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We spoke to Dixie, director of God's
Littlest Angels, on Friday regarding rumors that the main Judge of the
Adoption Court in Port au Prince may start requiring families to make a
trip to Haiti as soon as they receive a referral. According to the adoption
law, families can designate a power of attorney to act on their behalf
for all adoption matters. Therefore, the Judge now asking for this goes
against the adoption law. Dixie has been in close communication with her
attorney regarding this matter, and the attorney has suggested a letter
writing campaign to the Judge. The attorney has drafted a letter (both
in English and in French) for families to sign. She has also asked families
that have already been referred a child to attach a photo of their child,
as well as a photo of the adoptive parents, to the letter to hopefully
help the judge to recognize that these children and families are waiting
to be united, rather than just names on stacks of papers. Families who
have already completed the adoption process are also encouraged to write
letters thanking the judge for uniting their families. For more information,
please see Dixie's post on the GLA website - http://www.glahaiti.org/adoption_news.
A draft of the letter that GLA's attorney has written can be found below.
Families may copy this letter into a new document, sign it, and insert
a picture of their child, as well as of themselves to the bottom of the
letter, or onto another sheet of paper and attach it to the letter.
A DHL packet with documents is sent
to Haiti on a weekly basis, and so families may send their letters to Bethany
International for prompt delivery to GLA. On Dixie's post on the website,
she has given GLA's Florida address as the address to where families can
send their letters. However, the letters will reach Haiti more quickly
if they are sent by DHL, and so we are offering to send these letters for
our families. Please send letters to:
Bethany Christian Services
Attn: LaDawn Penner
901 Eastern Avenue, NE
PO Box 294
Grand Rapids, MI 49501-0294
The adoption attorneys in Haiti are
continuing with negotiations with this Judge. At this time, Dixie is not
asking families to begin traveling to Haiti as soon as they receive their
referrals as the negotiations are still taking place. However, please be
advised that if you are currently waiting for a referral, this may be a
possibility. If this did happen, families would be able to see the judge
and file their I-600 on the same trip, so it would not mean adding a third
trip to the process.
SAMPLE LETTER IN FRENCH AND ENGLISH:
To the Head Judge of the First Instance
Court in Port-au-Prince
Mr. Rock Cadet
Dear Judge Cadet,
We are writing to you as parents
desiring to adopt a Haitian child. We are very surprised by your new decision
to refuse our power of attorney made in our country and legalized at the
Haitian Embassy.
We want you to consider, Judge Cadet,
that according to the policies in some countries; it is not acceptable
to come to meet the children until the adoption process is finished. We
also worry about the psychological effects on the children of us visiting
and then possibly IBESR refusing our adoption petition.
Therefore, we are asking you to
please reconsider your decision and accept the adoption documents legally
signed by our power of attorney who is our legal representative in Haiti.
We are counting on your understanding,
and pray that you will receive our heartfelt greetings.
Sincerely,
Au Doyen du tribunal de Premiere
Instance de Port-au-Prince
Monsieur Rock Cadet
En ses bureau
Monsieur,
Nous, parents désireux d’adopter
des enfants Haitiens, sommes stupéfaits par la nouvelle decision que vous
avez prise selon laquelle nos mandats de procuration qui ont été donnés
par devant les consuls de votre pays accrédités á l’étranger ne sont plus
acceptés.
Nous vous informons, Monsieur le
Doyen, que selon la loi du pays d’origine de certains d’entre avant la
fin de la procedure d’adoption.
Par contre nous vous demandons de
croire en notre bonne foi et d’accepter d’homologuer les proces verbaux
d’adoption dans lesquels nous avions été légalement représentés par nos
mandants.
Tout en comptant sur votre comprehension
nous vous prions de recevoir nos salutions distinguées.
Sincerement,
