Recently, Ms. Novak, posted to various listservs and organizations that the Executive Order was a forgery (Ethica's post). It is very disturbing to have received such a different account of the events in Guatemala regarding the Executive Order. So far, there is no compelling evidence to support Ms. Novak's contention that there was a forged letter/document. Nor has Guatadopt been notified of any such "signed" version...only the content of the Executive Order. We are not aware of anyone who has been approached by an attorney regarding the legal fund associated with the Executive Order nor why they would contact Ms. Novak to complain. On the otherhand, there is substantial testament (US sources and Guatemalan sources) that the President seriously deliberated on enacting an Executive Order to reinstate the Hague using the First Lady's Protocol of Good Practices.
Guatadopt.com is interested in getting to the TRUTH. We are currently waiting for responses to our inquiries which we will share with the public. We will provide our own analysis of the events, the interpretations that we have received and perhaps provide a timeline including the various statements made by DOS and Ms. Novak. We are also concerned that ADA and reliable sources who have warned us of impending legislation are being purposefully discredited as a political ploy.
We are within a month of elections here in the US. Congressmen tend to have listening ears this time of year. Is there anything specific we can lobby to support the Guatemalan children and encourage truthtelling in our own goverment? (No, the truthtelling part was not meant to be a joke).
Posted by: Jennifer at October 6, 2006 03:36 PMOh my...this is turning out to be a very sad situation for everyone involved. Setting aside an adoptive family's emotional rollercoaster ride each day...that I can handle, but what is most upsetting to me is the fact that future of the adoptable children in Guatemala are being affected greatly.
Posted by: jennifer at October 6, 2006 04:16 PMI know my question doesn't relate to the above post but I was wondering if anyone could reply back how long it is recently taking from exiting PGN to actual travel(Babies born in GC) Is 4 weeks realistic or is it usually longer?
Thank
Stacy
Who is Ms Novak??
Gail
I am echoing Gail here, but who in the world is Ms. Novak?
Posted by: Tina at October 6, 2006 08:06 PMI'm so happy you are getting to the bottom of this. I'm tired of reading on all the message boards about the Executive Order being a 'forgery'. I'm surprised at how many adoptive parents don't take these things seriously. I've tried to discuss it on Guatemalan adoption boards but everyone blows off the subject. Thanks again...
Posted by: Kelly Ann at October 6, 2006 09:12 PMStacy, It is my understanding that it used to take only four weeks to get through PGN, but now it is taking closer to four months. The whole thing is vey frustrating. Hopefully things will spped up soon.
Kirstie
Posted by: Kirstie at October 6, 2006 10:12 PMOne only needs to go back to the Big List archives of the summer of 2003 (Hague crisis) to see whose 'side' Ethica is on. I doubt things have changed much since then - when 2 of their people routinely posted there. They have an agenda and it is NOT about keeping adoption an option for Guatemalan children. I wouldn't put any trust in something on their site.
Posted by: erin at October 7, 2006 12:44 AMI was just at the American Embassy in Guatemala on Tuesday and they are all saying the letter put out about adoption and the October 1st changes are all false and the letter is a forgery. They were asking anyone with a copy to forward it to the embassy so they could try and find out who put it out.
Posted by: Keith at October 7, 2006 10:48 AMI am also interested in who this Lisa Novak is. Was she involved much in the last Hague fiasco? Here is a link to her adoption agency website giving info on the principals:
http://www.claarfoundation.org/The%20Founders.htm
If anyone knows more please share!
Sarah J in NY
Posted by: Sarah J in NY at October 7, 2006 04:34 PMI think Ethica is acually an honest wll-intentioned group. Whether or not what they have posted is accurate, I don't believe they would put up anything they didn't believe to be true.
Not to be misunderstood, something smells fishy to me. But I've never known ethica to be dishonest.
Kevin
Guatadopt.com
Could this slow down the pre-approval process, etc. if the US Embassy is "researching" the supposedly forged Executive Order situation?? I certainly hope that this is not the case and that things slow down even more!!
Posted by: T.D. at October 8, 2006 04:16 PMCan anyone tell me how long it takes to get through PGN. I started it on Sept. 29 and was wondering when I should here from someone.
Thanks!
Concerned future mother