 12:37 pm:
I am a Tranquility Bay parent and I take serious exception to the ignorant diatribe expressed by the people that haven't taken the time or energy to do the homework and fully understand the issues that lead to parents making the most difficult decisions of their lives by putting their children in a behavior modification school.

Yes, the facility is in a third world country. That's why I took my 14 year old son there myself - so I could feel comforatable that I was doing the right thing. After going through the past two years watching his grades (when pulled from school: F's & D's, fighting, skipping school, smoking pot), attitude (sneaking out at night, vandalism, theft, running from police) and future (he couldn't even see one) declining and heading for some 'dark future', I made the tough decision. I was completely involved (how could I do less, I'm his father) by meeting with teachers, counselors, and police to find mechanism to support change.

Today, 5 1/2 months later, I can hear a definte, positive change in my son's voice, attitude and future; I can read it in his letters (how many kids today write letters?). His movement through the program has allowed him (forced him by nature of the confinement) to see the alternate directions available to him. Even though he was

Posted by Richard Titsch III at November 2, 2003 07:47 AM:

I am a Tranquility Bay parent and I take serious exception to the ignorant diatribe expressed by the people that haven't taken the time or energy to do the homework and fully understand the issues that lead to parents making the most difficult decisions of their lives by putting their children in a behavior modification school.

Yes, the facility is in a third world country. That's why I took my 14 year old son there myself - so I could feel comforatable that I was doing the right thing. After going through the past two years watching his grades (when pulled from school: F's & D's, fighting, skipping school, smoking pot), attitude (sneaking out at night, vandalism, theft, running from police) and future (he couldn't even see one) declining and heading for some 'dark future', I made the tough decision. I was completely involved (how could I do less, I'm his father) by meeting with teachers, counselors, and police to find mechanism to support change.

Today, 5 1/2 months later, I can hear a definte, positive change in my son's voice, attitude and future; I can read it in his letters (how many kids today write letters?). His movement through the program has allowed him (forced him by nature of the confinement) to see the alternate directions available to him. Even though he was exposed to these same types of alternates at home, he wouldn't accept the lessons here because the outside diversions (adverse peer pressure) were too great.

I challenge the naysayers and negative boobs to step up and really investigate an issue, from both sides, before adding their two-cents worth.

Without reservations,

C. Crouse
By deb on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 01:00 pm:
Arghhhh, this is so frustrating, yet so predictable. First, I will clear up the untruth put out there by some idiot who jumped to an incorrect assumption: I am a parent of a student, and did not find out about this forum from the school, but from a parent. Period. Okay, distort that.
Second: It just amazes me how you ignorant (as in lacking knowledge) people can put a spin on what you hear to conform to what YOU want to support. The parents and grads sound like robots or religious fanatics? Come on, how about we sound supportive because we know and appreciate the program at the school? Imagine that? Why don't you check out the "robots" at an AA meeting, a weight watchers meeting, a republican party meeting, etc, etc, etc. All these groups probably only have people who choose to be involved (except for court required AA), probably tell others because they like their group. Oh no! Fanatics? Robots? I will venture to say that the poster of that trash belongs to some organization or group that they enjoy. Can you even begin to IMAGINE how supportive we as parents are when what we are supporting is not a trivial as our political group, or weight loss program, but something that has saved our child's life? Let me guess, there are probably breast cancer survivors out there touting the miracle of early detection with mammograms. Put a negative spin on that, I am sure you can.
Check this out, one of the big thrills for grads is to take a trip back there to visit. There have been several so excited at this prospect in the last couple of weeks. Probably back for some more mind control, need a fix, right?
Listen, My daughter was sent there by us for reasons in an earlier post, and to Jamaica NOT to escape any laws here, but to broaden her view of the world, and to, if anything, escape people like these negative posters who are talking about something they don't have first hand knowledge of and to experience instead the nearly universally positive and warm personality of the Jamaican people.
By Tail Wagging the Dog on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 01:14 pm:
Actually, it sounds like the nay sayers have really done their homework - perhaps a little too well for your comfort. No doubt a parent that sends their kid to such a place will be a bit sensitive to criticisms. Such actions on a parents part are very radical. Numerous US kids smoke pot, have failing grades, get pregnant or fall into trouble with the law. The OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of parents do not resort to such a drastic action as sending their children to Tranquility Bay.

As for C. Crouse and his sons letters home-your praise of your sons letter writing is what is called THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG. When you pay $30,000 a year to send your kid to a prison, you can expect a few letters home - as the students there are forced to write home. This letter writing was discussed in a BBC article on Tranquility Bay, as was the physical punishment and solitary confinement of students there.

I think that Curious brings up a good point in his question - WHO DOES OWN THE HOTEL THAT IS TRANQUILITY BAY? Many towns would not allow such a blemish to exist in their community. Perhaps the people of Treasure Beach have a right to get some answers to their questions.
By S.S on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 01:31 pm:
Tranquility Bay sounds no different than the boarding school I went to in Mandeville which incidentally I loved. And, it sounds like paradise compared to Munro College that my brother went to. I grew up in Treasure Beach and I don't want Tranquility Bay there but I have to say that it has seems to have done a lot of good for these American kids who grow up with a total disrespect for their elders, their parents and the rules of their household. Having to bathe in cold water is cruel? Most people in Jamaica live like that and think nothing of it. Spartan furnishings? What does that mean? No game boy, no DVD players, no computers? Poor things. These American kids may now get to appreciate what they have instead of being so greedy for more. If it helps them I'm all for it...I just wish it wasn't in my neck of the woods.
By Eric from NY on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 01:39 pm:
Did your school lock a student in solitary confinement for 5 months, or make them lie on their face around the clock?
By S.S on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 01:40 pm:
No, but they probably should have.
By thebodieswillfall on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 02:33 pm:
oh wow, so mant things have been said already that i dont know if i can add anything useful. i was at tranquility bay for 18 months and have been home for almost 6. in this time period i have totally relapsed on every drug i had ever done, as well as a number of other things use to do. but theres a difference now: im in school, get good grades, have real friends, get along with my family, and am happy. i drink and get crazy at parties occasionally, but its not an every day thing like it used to be. however, as ive looked back at whats caused the cange in me, i think very little of it had to do with the program whatsoever. the biggest lessons ive learned were before and after being there. i dont deny picking up a few things during my stay there, but most of it was truely horrible and ive struggled to bock it out. i graduated, not because i wanted to, but because i had no other options. through my relapses at home, ive learned that freaking out and being all scared of drugs isnt helpful at all, and thinking that way in the program had only caused me stress. now i understand where my limits are and can take challenges in stride. and i really do think this is part of growing up. at 15 i was a lost and angry kid. now ive gotten older and have found my place in the adult world, so i dont need to resort to the things i used to do when i get upset. this isnt something the program taught me, its just a natural part of maturing in life. when parents ask me about the program, i strongly recommend against it. my parents felt it was the last resort for me, as do many arents. fine, thats your call. you have legal resonsibility to do what you want. but ive seen many times where a kid gets worse in the program and would have done better to be left at home. so. thats my piece.
By Peaceful in our Sons Progresss on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 03:27 pm:
Hello there - I'm a parent of a saved child.

Point of note to "tailwagging" and "awaken the tiger". Every child in "solitary" has the total power to keep themselves out and remove themselves once they are there - by making choices to stop breaking the simplest and most b basic rules and control their own behavior. As a simple example, my son spent one day there, as a result of refusing to respond to certain requests after 5 continuous days of refusing and recieving increasing consequences such as loss of priviledges. He complied with the request. He was out of solitary the next day and has made the choice to never return (because it was so boring, said he). He was not restrained because his behavior did not need to be restrained - again, his "choice".

My son is doing incredibly well after 6 months at TB. Straight A's. Awesome letters sharing why he hated us, what he has learned about himself, about us, and is making huge efforts to repair relationships with mom and dad and his younger brother and sister. (Do you know they are fully permitted to write "hate" mail with no consequences and many in fact choose to do so for many months - so the concept of forced letters is ridiculous. They lose 5 points a week for chosing not to write just one single letter. To keep this in perspective, they earn 10 points for passing a test at the end of a chapter of study.

On the other hand, his friends back home (with "good" parents who would never do such a thing to their children) have accomplished the following in their last six months. All are 17 years old. One is in jail for cocaine and assault; one dropped out of 11th grade; one was pinned in a wrecked burning car with a head injury while his other two "friends" ran away thinking they would get caught for being intoxicated, three others were arrested for possession of pot (3 hours away from home); another overdosed on heroin and is living in a methodone clinic. Do you feel sympathy for these children the way we do? For their parents and families? Perhaps you would like to make parenting suggestions to my son's friends parents at this point in their lives. I am really interested in understanding your suggestions.

We made our decision on TB to 1) get him sober so his brain could function and reason again 2) remove him from a hole so deep that as an intoxicated 17 year old he was not possible able pull himself out and 3) to provide time to internalize basic tools to get through life; things like making a direct connection between one's choices and the consequences life deals out. We evaluated in HUGE detail many other options and tried many of them.

We made our choice as a last effort to prevent his destructive behavior from resulting in his death, the death of friends, a stranger's death on the road, to intervene before the inevitable trip to jail (the juvenile judge issued his last warning with absolutely no resulting change in behavior), to prevent an adult criminal record, before he was expelled from school (made his first B in 8th grade but by 11th was pulling more d's than b's), basically before his life went places that would be unbelievable hard to recover from and that would affect him the entire rest of his life - like a crinal record (assuming he could stay alive).

I'm in this forum based on communication in our school's forum that is for parents and grads - not the school's administration. Regarding brainwashing, I believe any child who has absolutely no concerns (in his own words) about going to jail, was in fact brainwashed by his troubled friends, by their worship of "thuggery" philosophy hyped by so many rap stars, by the zillion images glorifying alcohol and drugs that they were raised with in our MTV world. What do you think, maybe just a little "de-programming" was needed to save a kid's life?

Oh yea, there are younger brothers and sisters who had broken hearts from their older brother they idolized. They wanted him sent away to save his life. Once again, based on their redeveloping relationships through letters, they have hope for their brother's life.

Just my two cents! Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinions - except of course when they are New York Times journalists and editors who mispresent the facts in their stories. Did you happen to read REALITY about the NYT editors and jounalists who were fired based on deceptive reporting? So, don't be naive about believing everything from reputable news sources. I think grade school children are taught not to believe everything they read. 9 out of 10 parents in the NYT's articles were openly furious with the totally misleading representation of their positions on the school. Have you talked to them?

Open you heart to the possibility that this school is doing more good than harm.
By Kat20 on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 03:46 pm:
I am not going to try to justify my decision to send my child to a "program." I was faced with 3 options for my 14 year old son. 1) Casket 2) Juvinile Justice System 3) Program.

My experience of Tranquility Bay is this. I love the staff and my fellow parents. My son, after 16 months now has a vision of himself for the future. He now has self esteem and goals. Preprogram, he didn't care about anything but running the streets and doing whatever was necessary to get high.

I have worked Corrections for 20 years. I know what attitude makes a convict. My kid had it, I interrupted it.

I do take offense to those who would call program parents brainwashed, religious cult fanantics. I have met hundreds of them thru this journey and I will proudly say they are the strongest, most loving, and couragious people I have ever met. They have taken a stand for the children they love beyond reason. They drain retirement funds, sell houses, and risk finacial ruin to keep there children alive. Before you bash them, spend time with them. See their pain and their joy thru the process of change.

With Love,
Kat
By Facts - not inuendo on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 04:57 pm:
just an fyi - while there may be a lot of looking to God by parents and children in the program - The program itself is totally non-religous - God, or any religion, is not encouraged or discouraged or really even discussed in any of the seminars or materials from the school itself; it is simply viewed as an individual's choice. So, any reference to TB as some religous cult is about as ludicrous and inaccurate as anything I have ever heard.

Those of you with concerns for the children are right to be concerned and caring - thank you very much. But PLEASE, meet and talk and LISTEN to parents and graduates that have realized a positive experience in the program. Then you can evaluate the negative reports with an open mind and open heart.

Love to all -
By Andi on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 05:04 pm:
I have been on the fence with how I feel about this school. I have no first hand knowledge. This subject came up a few months ago and then, as I did in the beginning of this thread. I was on the fence about how I feel about it.
I am a parent of a daughter who thankfully only drove me nuts about cleaning up her room. I am very lucky. But I can understand the frustration if I had a child who was on an extremely distructive path which could lead them to prison or the funeral home, maybe taking others with them. If I truly had tried everything, then maybe this school or something like it may be the only choice. The fact that this school has so much controversy, would make me think twice about choosing this particular one. However, I am sure, with all this publcity all over the Internet and other media, sooner or later it will either stand or fall. As for the folks who have come to this board in droves, and the paranoia from some of the regulars here about it, you know how things like this become hot all over at once. One site leads you to another and groups of people from all over keep in touch. There was a controvery in TB a few years ago and the topic ended up on Jamaican TV, the local papers and on all sites like this where folks come to talk about what's going on in Jamaica. Talk is a good thing, in this day and age we get all sorts of information all at once, the more communication, the sooner the truth will out.
By Richard Titsch III on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 06:28 pm:
Recently, I have received some ugly email, and it caused me to track its starting point. Funny thing (not so funny actually) I discovered that unlike the many thank-yous I have received worldwide, all of the nasty bunk is coming from this website. Two things, and then I have posted one reply I have written to a person who has posted here and wrote to me as well.

My comments were not intended to slam Jamaica. I chose to vacation in Jamaica. While I stayed in Ocho Rios, I also rented a car, drove in Jamaica, had jerked beef and pork at a local roadside restaurant and, in general, had a wonderful time. Jamaica is GREAT! I was not comparing Jamaica to New Jersey and the fact that people at this webpage (the majority - thanks to those few who were supportive)completely missed my point.

That being said, the fans who have posted on their concern over my comments, please keep in mind that while you are enjoying the "fine" hotels, dining and resting at Treasure Beach, that it's very possible -- just a mile away, in the same hamlet, children are being restrained, degraded, harmed, and screaming. If everyone's comfortable with that, so be it; however, judging from the majority of responses I have had so far, that is not the case.

On the employment situation. I regret that St. Elizabeth is so heavily reliant on Tranquility Bay as an employer; however, peoples' good fortune (locally) can't be the reason that this place goes on with these alleged practices.

Now, by all means, please read my reply to Mr. Crouse and if you still want to confront me afterwards, be my guest:

------------------------------------
Mr. Crouse:

Your email is totally out-of-order. The truth obviously annoyed you. Watch-out who you are name calling, and let's discuss some of the facts widely known and those disclosed in your letter.

First, you have abdicated your position as parent to Jay Kay, who does not possess any of the established qualifications in this country to do what he is doing in Jamaica.

Second, you are not at Tranquility Bay daily and are thereby not in a position to confirm or deny the reports of beatings, hogtying, suicide, bug infestation, oppression and the numerous other complaints which have been documented in open court and in other forums. Your visits before and during this process, I'm sure were not "drop-ins" and I would have been surprised if you were exposed to any of the outrageous behaviors alleged to have been visited upon the "students" at Tranquility Bay, during your scheduled visits.

Third, the geography of your son's problem should not be an issue. He's your son and you live wherever it is you live. You, your wife (presuming she is on the scene) and your son need to work-through, no matter what the difficulty and hardship is, the issues which have caused him to act aberrantly. It's not as neat and tidy as getting rid of him like yesterday's trash, and bragging to your circle of friends and family that you put your foot down or invoked your make-believe right to "tough love", but in the long run it will have longer lasting results and will be the most significant thing you do in terms of establishing your son's respect and that of your peers and family. What you did only takes a little bit of money and the sociopath ability to either forget about and/or live with the fact that you lost control of the situation and could not reestablish it in the manner the people in this country have determined as a matter of principle and Law is acceptable.

As far as the "letter writing" and improved grades are concerned. Please consider the following, and very seriously:
It is Jay Kay's staff who is grading your child, not some independent traditional staff of school teachers (with proper credentials) from the United States. Those grades mean absolutely nothing. Come back to me with this argument after your son has taken even the American G.E.D. administered by your State. If he was doing as poorly as you say, I'll be surprised if he passes and if he does, I doubt Tranquility Bay's "schooling" will have little to do with the accomplishment.

All over the web I see stories of "students" who are "enrolled" at Trabnquility Bay being forced to write positive correspondence. If they are being compelled to write you letters, and can be punished through the alleged Tranquility Bay screening process, I fail to follow your argument that this represents some sign of improvement.
I have had and continue to have nothing to gain by taking time out of my vacation schedule and now my personal time in having visited Tranquility Bay and reporting my findings. My "2 cents" as you called it was not tainted with the guilt you ought to be feeling, nor was it intended to be malicious -- it's simply information I put out there for people to consider, if they wish, while deciding whether or not to repose the kind of serious trust in Jay Kay and his staff (or continuing to) before or during the process of subjecting children to anything more traumatic then they have already been through.

Take your responsibility back, as you should, before any serious damage is done or continues to be done to your son's psyche.

I am on the side of the angels on this one.

Sincerely,

Richard Titsch, III

This message has been edited by TB.net.
By Peaceful on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 10:13 pm:
Wow Richard!
What do you have invested in the battle against TB?

You have not responded once with any acknowledgement of any of the experiences of any of the parents or grads except with emotional insults.

Has anyone in your life ever suggested to you that you could improve your relationships by listening to others?

Not one of these parents has discarded their child like yesterday's trash. We work on restoring these relationships 24/7! I am about to start a 10 week seminar that has daily homwork. You don't know me. You don't know my experience. You don't know my son. What a rude thing to say to people who have been through hell and made the toughest decision they'll ever make, risking everything for one last hope of saving our children. Have you no feelings? How cold your comments. I would guess YOU feel rejected by your loved ones and somehow you assume that is what is going on here. But then, I don't know you, so I certainly wouldn't hurl insults.

Leave us alone. This place is constantly visited with both scheduled and drop in visits. We can walk in any time we want. Parents stay here constantly and we have no problem with the accomodations. Please don't hurt our children - they are doing great and if the parents feel they are not then they are free to remove their children.

You stay hung up on things like forced letter writing. Did you see what was said in here? The kids lose relatively very few points for not writing. They earn very few points if they do write. Some choose not to write at times. So what! Some write hate mail until they face the fact that their behavior and choices had something to do with their being there. Later letters show great personal insights and self knowledge that most 30 year olds cant fathom. These kids learn so much. All I ask is that you try hard to realize that many people with far more personal experiences with TB than you, are trying their best to help their children. We are not blind idiots. We deeply love our children.

All of the other schools in WWASP follow the same program so there is nothing going on at this school to avoid u.s. laws. Please get off that one. We chose this school because our son (yes, my first and only wife is still on the scene) was turning 18 and we needed to wake him up before he killed himself or ended up in jail. Can you hear this and respond to it? A judge threatened him with 6 months in state jail and he spent a three day weekend getting totally wasted on bizzare drugs, violating curfew, etc. So when you say we needed to work it out, it takes two to make that happen. Drugs seized his heart and logic. We went to church counseling, private counseling, court ordered counseling, he went to court ordered AA, 90 day in home court ordered counseling 3 days a week, and on and on and on. Each shool has different specialties. TB is a cultural shock to kids who feel entitled to have everything for nothing in return. It gets their attention. It wakes them up. Some chose to learn and change. Some do not. Please open you mind and try to listen to the possiblity that it actually helps many many people. Why do you want to take that away from them?

Are you sure you have no other bad experience with the school or Jay Kay or the neighboring property or something? Why are you so invested in this hatred against TB and unwilling to accept the direct knowledge and experience of people who have realized huge changes in their family lives from this program. Who are you anyway? Tell us your life story. Can you share anything personal about yourself with us to help us understand where you're coming from?
By Treasure girl on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 11:42 pm:
My God this thread is out of control, the persons who runs tranquility Bay sent e-mails to all the parents and ask them to read the site and make comments. I visit this site 10 times per day never see any of the above parents talk about this place knowing that so many people have the same problen they do.
The place was once owned by the same owner where they are planning to build the sports complex.
the problem with these kids is they have too much.Any kids from Treasure Beach there? No maybe they need to learn more tolerance in America

How about setting up one of these place in Iraq?

This msg. has been edited by TB.net.
By Andi on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 07:03 am:
I am curious to know what Mr. Titsch 111 does for a living. Is he in the Child development, medical, psychological, field? Is he a reporter? Is he a parent?
His zeal for this topic shows a lot of pent up anger. It's hard to read what he says and take it at face value due to that anger. Facts are one thing, hate is another. Respect, a word that is used much in Jamaica, is certainly lacking in his postings. A word to the wise....Bringing attention to something you think is wrong is one thing, judging people who you have never met, never heard their stories of frustration with their offsprings(like these parents that send their children to this school) is another.
By Richard Titsch, III on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 07:06 am:
First and foremost, thank you to ãTreasure Girlä for the info as to how the replies to my message were/are coming about. If indeed, Mr. Kay asked parents to do this, then some sense can be made of the hate mail I have received, together with the current posts to this webpage. Worldwide, this is the only webpage forum that, as a majority, has taken this position and resorted to the name-calling and angry emoting these people have displayed. Itâs an interesting way to rally support and not one I have seen, heretofore, used by any School Principal or Superintendent anywhere. Your point about the absence of Jamaican students is genuinely interesting and, again, I sincerely thank you for the information.

On to ãPeacefulä and his/her comments:

In response to your first question, I have no pre-existing relationship with Jay Kay, Tranquility Bay, any of its parents or students (professional or otherwise). I have been contacted (unsolicited) by people I did not know prior to my awareness of Tranquility Bay. I do not own, nor am I looking to develop the land in on or near Tranquility Bay. Unlike you, Mr. Kay or any other parent or student, I had no bias when this matter was originally introduced to me.

On your inquiry about my familial relations. Iâm going to try and set an example for the parents here. The events which transpire between nuclear family members are private and should be kept that way. Your loss of control over your respective situations has clearly resulted in some sort of belief on your part that you can advertise to the world that your child is or may be bad. That approach may make you feel better, but it only further humiliates your child and usually results in more resistance. So, on your inquiry about me -- suffice to say that I have relatives who love me and those who donât care for my company. Itâs a pretty even mix, and I have a very full life.

As for leaving you alone. If you had disregarded my message, none of you would be in an adversarial exchange with me, so I am not sure how to answer that remark/demand.

On the letters home. The fact that any points are assessed with respect to that activity is revolting. Do you want heartfelt letters or letters extorted from your children which have no actual meaning?

What your kids are ãlearningä is to submit when the alleged intimidation, beatings, and humiliation is visited upon them. The loss of individuality and the possibility that they will submit to anyone (when they leave Tranquility Bay) that wields that type of power over them is not good. Itâs too high a price to pay for the perceived short-term value of the alleged Tranquility Bay ãObservation/Restraintä Procedures.

On your request to listen to you. I am listening and responding, the best I can, with a relatively busy schedule. I do have feelings, and I regret that all of you, who are parents, are in this bind; however, I am also forced to listen/read-about Farmer v. Mitchell, State v. Van Blarigan, State v. Perry (ex Casa by the Sea student on Death Row in Texas), the testimony in open court of three ex-students of Tranquility Bay and the other information posted to the web, printed in People Magazine, Intrepid Net Reporter and on an on and on. After which, the scales are tipped against Tranquility Bay. Incidentally, which school in the US (since this point has been raised) has government authorization to force a child to the ground (face down or up), have them sat on by one or more other people and grind their limbs and head into a concrete floor? Itâs not an approved teaching method to my knowledge; however, on your advice, I will keep an open mind and ask you about which schools in the US would help to ground that argument. As a footnote, had I been the Judge assigned to the Van Blarigan case, I would have issued an arrest warrant, sua sponte, for Mr. and Mrs. Van Blarigan, and the minor would have been ordered returned to the US. Failure to comply, on the part of the parents would have resulted in contempt citations (for the parents) and the organizations involved would have been looking at a Preliminary Order for seizure of their assets on Enterprise Corruption charges. I also would have issued a Subpoena for the minor so that his testimony could be introduced to the proceedings and on the court record. Once returned to the jurisdiction, the minorâs case would have been referred to the Dependency Court. That Judge made an erroneous ruling, which had he not, might have stopped, all of this, long ago. The Virginia Judge got it 99% right.

Finally, I am not taking away anything from your kids. What I think you may be concerned about or even a little afraid of, is that what will be taken away from you is your vacation from raising your children. You may be concerned that at some point that may be over and then your children will be returned to you and you will have the additional issue to work-through with them of having had them whisked out of the US, relinquished 49% of your custody to a stranger and left them in a place where there has been serious allegations of abuse.

I urge you, as I have your co-authors, to resume your responsibilities as parents, and in the environment they will have to come home to eventually anyway. There are other ways to take a break from parenting, and the cost financially and emotionally is far less than the tuition for Tranquility Bay.

Richard R. Titsch, III
By Richard Titsch, III on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 07:24 am:
Andi, my emotions are not pent-up. If there is any emotional spin in my writing, Iâd say itâs pretty out in the open. On ãtaking me seriouslyä - thatâs a private decision each reader needs to make (regards my credibility) after they have read my message(s). Your statement sounds like you are comfortable with the idea of sampling oppression yourself, when someone has set forth an opinion which is not congruous with your belief system. As far as using Jamaican Culture (your reference to the word and concept of respect) to support your argument, I can only say that my respect level for the parents has been seriously compromised/polluted by their decision to forcefully enroll their children in Tranquility Bay, but that has little to do with the use of the word respect in relationship to the Jamaican Culture.
By concerned mom on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 09:18 am:
to richard titch: thanks for opening our eyes to the devistation of children at tranq bay. as a pediatric professional from NY and frequent traveler to ja- close to 20 trips in 15 years-i'm shocked and disappointed in the situation. it has definately forced me to look elsewhere to spend my vacation- we have spent the past 8 years on vacation in treasure beach. we have to send a signal- this is not acceptable at any cost, unfortunately the jamaican people will once again pay the price.
By Richard Titsch, III on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 09:35 am:
Concerned Mom - Your message is greatly appreciated. Thank you,

Richard Titsch, III
By Eric from NY on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 09:48 am:
I am a college professor from NY, who will be vacationing in Negril this year. While I would prefer to go to Treasure Beach (for the fifth time) I can not in good conscious, spend my travel dollars there. A message must be sent that these type of institutions will not be allowed. The reasoning of these parents is so flawed, that they seem like fanatics and lunatics. I misbehaved as a youth - trouble with the law, partying, drinking, etc. Fortunately my parents responded quite differently than the crazed Tranq Bay parents. I canÍt imagine what I would be today if I have been warped by such crazed punishment as a youth. As for those who ask Richard Titch what he has against Tranquility Bay - give me a break! That this type of school could exist at all is an outrage. Tranquility Bay (and the parents that send their kids there) should not be tolerated, no matter where it is located.

Posted by concerned cousin at November 3, 2003 12:48 AM:

This thread disturbs me. The venom with which people with no first hand knowledge condemn places like Tranquility Bay doesn't surprise me, though. People with this kind of pent-up anger always need a target. I know that my words can't change your mind. You've said that parents have "taken a vacation from their responsibility" in raising their children. That's not true. While their kids are at these schools, the parents attend seminars to work on their own issues so that when the kids come home, they aren't coming home to they same dysfunctional family they left. Issues like anger management, setting limits, not giving their kids a sense of entitlement, handling blended families. My point here is that these seminars are open to anyone - you don't have to have a child in the program to attend. So those of you who are bashing these schools without first hand knowledge, I challenge you to call Resource Realizations, the company that runs the seminars, and enroll in Adult Discovery, which is the first seminar in the series. Go with an open mind and walk a mile in the shoes of these parents. I'm betting you wont. Because it's much easier to sit back, do your research by surfing the web, and talk trash than to actually get off your duff and do something. But if you do, you're perspective will never be the same.

Posted by Antigen at November 4, 2003 11:13 PM:

Dear Concerned Cousin,
I have firsthand knowledge of life as a teenager in a Synanon based program. You view the family involvement as helpful, therapeutic. I view it somewhat differently, having sat in for the parent indoctrination end from the age of 6 to about 15 (when it was my turn inside).

While the kid is away being broken of spirit by brute force, the family is getting worked over on a purely emotional and psychological level. RR seminars are no different from the old Bible thumper revivals that used to sweep through desperate towns promising salvation but leaving pregnant maidens in their wake instead.

Here's one mother's take on the experience.
http://www.intrepidnetreporters.com/TeenHelp/breaking.htm

You're arguing against blaming the parents for taking drastic action. I can understand that, having lived it from both sides of the issue. (my oldest is 19) Go back a few moves. The original crime that gives impetus to these parents is WWASP and people who think like they do undermining the natural bonds of affection and trust between parents and their teenaged kids.

Take a close look at these people who proffer your family promises of too-good-to-be-true salvation. Do you find it telling that, in the first paragraph of their advertising, they describe their charges as _being_, not having, problems? Don't you think it's odd that, they, not the people who raised your cousin since before he was in diapers, think they can tell with 100% accuracy when a kid is lying? So you should trust them to make the call if the kid says he's sick, suicidal, been raped or anything else. "Don't worry", they say, "if it makes you question the high holy purpose or feel worried, then it's a lie."

Doesn't that worry you? How much do you know about these people who want you to trust you implicitly with your young cousin?

Some kids are not angels. Mine was, in her ways, but not by any MEANS a trouble-free kid. Suffice it to say that we've missed her terribly over these past few years living with an abusive boyfriend and are extremely happy she decided to come back home. (operative term being *decided*, not *was permitted*. Except for her decision to reject us for him and her decision to come back to the arms that love her, all the rest of the story is quite similar.)

Posted by Richard Titsch III at November 5, 2003 08:48 PM:

Concerned Cousin:

What are you talking about? Does it sound as though I was lazy, when I went out there (Treasure Beach, Jamaica) to "see for myself", just as you suggested to see what's going on there. As I pointed-out on my own webpage http://www.bulletinboards.com/view.cfm?comcode=Titsch no one offered to give me the Grand Tour. By the way, there's no pent-up anger. There seems to be no end to you prople who are programmed with the "Tranquility Bay Speak".

Go to my board and see if you change your mind.

Richard Titsch, III

Posted by Jarrett Ainsworth at December 29, 2003 05:38 AM:

Hello my name is Jarrett and I was in the program in tranquility bay for 10 1/2 months. I gained alot only because I wanted to. The only thing I agree with about that place is that it did save my life. Which is more important to me then anything else is. As far as the program goes is that i do not agree with it. It is nothing more to me than a laundering scheme by Mr. Jay Kay and other individuals. The only reason I said that it saved my life is because i was away from society./ But I could have done that somewhere where people actually cared about the students they are administring. The staff were always mouthy and since obvously in jamaica pot is legal from what I saw, the staff would be high at work and then lecture us about not doing pot and other drugs in life. I saw many kids get restrained for things and no majority did not deserve it at all. As far as brainwashing goes, I do believe that yes the parents do love there kids and they will do anything and everything for there child, and I greatly appreciate all parents who take there children to heart. The seminar that the parents do go to are brainwashing seminars. I am very intellegent to some extent, and I changed my life because I wanted to. Not because they made me. When i got out I was screwed up because of the program. It was not a good first time visit to Jamaica. When a kid wants to change he will change, if not then he or she will not change. My father is the most astounding and loving father that a kid could ever have. The problems that I faced in life was my own burden that I did to myself, my family did everything they could but I chose other paths. I do not rgret anything they are just stepping stones for me in the future. But as far as the program goes I do not agree with it at all. There are other alternatives for kids who are troubled besides tranquility bay. Places like those should not even exist. It is a whole nother world inside those walls. Please write if there is any input or just want to chat.

Posted by Elizabeth at March 20, 2004 05:42 AM:

Obviously if these children are this uncontrollable the parents are partly, if not completly, to blame, and maybe they should be the ones being sent off to a torture camp. This kind of camp is classified as cruel and unusual punnishment, which it UNCONSTITUTIONAL for a reason. If you wonder why these camps are located outside U.S. boarder, it's because they are inhumane and are run by sick and twisted people that probably have the same mental imbalance Hitler did. Any child that beleives they benefitted from this has been brainwashed, or was smart enough to pretend they believed it in order to get the hell away from these madmen that run the camp. All of the so-called parents that are sending their children off should take a close look at their parenting skills, or lack their of, and place the blame where it belongs. As for the wretched people running these institutions, what you're doing to earn a living is despicable.

Posted by Kristos Jennings at April 10, 2004 07:03 PM:

I have been to Tranquility. I was not a bad kid, I was just with the "wrong people" and I was doing the "wrong things", and stuff like that. I have never been involved with drugs, I have never raped anybody, I have never hit anybody. The worst thing that has ever happened with me is a minor vandalism case. The cops said that if I did that again, I would be sent to Juvenile Hall. Anyway, back to Tranquility. It is horrible. They scare the living shit out of you. If you don't comply with them, they "restrain" you. They have the privileges to read your mail, and interfere with everything you do. You have no privacy whatsoever, and if you question things, you get "restrained". I was restrained three times. Since I'm a masochist (someone who gets pleasure out of pain), I didn't care too much. I could only imagine the suffering one without masochism would go through. To Dee and everyone else: Unless your child is severely troubled, and I mean SEVERELY, get them out of that hellhole IMMEDIATELY. I graduated out of Tranquility at the age of 16, and I am now 17.

Here is a testimony from someone who I knew at Tranquility. His name is Nick Violante. Please, read through the whole thing.

http://fornits.com/anonanon/docs/wwasp/mvm/violante/

Posted by cb at July 24, 2004 08:57 AM:

I was reading this thread with interest. I am not
going to post about TB as I never been there. I
was in an American School in California. It was called Oak Glen school for girls. It was a "group" home reform school type place back in 1985

You are not going to believe this but everyone there smoked. When I got there I didn't smoke because I just never liked it much, but the staff got annoyed with me for being so goody two shoes and used to put cigarettes in my mouth and light it trying to get me to smoke. They teased me a lot too. After about six months of that and living with heavy smokers I did finally start to smoke on my own and got hooked.

Some of us who had reached a certain level(we had the level systems too) we got to attend "outside school", meaning regular school with the regular people. And of course THEY wern't allowed to smoke at school but WE (the Oak Glen girls) were given special permission to go into the teachers lounge to smoke and also we were allowed to go off campus to smoke when the teachers lounge was full.

IT took me 15 years to quit smoking. I don't want to think about what damage I have done to my body.

The place is gone now.

What I am trying to say is the school was breaking the law for years and years and years and nobody cared for years and years and years what happened to us cause we were state kids. that is what I think. Let us ruin our bodies- we are scum anyway. So I am pretty mad.

so being in the US isn't all about obeying the law, lack of abuse..don't mean sh##t.

and anyone who attended oak glen school for girls please email me.
thanks

Posted by NJ at July 29, 2004 08:46 AM:

The kids may have no recourse to resist, being minors under the orders of their parents, BUT

It is absolute bullshit to think that these scum can get away with leaving the U.S. to commit crimes against children. THAT is a felony, whether the scum do it by going to Thailand to c#rnh#le an 11-year-old boy OR having a "job" in Jamaica "disciplining" teens.

1. Aside from Federal felony charges, those kids have grounds for a federal class-action suit. The appropriate attorneys need to smell the money, they'll get to work.

2. The local governments and the U.S. consulates/embassies in those countries need to be notified that U.S. citizens are being tortured there; it matters not at all if that torture is at the unknowing behest of the parents. The ambassadors need to step in, with local militia and police if need be, and if those are unavailable, with US Marine embassy guards.

3. There are two major political party conventions going on/scheduled - hordes of media whores will attend and ask questions/pose problems for the candidates to answer - now is a good time for some extra light on this subject. Media outlets need to be contacted to determine who they're sending to the conventions and how to get these hard questions to the candidates and party officials.

There are certainly more steps to this process, like Amnesty Intl., but this is a start.

Posted by Ben at August 2, 2004 11:39 PM:

There is an old saying- 'there is no smoke without fire.' There are clearly two schools of thought about Tranquility Bay (and similar programs), but the many stories from former attendees of the poor treatment they've suffered cannot all be lies or exagerations. Granted, some stories might be embelished or even complete fabrications, but not all.

I'm not a parent, so I won't pretend to understand what having a problem child is like. But to be punished for simply looking in the wrong direction, or making eye contact with a member of staff? To be made to lie for hours face down on the ground, with only a 10 minute break every hour? The place is excessive, and immoral.

WWASP would have you believe that they are your child's last, best hope. I wouldn't buy that for a second. The parents themselves must be wi