Guyanese Online

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There are quite a number of Guyanese adults, especially married couples who do not have children of their own, but are not sure whether they want to foster or adopt. There is also the likelihood that they may never have even thought of fostering or adopting. One of the reasons could be that in Guyana, fostering and adopting have not been readily done in an official way. Yes, there are many youngsters who have no parents or permanent guardians, and are sometimes tossed “from pillar to post” as the saying goes. Others spend many of their formative years living in institutions such as orphanages.

Nonetheless, there are many children who have been fortunate and taken into foster homes where they are welcomed with opened arms, and become one of the loved members of their adoptive family. There are those couples who are unable to become pregnant, and which for them, is an embarrassment to some degree. Open minded people, do not judge or are critical of couples who are childless. That is just not done. In fact, it could be regarded as being disrespectful and cruel to make negative comments to, or about, couples or individuals who do not have biological children.

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 Not everyone is destined to be a parent. Relatives and friends may and could drop a hint or a direct suggestion to such a couple to consider adoption as an option. One would have to appreciate just how close to the couple, or one of them, the person who is making the suggestion should be. Indeed, recommending adoption is a sensitive issue. Not every childless couple or individual consider themselves capable of proper parenting, and have no intention to adopt.

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Since November is observed internationally as “Adoption Month” we will look at this way of caring for a child or children who have no parent to care for them, and who need to be adopted by one or two adults, who willingly foster or adopt them legally; children who need a stable and loving home environment on a permanent basis. There are hundreds, even thousands, of children in Guyana who need stability and love in their daily lives. More particularly, they need adults who would give them a listening ear when they have problems to solve. In most cases, such children receive the need for tender, loving, care from adults who, if not parents or guardians, are professional custodians in institutions such as orphanages or boarding homes.

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Let us look at the kinds of persons who do not make good foster or adoptive parents. A single male applicant will not be granted foster or adoptive parenthood of a female, unless the court is satisfied that there are special circumstances which justify it. A person or couple who are known to have been cruel to previous children in their care, will also not qualify.

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