Facility profile Jamaica

Tranquility Bay

Closed Calabash Bay, Jamaica

Tranquility Bay was a specialty boarding school in Calabash Bay, Jamaica, operated by World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS). It operated from 1997 to 2009.

About Tranquility Bay

It used for 12 years by World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASP).source

It was located in compound near Treasure Beach, Calabash Bay, Jamaica (former Old Wharf Hotel).source It cost $25,000 to $40,000 per year.source The campus later used to quarantine new Jamaica Constabulary Force police recruits, capacity 160.source Six-level points system, emotional growth seminars, Observational Placement (O.P.) isolation, Exit Plan for those turning 18.source Tranquility Bay tuition was almost $40,000 annually.source

Cayman Islands government sent five youths there since 2002; $30,000 budgeted for placements.source The Cayman Islands Government sent five youths to Tranquility Bay in Jamaica from 2001 to 2005 and kept $30,000 of standing budget for it.source The Cayman Islands used Tranquility Bay in Jamaica for a young Caymanian; author Maia Szalavitz called it an unregulated, private jail.source Former WWASP site leased by Jamaica Constabulary Force to train police recruits from June 2009 for two years.source

Survivor testimony

What people who lived or worked here say happened. Survivors' own words are published with their permission; forum accounts are what was posted publicly and are reported as claims, not findings.

Reported on survivor forums

  1. 2004 Restraint

    A student reported being restrained by the director of Tranquility Bay during a directors' meeting.source

  2. Reported April 2004 Abuse

    A former student reports being beaten and molested during their two years at Tranquility Bay.source

Timeline

From the records: who ran it and the deals that moved it, its names, and the deaths, incidents, inspection findings, lawsuits and news stories on file. Point at an event, or tap "More about this", for the details.

19971999200120032004200620082009202019972020

  1. 1997

    1. Opened

      Opened in Calabash Bay, Jamaica

  2. 1999

    1. Incident

      Sexual abuse

      BBC reported an alleged rape in 1999 that was not reported to local authorities, a staff member fired for selling drugs to residents, and another dismissed for...

      Sexual abuse

      BBC reported an alleged rape in 1999 that was not reported to local authorities, a staff member fired for selling drugs to residents, and another dismissed for seeking inappropriate contact with a female student.

      source

  3. 2001

    1. DeathAugust 10, 2001

      Valerie Ann Heron, 17, died here

      Died by suicide

      Valerie Ann Heron, 17, died here August 10, 2001

      source

    2. Incident

      Injury

      A former student alleged that at Tranquility Bay in early 2001 staff restraint left her with a jaw injury that went largely untreated; the family said the...

      Injury

      A former student alleged that at Tranquility Bay in early 2001 staff restraint left her with a jaw injury that went largely untreated; the family said the school called on Christmas Eve 2001 to say she could not open her mouth to eat.

      source

    3. Incident

      Restraint

      A former student told the Miami New Times that in early 2001 staff restrained her and she fell onto her chin, causing a jaw injury that her family says went largely untreated.

      Restraint

      source

    4. IncidentAugust 10, 2001

      Death

      On August 10, 2001 a 17-year-old resident from Alabama died by suicide, jumping from a 35-foot-high balcony in the girls' building; witnesses say no staff were...

      Death August 10, 2001

      On August 10, 2001 a 17-year-old resident from Alabama died by suicide, jumping from a 35-foot-high balcony in the girls' building; witnesses say no staff were present and residents were ordered not to discuss it.

      source

  4. 2003

    1. In the newsMay 25, 2003

      Provo Canyon School Closure

      4 articles in The Salt Lake Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Dissident Voice and 1 more, 2003 to 2014.

      Provo Canyon School Closure May 25, 2003

      Following the arrest of director Narvin Lichfield and an exodus of students prompted by Costa Rican officials, the Academy at Dundee Ranch faced closure. The facility was part of the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools network, which faced various allegations including false imprisonment...

  5. 2004

    1. Incident

      Lawsuit

      Jay Kay attended the 2004 trial of WWASP vs.

      Lawsuit

      Jay Kay attended the 2004 trial of WWASP vs. Sue Scheff, where a video of him admitting he had pepper spray was shown.

      source

  6. 2006

    1. Incident

      Lawsuit

      A Florida family sued for negligence after a daughter was violently restrained and dislodged a disc in her chin, and the 2006 Turley lawsuit named numerous WWASP facilities.

      Lawsuit

      source

    2. IncidentJune 2006

      Death

      A Ferench documentary showed Randall Hinton admitting to pepper spraying a teen multiple times per day for eight or nine months at Tranquility Bay; the teen died June 6, 2006.

      Death June 2006

      source

  7. 2008

    1. Incident

      Investigation

      Psychologist David Pelcovitz interviewed a resident in Jamaica in the presence of a US embassy official, determined he had been abused, and brought him back to the United States.

      Investigation

      source

    2. Incident

      Abuse

      Former students filed a suit in Utah alleging children were beaten, forced to eat vomit and made to stand in painful contortions at private boot camps...

      Abuse

      Former students filed a suit in Utah alleging children were beaten, forced to eat vomit and made to stand in painful contortions at private boot camps including Tranquility Bay in Jamaica; a Brooklyn family fought over a teen held there.

      source

    3. IncidentMarch 2008

      Lawsuit

      A separate Utah suit by former students against private boot camps including Tranquility Bay alleged beatings, forced vomit-eating and prolonged stress positions.

      Lawsuit March 2008

      source

  8. 2009

    1. Closed

      Closed

  9. 2020

    1. In the newsJune 7, 2020

      Justice for Jonah Bevin

      2 articles in Jamaica Observer and The Times, 2020 to 2024.

      Justice for Jonah Bevin June 7, 2020

      The former Tranquility Bay facility in Treasure Beach, Jamaica, which previously housed youth programs in the 1990s and early 2000s, is being refurbished to serve as a quarantine and training facility for police recruits.

Deaths on record

The memorial

Lawsuits

  • Wood, et al. v. World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, Inc., et al. Unknown | Fifth Judicial District Court, Washington County, Utah | 120500380 Names this facility

    William Chase Wood and several hundred other former students and their parents sued the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS), founder Robert Lichfield, his business partners and dozens of affiliated programs, marketing and billing companies in Utah's Fifth Judicial District Court in Washington County. The document on file is the plaintiffs' 228-page first amended complaint, submitted July 24, 2013, which refers to claim sheets filed in the case on December 17, 2012 in opposition to a WWASPS motion to dismiss. It alleges that students placed at WWASPS programs in Utah, other states, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Samoa and the Czech Republic from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s were beaten, restrained, locked in isolation and small boxes or cages, denied food and medical care, sexually abused and forced to work without pay. It alleges the programs operated as a single enterprise that deceived parents and concealed the abuse, and brings negligence, fraud, contract, conspiracy and emotional distress claims. The document does not show how the case ended.

Every case in the lawsuit directory

Incidents on record

  1. 1999 Sexual abuse

    BBC reported an alleged rape in 1999 that was not reported to local authorities, a staff member fired for selling drugs to residents, and another dismissed for seeking inappropriate contact with a female student.source

  2. 2001 Injury

    A former student alleged that at Tranquility Bay in early 2001 staff restraint left her with a jaw injury that went largely untreated; the family said the school called on Christmas Eve 2001 to say she could not open her mouth to eat.source

  3. 2001 Restraint

    A former student told the Miami New Times that in early 2001 staff restrained her and she fell onto her chin, causing a jaw injury that her family says went largely untreated.source

  4. August 10, 2001 Death

    On August 10, 2001 a 17-year-old resident from Alabama died by suicide, jumping from a 35-foot-high balcony in the girls' building; witnesses say no staff were present and residents were ordered not to discuss it.source

  5. 2004 Lawsuit

    Jay Kay attended the 2004 trial of WWASP vs. Sue Scheff, where a video of him admitting he had pepper spray was shown.source

  6. 2006 Lawsuit

    A Florida family sued for negligence after a daughter was violently restrained and dislodged a disc in her chin, and the 2006 Turley lawsuit named numerous WWASP facilities.source

  7. June 2006 Death

    A Ferench documentary showed Randall Hinton admitting to pepper spraying a teen multiple times per day for eight or nine months at Tranquility Bay; the teen died June 6, 2006.source

  8. Abuse

    A mother told Fox her son was pepper sprayed by Jay Kay and Randall Hinton daily for over eight months.source

  9. Abuse

    Jay Kay, Director of Tranquility Bay, admitted to pepper spraying students on multiple occasions.source

  10. 2008 Investigation

    Psychologist David Pelcovitz interviewed a resident in Jamaica in the presence of a US embassy official, determined he had been abused, and brought him back to the United States.source

  11. 2008 Abuse

    Former students filed a suit in Utah alleging children were beaten, forced to eat vomit and made to stand in painful contortions at private boot camps including Tranquility Bay in Jamaica; a Brooklyn family fought over a teen held there.source

  12. March 2008 Lawsuit

    A separate Utah suit by former students against private boot camps including Tranquility Bay alleged beatings, forced vomit-eating and prolonged stress positions.source

  13. Abuse

    A Texas mother reported her two sons had ringworm scars and chemical burns and slept on soiled plywood beds with no soap, toilet paper or hot water.source

  14. Abuse

    Residents were held in Observational Placement, a form of solitary confinement lying on the floor in a guarded room, reportedly for a week or even months.source

  15. Abuse

    Survivors report pepper spray, painful limb twisting, violent restraints and beatings by staff, some hard enough to knock out teeth.source

  16. Investigation

    Three survivors testified about food containing bugs, raw sewage in the boys' showers, scabies outbreaks and weeks in observation placement.source

  17. Abuse

    An article reported that Tranquility Bay students cannot call home, are escorted by Jamaican chaperones and are pinned by guards as punishment, according to a student quoted by The Guardian (allegations).source

News coverage

  • The Times Jul 13, 2024 General

    ‘I’d rather die than go back’: Jamaica’s school for troubled US boys

  • Jamaica Observer Jun 7, 2020 General

    Tranquility Bay to be reopened as police facility

    The former Tranquility Bay facility in Treasure Beach, Jamaica, which previously housed youth programs in the 1990s and early 2000s, is being refurbished to serve as a quarantine and training facility for police recruits. Local officials and residents have discussed the upcoming reopening alongside community infrastructure needs, such as local water supply improvements.

  • US Represented Dec 1, 2014 Expose

    An Examination of Systemic Abuse and Oversight Gaps in Residential Treatment Programs

    This article examines documented instances of systemic abuse, neglect, and human rights violations across various residential treatment programs and youth facilities in the United States and internationally. It highlights findings from government investigations and congressional testimony demonstrating a lack of federal oversight, inadequate state regulations, and the persistence of harmful practices within the troubled teen industry.

  • Reason Jun 27, 2007 Expose

    Mitt Romney's Campaign Connections to Abusive Adolescent Treatment Programs

    The article examines the connections between presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign fundraisers and residential treatment programs facing widespread allegations of abuse. Founders Robert Lichfield of the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) and Mel Sembler of Straight Inc. faced numerous lawsuits and investigations regarding allegations of physical restraint, food and sleep deprivation, and psychological abuse.

  • Dissident Voice Apr 20, 2006 Expose

    Allegations of Abuse in Residential Treatment Programs for Teens

    The article reports allegations that several privately operated residential treatment programs for adolescents employ coercive discipline, physical and chemical restraints, and isolation, resulting in reported trauma among former participants. It also describes corporate ties, political contributions, and legal actions related to these facilities.

  • Los Angeles Times Jul 13, 2003 Corporate

    Key to His Schools’ Success? It’s God, Founder Says

    This 2003 article examines Robert Browning Lichfield and his involvement in the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools (WWASPS) network. It details allegations of severe disciplinary practices, regulatory investigations, and lawsuits while highlighting Lichfield's financial and political influence.

  • The Salt Lake Tribune May 25, 2003 Corporate

    Overview of World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools Amid Costa Rica Facility Closure archived copy

    Following the arrest of director Narvin Lichfield and an exodus of students prompted by Costa Rican officials, the Academy at Dundee Ranch faced closure. The facility was part of the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools network, which faced various allegations including false imprisonment, misrepresentation, and physical restraint.

  • CBS News Oct 15, 1998 Expose

    An Examination of Behavior Modification Programs for Adolescents

    An investigative report examines behavior modification programs operating in remote locations under the umbrella organization Worldwide Association of Specialty Programs. Former students detailed allegations of physical restraints, confinement, and inadequate medical care, while program directors defended the operations and cited positive outcomes reported by some participants and parents.

Videos

Les enfants perdus de Tranquility Bay (The lost kids of Tranquility Bay) Watch on Vimeo
YouTube video Watch on YouTube
48 Hours: "Tough Love" Watch on YouTube
Link to Alex's Survivor Testimony Watch on YouTube
BBC's "Locked in Paradise" Watch on YouTube
Primetime News Report on Tranquility Bay Watch on YouTube
Tranquility Bay: Corporate Casket Watch on YouTube
Primetime News Report on Tranquility Bay WWASP Late 90's (1998) Watch on YouTube
Montel Watch on YouTube
1 of 9

Staff

Administration

  • Jay Kay, son of WWASP President Ken Kay

    Former Director (2009, r/troubledteens wiki)source

    Elsewhere in the industry

Notable staff

Connections on the network map

The companies, people and programs our research map ties to this program. Open it on the network map.

Ownership

  • WWASPS

Documents

Documents on file (19)

Research that mentions this program

The whole research library

From the Unsilenced archive

183 documents about Tranquility Bay that Unsilenced collected and Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. They open on Unsilenced's Google Drive. Their whole folder: Tranquility Bay.

Documents (182)
Program Documents (1)

From SCIAD NET

3 documents about Tranquility Bay that Kids Over Profits does not hold a copy of. SCIAD NET keeps them on Google Drive, where they open.

News clippings (1)
Media (2)

Wiki entries

Materials and links

Materials the project holds for this facility. Ask through the correction form to see any of them.

News and media

  • News articles

Manuals and handbooks

  • Parent manual

Other documentation

  • Archived website

External links

A program's own website is linked as an archived snapshot, so the page reads as it did when it was captured.

Government records

Survivor posts and discussion

Advertising and marketing listings

Reference and research

8 of these from SCIAD NET.

Other links

Record updated . Generated from the Kids Over Profits facility database. Suggest a correction