Ex-chief at heart of scandal breaks his silence
The former head of Oxfam’s operations in Haiti has admitted having a sexual relationship with a woman he helped in the aftermath of 2011’s earthquake.
Rolandvan hauwermeiren wrote an open letter defending his behaviour during overseas aid work between 2004 and 2011.
He claimed he never used prostitutes while co-ordinating the crisis relief effort in the Caribbean country, but said he was “deeply ashamed” by aspects of his behaviour.
Claims of sexual miscon--
duct by Oxfam staff during 2011 has plunged the charity into chaos.
Mr van Hauwermeiren who claims to have once had the nickname “Terminator” - resigned, while other colleagues were sacked when Oxfam investigated accusations that prostitutes were used by aid workers.
His open letter, sent to Belgian broadcaster VTM, charts his work in Liberia, Chad and Haiti. On his work in Haiti, he said: “Myself, indeed, I am not perfect, I am not a saint a man of flesh and blood, and have made mistakes (not easy to admit), and I am deeply ashamed. I indeed admitted to investigators that I had three times intimate contact in my house.
“It was, in my opinion, a mature honourable lady, not an earthquake victim and no prostitute, whom I had met since I supported her young sister and very young mother with diapers and powdered milk. I never gave them money. I also had frequent visits from a language prof (a lady), my driver, the younger brother, sisters and grandmother of the young lady in question.
“There were also frequent attempts by ladies and gentlemen to enter my house with all sorts of excuses to ask for money, to offer a job on the demands or sexual services. (Should I have lied ???? ). I never accepted those advances.
“I have never visited in a brothel, nightclub or bar in the city or this country.”
Two members of staff were fired for luring prostitutes to their room during a house party, he said, but claimed the men insisted the women had freely offered themselves.
He claimed his dismissal of the pair earned him the nickname Terminator - because of his decisive action.
The letter continued: “I offered my resignation for the following reasons:
“1. I should indeed have acted harder and faster when the rumours had spread. I found and still find this a lack in my leadership,
“2. Through my relationship with the lady I fed the rumors that I was also involved in such scandals (ie the parties or prostitution visit). As director I should have given the example and I had compromised the organisation and myself.
“3. I had already been in dispute with Oxfam for technical matters before and the facts above made up the barrel.”