Dominican News: Breaks My Heart

I just saw this heart wrenching story on the Dominican News. My heart was humbled. Thoughts and emotions have filled my soul to wonder how someone could do this, or let this happen. I couldn't help but feel my heart break for this helpless boy, who doesn't deserve to be in this situation. He lives in Glanvillia (the area that we used to live). This is the raw reality that we are living in a third world country. I love the people here and though this extreme situation may not be that common, no one should live like this! No one should be treated like this! And no one should be able to get away treating a HUMAN BEING, like this! I read through some of the comments that people had written and a few of them mentioned that they knew this was happening. How could you know something like this was happening and not do anything about it? Curtley is 26 years old... he has lived in this horrific situation for 26 years! The fact that he still lives in the same place with the same care taker is not right! My heart is broken for poor Curtley Joseph. Such a tragic story and the saddest part is I am sure he is not the only one this has happened to. Here is his story.

Indignity: The story of Curtley Joseph

Sunday, November 20th, 2011 | Ashton Riviere in possievibrations.com

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Curtley Joseph

Curtley Joseph of Portsmouth is 26 years old, the son of Gilford Joseph and Patsy George. He lives in Portsmouth but not many residents know him. Many more know of him but, through no fault of his, he is not a popular person or subject.

His mother Patsy left her son in the care of his grandmother Betsy Peters from age two when Betsy lived in a two bedroom wooden house in lower Glanvillia. Lacking the wherewithall to care for a developmentally disabled child, Betsy sectioned off part of her verandah and kept him there until a fire destroyed the house some time later. Betsy has since built a modern concrete house where she lives.

That Curtley’s life has been a difficult one, is an understatement. He has never been to school, has a solitary friend, eats his own feces and is kept in a cage, something akin to a pigsty in his grandmother’s back yard; There he has survived for the last 10 years with the full knowledge of the authorities.  Yes, the welfare division is well aware of the case, to the point that it has taken Betsy Peter, Curtley’s grandmother to court where she was fined in connection with Curtley’s case.

Being severely mentally challenged, Curtley has never spoken. He started walking at a very late stage and on learning to walk became a bit disruptive, pulling items within his reach to the floor and destroying some of them in the process. He developed the habit of eating objects and materials which are supposed to be inedible.  This literally landed Curtley in the dog house. A very filthy dog house!

In 2007, in response to Betsy, who has received a stipend of $300.00 per month towards the care of Curtley refusing to continue her role as caretaker, Mr. Martin Anthony of the welfare division arranged for Ms. Mary Laville to take care of Curtley.  Now Mary feeds Curtley three times per day, bathes him, cleans his cage, and makes his bed. For that she receives payment of $300.00 from the Welfare Division and $300.00 from Curtley’s father. A grand total of $600.00

Years of living in a cage and being treated as an animal has taken its toll on Curtley and his caretaker believes that he has developed the habit of eating from the floor and eating his feces from the treatment received in his early years when his food was placed at his feet , much like a dog or a pig. Now Mary ensures that she feeds him his entire meal. The penchant for eating his mattress and bed sheets may be explained by years of neglect and hunger.

The image of Curtley’s malnourished frame, distended abdomen, fingers and mouth soiled with feces, behind the bars of his cage are nauseating and simultaneously depressing. His eyes are haunting, peering  through the soul, forcing one to question how it is that our society could so easily allow one of its own to be robbed of all human dignity in this manner.

Being severely challenged mentally, and having not received the type of care which would have helped him overcome any bit of the challenge that he faces, He has adopted the habit of barking and prancing like the dogs which are tethered nearby.  With the improvement in care he now identifies, relates to and displays obvious emotion towards his new caretaker. He seems happy when she is around.

Two months ago on the advice of Mr. Anthony of the welfare division, the health authorities visited Curtley and taking note of the condition in which he was kept arranged for him to be taken to the Portsmouth Hospital where he was examined and given some medical attention.

In all this Curtley’s mother Patsy has been absent and has broken contact with her mother and her son’s caretaker. His father, Gilford (Peanuts) regularly frequents the area in which he is kept seemingly oblivious to his son’s plight.  His grandmother Betsy has been taken to court by the Welfare Division and fined in connection with her guardianship of Curtley.

Moves are on the way to have Curtley removed to a more hospitable location however this is being delayed by among other things, clearance from the health authorities. Given that Curtley is severely mentally challenged, he will definitely need very specialized care at whatever institution which he is relocated to.

Answers must be found to the very profound questions that the case of Curtley Joseph puts to us as a community and a nation.  In recent times the Government of Dominica has voiced intention to build a respite centre in the Chance community in Portsmouth. The writer sincerely hopes that the needs of individuals such as Curtley are well catered for.

I have been a bit reluctant to publish this item without some due diligence.  That concern quickly went out the window. I forego diligence as I believe that his story must be told immediately if there is the slimmest chance that it may speed relief to Curtley and other forgotten people like him.

{Story and pictures taken from http://dominicanewsonline.com}