Salvation Army denies subjecting addicts to poor conditions in rehab

The Salvation Army has been accused of subjecting the persons being treated in its Drug Rehabilitation Programme to substandard conditions—a claim that manager Major Ulrick Thibaud is denying, while chalking up criticisms to “enemies” of the institution.

Major Thibaud, a Haitian national who has been managing the programme since 2011, says the conditions are decent.

“I would not say that we have a five-star hotel but we have a decent place for people to live,” Major Thibaud told Stabroek News, while saying that the success of the Salvation Army’s programme has been due to the support that has been coming from the Guyanese people.

He said it was the money of the Guyanese people that was used to recently renovate its Water Street Drug Rehabilitation Centre and he added that had it not been for the help of government and other stakeholders the Salvation Army would not have been what it is today.

A source close to the institution recently came forward to highlight the existing flaws and not to embarrass the management. The source said the welfare of drug addicts being treated was of utmost importance. The source said addicts were being housed in less than acceptable living conditions at the institution and were being served substandard meals.

Stabroek News met with Major Thibaud last Friday and he addressed some aspects of the report received by this newspaper and also gave a tour of the institution, which is still undergoing some renovations to its interior. From the roadway, it is evident that the exterior has been recently painted and has been clearly transformed from how it was at the beginning of this year.

The source related that complaints are made about not only the quality but the late distribution of meals. According to the source, the issue was raised on numerous occasions with management but nothing has been done.

When the recovering addicts go and complain themselves, the source added, they are often insulted and degraded. “That should not be. You are paying for a service…. they supposed to get good meals,” the source said, while also pointing out that those seeking treatment don’t have access to a proper kettle or electric iron.

The source also stated that recovering addicts who make mistakes while undergoing treatment are thrown out of the facility without second chances being considered. He added that within the last three years, clients and their family members have been met with aggression and this does not do well for the facility’s image.

 

‘Good work’

Major Ulrick Thibaud
Major Ulrick Thibaud

Stabroek News had been told that after rehabilitation work had been completed at the centre, the place was left in a mess, with deplorable toilet facilities and no good water system in the place.

However, during the tour by this newspaper the washrooms were visibly clean as were the rooms and the main kitchen. The smell of fresh paint filled the air, which was a sign that work was still being done. Major Thibaud said that the money used to do the work was released by government and that the work started earlier in the year. He acknowledged that some additional works still have to be done.

Major Thibaud told Stabroek News that the programme run by the institution is not free and that funds are received from government to assist persons who are unable to pay the full amount for entry to rehab.

“Government [is] saying that we are doing good work for the people of Guyana. The government supporting our efforts. Government may put some money towards the programme, not to give a free programme,” he explained, while adding that the assumption that persons can enter the programme free of charge because of money given by the government is “wrong.”

He questioned how the institution could be expected to take care of clients if it offered a free programme. He said that it has to feed clients three times a day, find accommodation for them and pay staff to look at them. “The only thing they do is to stay here. When they stay here, they are our responsibility for six months,” he said. “How can somebody come here for six months for an institution to take care of you 100%? That makes sense to you?” he asked. The programme costs $300,000 per person for the six months.

According to Major Thibaud, government gives money to support the programme so that the institution can cover “certain expenses” and assist persons who cannot afford to pay for the full programme. He said that if all the addicts in the country turn up for a “free programme,” the institution would not be able to support them. “We do not give free treatment but we do support those who cannot help themselves,” he said, explaining that in some cases 100% support would be given to a client depending on their situation. “If somebody comes here for a free programme, we will say, ‘no, we don’t have a free programme,’” he stressed. He, however, added that he personally would not send a person away because they cannot afford the $50,000 per month fee. Instead, he said, he may accommodate that person with whatever they can afford after they would have conducted an investigation of their circumstances.

Addressing the reports about the quality of the food provided, Major Thibaud explained that if a client is not satisfied with the menu, complaints can be made to the kitchen staff, who would later raise the issue with the management team so that it can be assessed with the aim of making things better.

He said that a client who is dissatisfied ought not to report first to a newspaper but rather those in authority at the centre. “That is nonsense to me,” he said, before adding the institution does not “do business in the public.” He said that if there is a problem in a particular section, a complaint ought to be lodged with the head of that department.

Major Thibaud did not admit or deny that he has personally received a complaint about the food but he noted that every client has their own taste in food. He said that if a client does that like a particular dish, he has the option of addressing the issue with the department in question. He said it is “out of order” for the matter to be taken to the press without the institution being first given a chance to address it.

 

‘Enemies’

Face lift: A newly painted section of the Salvation Army Drug Rehabilitation Centre on Water Street. The works were done following monetary support from government. Work has also been done to the interior of the Water Street institution. Also in this photograph is a recently bought van (left) which will be used for an outreach programme.
Face lift: A newly painted section of the Salvation Army Drug Rehabilitation Centre on Water Street. The works were done following monetary support from government. Work has also been done to the interior of the Water Street institution. Also in this photograph is a recently bought van (left) which will be used for an outreach programme.

Major Thibaud described those who are speaking negatively about facilities at the institution as “enemies.” He said that every institution has critics and regardless of what efforts are made to improve things, they are never enough for those who don’t do anything better. “The only thing that they can do is to criticise,” he said.

Stabroek News had been told that because of the issues facing the institution, the clientele has been on the decline. However, when asked about this, Major Thibaud presented a different view.

He said that while the numbers have been fluctuating, the institution has a “very sustainable programme.” He said “people come and people go” and noted that there was a time when there were too many people. Previously, the maximum number for each programme was 18 and it was subsequently increased to 29. He said that they accommodate persons from ages 14 to 69 in the programme. “You can come today you see 15. You come tomorrow you see 12, that is the way it is. You may go to the classroom now, you see 18 people,” he noted.

He said that at the moment the institution has five paid counsellors and he noted that when he came to the institution there was only one. He said that there are at least nine volunteers who would come once or twice a week to offer their services. “If I put my staff together now, I would say that we have about 13 counsellors,” he added.

Major Thibaud expressed the view that the rehab centre had a well-rounded programme. “This programme speaks for itself. … we have a lot of success stories….we are running a very successful programme,” he said.

Asked to respond to those who are criticising the work of the Salvation Army, he said “when they criticise us, it does not make us worse, it make us better.” He said criticisms would help to make the institution serve persons better.

Over the years, Salvation Army has been providing counselling and other services to drug addicts in Guyana with support of the government of Guyana, contributions from affected family members and civil society.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dining area at the Salvation Army Drug Rehabilitation Centre.
The dining area at the Salvation Army Drug Rehabilitation Centre.