Only a few excerpts have been printed in several stories: Here's the full press release. Who abused who? Consider the kids that hadn't yet figured out they were being given a selfless gift by their parents. Those few students took advantage of their "freedom" in the same way they did it at home. It's not about bad parenting - it's about BEING a parent that did something about the behavior when it became too much for them to handle at home. When you love your kids enough you will do whatever it takes to keep them out of harms way, the one they chose to inflict on themselves prior to learning to love themselves again (or for the first time) - Speak your judgments when you've stood in their shoes. You're adding more pain to already hurting parents. STOP!!!
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Subject: Press Release 05/27/03 From Ken Kay, President WWASPS
Question: What is your understanding of what happened at Dundee Ranch?
"Any person, place, public or private school could stand up to an orderly
investigation or inquiry, which our schools have cooperated with in the past and
would have at this time. However, who could withstand an irresponsible, agenda driven raid?
The closing of Dundee Ranch was caused by the actions of Fernando Vargas, an
out of control Government Official. There was a time when the owners of
Dundee Ranch had believed that the Costa Rican Government had moved beyond it's
primitive and rogue status, but now realize that just wasn't true. Government
Officials still operate unchecked and without regard to due process. Many even
believe that these officials will purposely create problems for US run
companies until they receive some kind of hefty under the table payment. Regardless
of motives the parents of a number of former students are going to be filing
legal complaints against Fernando Vargas. Mr. Vargas, using Rambo-like
tactics, entered Dundee Ranch and told troubled students with behavior problems that
they could do whatever they wanted, without consequences. Some, while not
most, began to do just that?Whatever they wanted. The whole time Mr. Vargas, and
other Government Officials, stood by and did nothing. They also forbid the
Dundee Ranch Staff from intervening. Even when the Ranch Staff appealed to
Police for help, to bring things to order, or to at least protect the health and
welfare of the students, or protect other persons and property, Mr. Vargas
instructed Police to not interfere. When things escalated to the point of no
control, and possibly fearing for his own safety, Mr. Vargas irresponsibly left.
About 40 of the 200 plus students left the facility. By the next morning,
all but about six students had returned. With the Government Officials gone,
the Ranch Staff got things calmed down. That is until the Government Official
showed up again, then the whole process started again. Once again, students
went out of control. At that time the Ranch Staff felt they could no longer
successfully operate the Program with this kind of irresponsible agenda-driven
government interference. They began notifying parents to make arrangements to
send their child home or to another facility.
Mr. Vargas arrested the Dundee Ranch owner, Narvin Lichfield, in what many
feel was an attempt to deflect his own actions. Narvin's lawyers, as well as
ourselves, are confident that when all is reviewed Narvin will be acquitted of
all charges. Even in the initial court appearance the Judge didn't seem to
think there was much of a case against Mr. Lichfield, as he was released without
bail. In the six year history of World Wide there has never been a
substantiated case of abuse or mistreatment in any of it's Independent Schools and
Programs. Some people believe all the Independently owned and operated Schools and
Programs are all alike. But that is not true. Some of our Member Schools
are Treatment Programs, some are Specialty Boarding Schools, and some, like
Dundee, are Behavior Modification Programs. What is similar is that each School
and Program has a tremendous parent satisfaction rate. According to the
responses of recent surveys among both present and past parents, our Schools average
over a 97% parent satisfaction rate. This is also evidenced by their
tremendous growth and their strong parent and former student supporters."
