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PACIFIC
COAST ACADEMY TAPATAPAO
27 July 2001 PRESS RELEASE Pacific Coast Academy is alive and operating normally with 25 students
currently studying and receiving counseling at its main campus at Tapatapao.
This assessment is made after the Supreme Court of Samoa ruled on
Wednesday 25 July, in the Academy’s favor stating that it was up to the
parents to decide whether or not their children should remain in the Academy. Last Thursday, 19 July, a temporary U.S. Consulate employee, Mr. Jimmy
Derrick, assaulted the Pacific Coast Academy with reckless allegations of
student abuse and mistreatment at the Academy’s campus at Tapatapao.
Without prior notice to the directors or staff of the Academy, Mr.
Derrick arrived on campus with a search warrant specifically “to
seize any and all of the physical evidences contained on the premises that
pertains to the commission of the said offences”.
However, Mr. Derrick’s agenda was the removal of over 40 Pacific Coast
Academy students. Ignoring the legal boundaries specifically stated by the judge in
issuing the warrant, Mr. Derrick offered every student at the Academy a “free
airline ticket” home while deliberately misinforming the students that Samoan
law allowed any child 14 years or older to leave the campus. Before the day was over, 15 students refused Jimmy Derrick’s offer and
chose to remain on campus and in school. 29
students, mostly newer arrivals, chose to take the offer of a free ticket home. Consular officials immediately began calling parents from the United
States with highly inflammatory rhetoric and baseless allegations and deliberate
misinformation. That very same
evening, the Supreme Court of Samoa issued an injunction against the actions of
Mr. Derrick and ordered the students returned to the Academy immediately.
Mr. Derrick obviously felt himself to be above the law and refused to
comply with the lawful order of the Supreme Court of Samoa. While claiming to have great concern for the students welfare, money provided by the U.S. Consulate has paid for these students to party at nightclubs in Apia, smoke cigarettes, abuse marijuana and drink alcohol while staying together at a local hotel with little or no supervision. The damage that Jimmy Derrick has caused cannot be underestimated, but
the injuries to these children cannot be overstated. These children have suffered a major setback in their journey
back to normal society. Pacific Coast Academy has had its day in court and every decision issued
by the court has supported the position of the Academy.
Students are returning to the campus daily.
Some will be returning to the United States at their parent’s
direction. The Academy continues to
worry about the lack of supervision provided by the consulate and is very
concerned for the welfare of those students. Pacific Coast Academy continues to care for children in their custody. We would like to thank the many citizens of Samoa who have extended a hand of friendship and support. We are grateful that the rule of law is strong in Samoa and commend the Court for its integrity and adherence to the rule of law while others chose to ignore it. To those we do business with, we look forward to working together for a long time as we fulfill our obligations to these children and to you. |