July 27, 2009: Court Rumors and Family Involvement
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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,
