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This view of the PGN was found on at For This Child
If you have been reading on some of the other blogs reading, there have been efforts to find the cause of the PGN delays on your behalf! The Embassy met with representatives of the PGN who gave reasons of under staffing and increased workload (much of this I am sure the Embassy can relate with.) Since that point, cases have begun to rumble through at a speedier pace.
I was fortunate enough to take a few moments out of my recent trip to Guatemala to visit the PGN. This was an official trip as I needed a certified copy of a document. I couldn’t help but feel that momentary dread when I thought of those three letters. Even having been there and met with the officials before, I couldn’t help but create an imaginary fortress in my mind with all of our cases somewhere deep in a dungeon waiting for some magical day when the ruler decided to set some free. The images continued to grow in my own mind. I can’t imagine what the PGN must look like in the mind of those who have never been there and sit waiting to hear you are out.
While I have very little to add to what the other blogs and articles have to say about the progression of cases, I thought I would help paint a picture of the place to make it a little more real and less daunting to you. By the way, the latest I have heard is that the director has brought on a lawyer to help review and approve the cases. He has a long way to go to come back to an acceptable pace but for the moment things are moving.
This trip to the PGN I knew would be my last for some time so I tried to turn on the recorder in my brain and soak it in. While we are all “in” the PGN at one point or another, not all of us actually get to go in there literally. I wanted to get to know some of the people. I must say it was a really cool trip.
When you drive up to the PGN, it is a very unassuming ordinary building in the middle of the city. The area has a wall around the campus and parking is gated and only officials or permitted individuals can park in the lot inside. There is plenty of parking on the streets outside however and this day that is where we parked. We crossed the street and entered the campus on a sidewalk that led to the front door. The lawn is perfect and there is a floral design that spells out PGN as you walk up. The majority of the building is a greenish glassy exterior. It isn’t a large building by any means and in comparison with many of your imaginations, it is very anti-climactic to come here.
When you enter the front door of the building, you are in a very small lobby with security right in front of you. You can go any further without an ID or proof of official business. To your right is a small room for document drop off or pick up. This is where most of your cases are submitted and received. Some of you, that may even be today! This was our first stop here at the PGN.
My lawyer…a whole other long story…felt there was no way we could walk into the PGN and get a copy of this paper from our file. He tried to explain that it wasn’t as simple as it might be in the US. However, the lady looked at me and then seemingly with a knowing smile, she told us to wait in the seats as she looked over the written request. Nearly 10 minutes later, she returned with the paper we needed. The paper wasn’t certified however so she sent us up to Director Barrios’ office to have it certified.
As we pass through security and into the building, you notice a combination of the ordinary and the not so ordinary. Most of the first floor is open with some couches and rooms going off of the main space. To your left is a sweeping staircase leading to the second floor and to the office of the director. Once on the second floor you walk down a wooden paneled hallway and to the reception area for the director’s office. Again, if you have been hearing the words PGN for so long and finally are two feet from the director’s door, it is much grander in your thoughts I guarantee.
As we sat outside his office, the staff there was working on paperwork that seemed to be stacked to the ceiling. They were very cordial and took a great interest in this 6′5″ guy coming in their place of work. One of the ladies there actually remembered our case as our need was explained to them. I thought that was pretty impressive considering the thousands before us and the thousands since. However, the thing that struck me the most was the huge workload that sat before them and the few people assigned to the task. There were a few computers available but nothing there was sufficient for the need.
Barrios’ door was opened for a few moments but he was meeting with officials from the US we were told. Instead of interrupting the moment, of what hopefully was a friendly push to move forward, we excused ourselves to find a suitable alternative. Our time in the PGN was actually quite pleasant. I met hard working officials who have families in Guatemala City, Mixco, and a few other outskirt locations. They enjoy their life in Guatemala. Some of them even do their shopping at the Paiz right behind the PGN. Many of them are very happy that Americans and others would have compassion in their heart to adopt a child and raise them as their own. Their hope is that these children will be taught their heritage and that Guatemala would remain on the hearts of the parents. Most of these people work hard to get their part of your case done when they can. Few of them can affect real change in the system and are often frustrated by the lack of coordination from the top. They want you to know that not everyone in the PGN is working against you. There are definitely some rooting for you all the way!
As we left the PGN, it was raining furiously. One of the officials stood by me and challenged me to run from where we stood to a covered area in the distance. I smiled and accepted. Together we got soaked as the rain came down harder and harder. I couldn’t help but think that this might have been the guy that read through Mia’s case.
When you do come to Guatemala, put your itinerary a trip to go see the PGN. Even if it is just a drive by the place, it will be worth the moment.
