Trauma assistance and relief for the child sex abuse victims in Haiti.

June 30, 2010 Joseph H. Miller, KM President Order of Malta American Association, U.S.A. New Canaan, Connecticut Re: Trauma assistance and relief for the child sex abuse victims in Haiti. Dear Joe, Thank you for taking time to speak with me on Tuesday. In the aftermath of our discussion, though, I have some concerns that I would like to express to you. In addition, I think it is important to put the role of Connecticut Malta leaders in perspective. First, I was pleased to learn that the national board of the Order of Malta USA (http://www.maltausa.org/) has approved funding to provide immediate assistance to the boys who were sexually abused by Douglas Perlitz, the former Executive Director of Project Pierre Toussaint in Cap Haitian, Haiti . You indicated to me that you are in the final stages of working out an arrangement with Catholic Relief Services. I am still not sure, though, what it is that you propose to do for the victims. Further, it is of concern that you have not already contacted Cyrus Sibert and Margarette Joseph in Haiti . Are you aware that Cyrus and Margarette have been the primary caregivers for the abuse victims since the abuse was first publicly reported in November 2007? I also wonder what you know regarding recent efforts by abuse survivors/victims and their supporters throughout New England to raise money for the basic needs of the boys. Mental health care professionals have advised us that traditional psychotherapy won't work for children and adults until certain basic needs are met. As one clinical social worker told me, "A psychotherapist who travels to a place like Haiti and thinks that all he or she is going to need to do is meet with clients in a private office is mistaken. First, the children who were abused are going to need structure in their lives. They will need food. They will need a safe place to live. They will need to be enrolled in school. The social worker's first job will be to work towards providing the boys with these basic needs." Other professionals told me that the same toxic feelings of shame, guilt, self loathing, remorse, etc. are evident in all children who have been sexually abused, no matter what culture or country they come from. In recent weeks, the survivors' group, STTOP, has raised over $2,500 for the Haiti sex abuse victims. The funds are already being used to purchase shoes, provide food kits, and pay certain tuition expenses, etc. for the victims. These simple gestures help the boys feel loved and cared for. In a real sense, the therapeutic process has begun. You may be offended, Joe, but I need to ask you; where have you been? It's been over 18 months since the school closed and the boys were forced back into the streets. For the past twelve years, the Order of Malta has provided both personal and generous financial support to Project Pierre Toussaint (PPT). In fact, several senior Connecticut Malta officials served as members of the PPT board of directors. They include Jeanie (DM) and Tom Tisdale (KM) who are the current heads of Connecticut Malta, Madeleine Lacovara (DM) who serves as the Connecticut Area Hospitaller, Madeleine's husband, Philip Lacovara (KM), Hope Carter (DM) who is a committee member for Malta USA and, of course, former PPT board chairman, Rev. Paul Carrier, S.J. (KM) who serves as a spiritual director to Malta members. A bit of background. In the aftermath of an investigation of child sex abuse, Perlitz was fired. Each and every one of the above mentioned Malta leaders vehemently opposed the decision to fire Doug. And then the unbelievable happened. The Tisdale's, the Lacavara's, Hope Carter, and Paul Carrier signed a letter to donors in which they disparaged and berated the other board members who voted to fire Perlitz and insinuated the boys in Haiti were lying. Thanks to these Order of Malta leaders, donations dried up and the school was forced to close. In other words, Joe, your Malta colleagues chose to act like spoiled children instead of behaving like mature, adult Christians. They could have disagreed with the other board members, shaken off the dust, and moved forward to maintain and preserve the mission of Project Pierre Toussaint. But they didn't do that. Instead, they abandoned an entire group of homeless, hungry, street kids. This brings us to where we are today. One cannot ignore the fact that under the PPT Board's watch, innocent children were raped and sodomized by Perlitz for ten plus years. I suspect the criminal trial will reveal who knew what and when they knew it. Therefore, I hope you can understand the discomfort and uneasiness I and others have when the very same institutions under whose watch the abuse occurred become in charge of helping the very same kids who were abused. Don't get me wrong. Your financial support is desperately needed. But, I urge you and Catholic Relief Services' officials to work closely with Cyrus, Margarette and other members of the Cap Haitian community who are concerned for the well being of the boys. As your first priority, please take time to ask Cyrus and Margarette for their advice and guidance as how to best help the boys. Please include them in your plans. The boys trust Cyrus (reseaucitadelle@yahoo.fr) and Margarette. Sincerely, Paul Kendrick Freeport, Maine 207 838 1319