Saturday, June 29, 2013

Derek's tirade about the inept and useless Can. Gov.

This is proving to be the most exasperating Canada day week end ever experienced!  We were informed on thursday morning that the immigration officer in charge of our case is leaving his position. This means we have to wait till August when he has been replaced in order to be able to have our file processed.  No one at the Canadian High Commission in Trinidad will give us an answer as to when in August, so it could be the end of the month meaning possibly coming home in the beginning of September.  We are basically caught in a legal state of limbo, Keem being our son and not being able to  enter Canada.  There is apparently no one in with enough authority in Trinidad that can even grant a temporary travel visa for him.  The two other families here are in the same position and are equally frustrated, perhaps even more as they have not been able to take paternal leave like I have.  Aside from being stranded here and wanting to come home to introduce my new son to everyone, and go camping up north, and see Greg's new baby and be part of all the things going on back home, dealing with all these bureaucrats is driving me insane.  Friday was a day for me and the other two fathers, of countless emails and never ending phone calls, which resulted in getting nowhere.  "Why can we not go to the embassy in Barbados?"  "Because you can't"  "Why not?"  "Because Guyanese people have to go to the embassy in Trinidad". "Why only Trinidad?"  "Because that is where Guyanese people go". There seems to be no one who can answer our questions or give us an alternative.  My blood almost reached its boiling point when we all took our families, nine kids and six adults, in a mini bus down to the Canadian Embassy in Georgetown, thinking we could sit down and have a conversation with some one who could explain what options we have.  That didn't happen!  Instead we were told the moms and kids had to wait outside, the dads could come in but not get through security and were told to wait in a small room.  We were then given a phone, which we shared, to talk to some unknowledgeable, unsympathetic and rude diplomat! Our MPs and Jason Kenney (cabinet minister for citizenship and immigration) have been made aware of this situation.  We will have to wait and see if they able or are willing to do anything about this.  I'm not holding my breathe.  Its funny that in adoption circles, people often say, "expect delays when you are working with a third world government".  Our experience is proving to be the opposite.  It's our own government that is showing itself to be inept, ignorant and inadequate at helping its own citizens.

3 comments:

Elizabeth said...

So sorry to hear things didn't work with Barbados as you had hoped. Under the circumstances I was hopeful everything would be done to help you return home asap. I pray that by the time Keem's new birth certificate and passport come through you will have an answer. Is there somebody with experience in this area that could be flown to Trinidad from Canada for a few days to help you out? Or could the person with the same job in Barbados be brought over to Trinidad to help you complete the process?

valerie grace said...

We have suggested both options to people and Trinidad and their answer was simply that "we don't do that" We will be able to talk more on Tuesday. Monday is Canada day and Caricom.

Lynn's Place said...

Praying for you all :) Just remember to look at God for your strength...it's hard but he is there....Keem will be here before you know it along with the rest of you...keep us posted just the same as we pray, pray, pray...
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