This announcement appeared in today's papers:http://www.sigloxxi.com/index.php?link=noticias¬iciaid=11004.
Below is my translation of the said article. It is explaining the mechanism now in place to avoid forged documents, corruption and child trafficking. We cannot at this time answer your questions. Please be patient as we get more verified info from our sources in GT and discuss what is next.
Thank you for understanding. The Guatdopt Team
NEW REGULATIONS of ADOPTIONS
Manual of Good Practices Normalizes Process of Notaries in Adoptions
As of yesterday, notaries agreed to carry out the process of adoptions with completing the 42 requisites that the new manual which regulates the procedure of this type includes.
To the effect that PGN elaborated a formula, called, "Adoption Registrar", in which detailed information considered necessary information to initiate an adoption.
A new telephone number (#1546) has been established and issued to the notaries/lawyers who can find out the status of the adoption petetion.
WELL IDENTIFIED:
For the first time, it is required 3 photos of the said to be adopted child. "It is a security mechanism." Before PGN was the only one handling the documentation. Now we will have images of the child who is being relinquished.", said Mario Gordillo, Titular from PGN.
ONLY EXCEPTION:
Though now at this time the Law of Adoption has not been yet approved, the only valid procedure to date is contained inthe Manual of Good Practices.
***"As of now, ALL cases in-progress before May 2, 2007 will proceed in the process."
DESTINED TO THE US:
Statistics-
Total number of adoption cases for 2006-2007=5,024
Total number of that went to the US 2006-07 =4,757
Also, ADA has posted an update on what happened yesterday and what actions the ADA is focusing on:
http://www.adaguatemala.org/English/news/
{posted on behalf of Marie, Guatdopt.com}
Posted by Kelly at May 3, 2007 08:46 AMMy mind is racing, so I may be missing something obvious - please bear with me. Can you clarify the phrase
***"As of now, ALL cases in-progress before May 2, 2007 will proceed in the process."
Can I understand "in the process" to mean in the current process, or does it mean in the "new" process?
Going to my happy place: Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean (mantra from stressed teacher on "The Simpsons").
Posted by: Theresa at May 3, 2007 11:42 AMHi Kelly and Marie,
I wanted to post a comment above, on the most recent post, but for some reason I kept getting an error message.
I have three questions, if anyone has opinions/answers . . . I realize that answers may not be possible yet, but I am wondering . . .
1. What is your take on this section:
"ONLY EXCEPTION:
Though now at this time the Law of Adoption has not been yet approved, the only valid procedure to date is contained inthe Manual of Good Practices.
***"As of now, ALL cases in-progress before May 2, 2007 will proceed in the process."
Do you think this means taht all "in process" cases prior to May 2nd will proceed the old way OR does it mean that these cases prior to May 2nd will "proceed in the process" that is new? Also, this was in quotation marks, who said it?
2. How will this new process affect single moms or single dads who are adopting or who want to adopt in the future?
3. How will this affect the birthmoters rights to make an adoption plan for their child and to relinquish their child to whome they wish?
Thanks,
Lizzie
Proud Mama to Anarosa since 5-26-04
Waiting for Migdalia
I asked my case worker about this, whom then spoke with our Coordinator in Guatemala and as of now nothing has changed; everything is still being processed as normal. My husband and I's POA was just registered today and that would not have happened if anything had changed. I was also told that the new adoption registrar requirements will supposedly be in effect on May 15.
Posted by: Carrie at May 3, 2007 05:08 PMKevin, Kelly or anyone in the no, please comment on what you think in process entails
a. only those in PGN
b. only those that have registered POA's in the Guatemalan court system ( which I believe does include the PGN ) prior to said date.
My wife and I flew to Guatemala City to visit our baby (Philip) on 4/12/2007 and signed the POA while in country and it was registered on the 16th of April
and we are proceeding with DNA.
Thanks,
Paul, Iris and Matthew
Posted by: Paul C. at May 3, 2007 06:18 PMCarrie, I'm so glad that you posted that! I've been very concerned about this. I have been waiting to hear from our agency to get some answers. Our POA was delivered in person on April 23rd. I'm assuming that we are covered? All we can do is pray for our babies to come home soon. Good luck everyone!
Hi folks -
Please remember that this is a newspaper article. We have had no formal reports of changed processes so we cannot really speculate on specifics...especially since THIS article is so vague. In previous posts, we have gone over the Manual of Good Practices which is a little more specific. Still, it is how it is implemented that matters.
All bets are off, but historically "in process" (before May 2nd) would be POAs that have been REGISTERED.
Posted by: Kelly (guatadopt.com) at May 3, 2007 08:56 PMPaul, Iris, Matthew and Belinda,
When I referred to in process I meant the whole process of adopting a child from Guatemala. Until anything is actually law it is hard to say how things will change or not change, but currently I have been told they are the same.
God's hand has been quite apparent to my husband and I through this whole process, even with all the sometimes scary news that is being reported everywhere with the possible changes and possible hault to adoptions in Guatemala. Faith is what keeps us going and helps us know we Will bring our daughter home as soon as possible. Hopefully everything for the adoption process will all continue smoothly for years once all this government stuff is figured out. HOpe this helps.
My stepfather, who is from Mexico City, translated the paragraph relating to current cases to imply that all current cases will continue on their normal course. He is not affiliated with any government nor is he involved in adoption issues.
We will have to wait to hear more from the Guatemalan government to find out the real status. In the meantime, I am going to take this as a positive note and celebrate this small victory. (at this point, I'll celebrate anything that is remotely positive!)
-- T (9 months since referral and just now entering the PA waiting line).
Posted by: Theresa at May 3, 2007 10:01 PMThe ADA has a new (positive) posting on their web site. Posted early this morning.
Posted by: Sandra at May 4, 2007 10:27 AMSpecial thanks to Kelly, for translating this piece, and to Theresa for getting her father in law to take a look at it.
Kelly, there are two pieces to the sentence that confuse people. One is "in progress." The other is what process is being referred to by "will proceed in the process."
The previous paragraph referred to the manual of good practice and said that it is the only valid procedure. So "the process" may be the manual of good practices. But another possibility is this sentence is saying cases "in-progress" before May 2 will be grandfathered in.
Hope I'm being clear.
I take great comfort in Theresa's father in law's interpretation.
Best, Cheryl
Posted by: cheryl at May 4, 2007 11:35 AMWhen my father-in-law translated the phrase, he said "all cases will continue on track". I couldn't remember his wording when I posted my email (I was too happy to have heard something positive).
Of course, this is only my father-in-laws translation of the reporter's interpretation of whatever story the Guat gov is stating. It is still wait and see until the dust settles.
-- T
Posted by: Theresa at May 6, 2007 07:37 PMHas anyone heard anything new? Our POA wouldn't be rrady until Friday (May 18th) Will I get my Gabriela?
Posted by: Jennifer Zairi at May 15, 2007 04:06 PM