NEED HELP

Statement from Guatadopt:
According to the Prensa Libre (the largest newspaper), all adoptions are being put on hold for a month in order to validate the legitimacy of the cases. The story can found here: http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/2008/mayo/05/236311.html. By clicking on http://www.guatadopt.com/archives/000855.html#000855 you can read a so-so internet translation of it. As we learn more we will post it.

By way of this posting we are asking all whose who read this to please contact your Congressman and Senators and demand they standup and take action against those who are finding numerous ways to delay our children from coming home to their forever families. This is a political battle about money and power, not about the well being of our children and it must stop. The only ones that can drive this to resolution are our elected officials......so the more phones that ring on Capital Hills around the Nation the better chance we have of putting an end to this. Do the math, 3000 familes plus their families and friends can soon add up to enough ringing of phones to force action. Elected officials listen only when they HAVE TO and now is the TIME to get their attention. Please pick-up your phones and call now.

PGN Closed -- Since April 29

It does not seem that PGN is moving forward with the promises from the meeting on Monday with the Guatemalan lawyers. The sign on the window (above) says that they are not releasing cases right now.

Even though we were on the Sub Attorney General Flory de De Leon's desk for last signature, we are stuck until she / PGN starts letting files OUT. As it appears, all cases in PGN are on what is being called a temporary hold, awaiting an audit. We have also heard that the CNA plans to interview all birthmothers to verify that their relinquishment was voluntary. Of course all of this is illegal according to the grandfathering laws. And of course it will take more time to sort this out.

Lawyers Meeting with New PGN

Outcome of Monday, April 28 Meeting with PGN

One forum regular who attended the meeting basically posted that it went well. She said that

1.) PGN agreed to look into the legality of the CNA auditing grandfathered cases
2.) PGN agreed that everyone knows who the corrupt attorneys are and that they will not hold up all cases over that (note: I find this hard to believe as who decides the list of "corrupt" attorneys"). But they said that they will separate investigations of attorneys from the adoptions themselves and prosecute the corrupt ones.
3.) They will process cases in a timely fashion
4.) They are looking into cases that seemed to have exited PGN too quickly in the past. Iwould assume this part of investigating what went on in PGN with Gordillo and Barrios as there is till a court case open involving their firing.

What is Happening...

President Colom is in Washington, D.C. meeting with Bush regarding immigration laws/problems. We are hoping to have a voice through our Senators during these meetings about the state of adoptions.
The new Attorney General and Sub Attorney General were to meet with the adoption lawyers this morning. We are waiting to hear the outcome of that meeting. We can only hope that if all the remaining adoption cases are going to jump through yet another hoop that they will make the requirements clear, fair and able to be met in a timely manner.
This has not been the norm, but maybe Colom has actually put in a good team of people who will want to make sure that the children get to their forever families quickly.

Another STOP...Different People--Same POLITICS

The new Attorney General Baudilio Portillo Merlos took over PGN. The new Sub Attorney General (replacing Barrios) is Attorney Flory de De Leon and she has already moved into the office. It appears she may be holding off making any critical decisions until the Constitutional Court rules. The new AG has requested an audit, as well.
What does this mean? Short term, cases that were simply waiting for Barrios' signature are going to be delayed because of the way the review process works and the audit. With a change of power comes delays in about any business or government entity. Expect an impact on all cases currently in PGN. Long term, we cannot predict what this will mean. As always, we hope that this appointment by Colom will mean a more efficient PGN.

More info at the web site below:

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Susana Luarca susanaluarca01@YAHOO.COM
To: GUATEMALA-ADOPT@LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 10:06:06 PM
Subject: The Plans of the Central AuthorityADA
has a new post at http://www.adaguatemala.org/
Susana Luarca

New Attorney General = Possible Delay

As written on Guatadopt:

Today (April 21, 2008), Guatemala has a new Attorney General appointed by President Colom. Attorney Baudilio Portillo Merlos takes over the position from Gordillo. Gordillo has filed an appeal to the Constitutional Court to keep the position. I guess we will see if that challenge holds any water!
Since this is connected to the operations of PGN, I will also mention that there have been some rumors that PGN "closed its doors" and everything has been left to the CNA. Today, several of our contacts went to PGN and are confirming that PGN is still working.

Our adoption agency says "possible shut down, expect delays".
All sorts of rumors in the adoptions world! Please, Barrios clean off your desk before you are ousted and/or the shut down!

Waiting...

Called PGN last week and got confusing and conflicting information. The new girl at PGN (Christina) told us that we had been given incorrect information last week--we were not on the 2nd Reviewers desk, but still with the 1st Reviewer. She also could only see Monroe's paperwork in the file.
We call the adoption agency and after some research on their part we where told that Heidi confirmed that we are on Senior Barrio's desk. His would be the last signature before OUT.
We will hope that Heidi is correct and that Senior Barrio gets his pen moving!