“Adopt older children; they, too, need a home”– Min Persaud

…as 1st Central Authority is opened

Given the unfortunate reality that, older children are often overlooked by families during the adoption process, Human Services and Social Security Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud has urged persons to adopt older children highlighting that they too need a home.
The Minister made this plea on Tuesday at the commissioning of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Central Authority, an agency dedicated to providing a seamless process during inter-country adoption of children.
Whilst speaking at the event Dr Persaud highlighted the importance of children being a part of a safe and loving family.
“We want the things that matter a loving family. We want encouragement and motivation and we want those children most importantly, to have stability. Stability in their lives and stability when it comes to their future. As such, adoption becomes a real option in the lives of children the Child Care and Protection Agency also has a foster care program that will provide this kind of temporary solution but we are very happy when families in particular take the opportunity to adopt children locally.”
The minister also highlighted a common occurrence in the adoption process, she explained that the majority of the time older children are overlooked by families. In this regard the Minister, called for persons desirous of adopting a child, to also include older children in their options, stressing that they too need a home.
“We are also very aware that there is such a thing as older children not having the opportunity as easily as younger children for adoption and those who are listening to me beyond this room, I would like to encourage persons to adopt older children they, too, need a home, security, love and stability so that they can blossom forth and be all that they are meant to be and I’ve been a firm believer that it does not matter at what point someone steps into a child’s life, but once that loving connection and bond is established, the potential is enormous.”
Moreover, the minister revealed that as part of efforts to ensure adopted children are in a safe environment, extensive evaluations will be done on families.
“There will be a stringent assessment that will be done to ensure the suitability of the families who wish to adopt children, ensuring that they pass all of the screening methods and that they are the fit persons or fit families to adopt these children. We do not want any situation where children are placed in situations that are untenable, unacceptable, or that will open them to anything that can in any way affect their safety and security.”
Guyana signed on to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption in February 2019 but updated its local adoption laws in order to give effect to the tenets of the Convention.
The Hague Convention provides safeguards for children and families involved in adoptions between participating countries and also works to prevent the abduction, sale, or trafficking of children.
In August 2021, the passage of the Adoption of Children (Amendment) Bill 2021 brought Guyana’s laws into conformity with international best practices under the Convention. The amendments allow for, among other things, greater protection for children from potential abuse and exploitation during inter-country adoptions, which are to be handled by a central authority.
Guyana Times understands that the agency will house representatives from several key government ministries, such as the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Home Affairs and Health. These personnel will represent the interests of adopted children ensuring that they are safe and secure at all times. Notably, Guyana will only, execute adoptions with countries that are signed onto the Hague Convention.