Lautoka resident Marie Waqanibau has raised concerns over delays in processing adoption paperwork, saying she has been waiting for updates since receiving an application form in April.
Ms Waqanibau, who adopted a one-year-old boy who’s related to her husband and their first child, raised the issue at the Lautoka Women’s Forum on Wednesday.
“I want to know how long the adoption process of the paperwork is,” Ms Waqanibau said.
“I have already gotten a form, and I am still waiting for updates on whether I should apply for it.”
She said the form was provided by an officer from the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection office in Lautoka, but she had not received further communication.
“And still to date I have not heard back from him.”
Ms Waqanibau said she was advised by a welfare officer to raise the matter directly with Minister for Women Sashi Kiran.
Ms Kiran explained that delays occurred because the Adoption Act, which came into force in 2018, had not been fully operationalised until recently.
“Late last year we brought to Parliament an amendment to that act, For any Act to be operationalise like that we need to work with other Ministries especially the Justice system because it goes to court.”
She said regulations had since been completed, allowing the legislation to become fully operational after being gazetted in April.
“We are processing more than 500 applications right now,” Ms Kiran said.
“So, this is the time to follow up, I will take your details and follow up with them as well.”
She added that all adoption applications must now be completed and submitted to court for processing.
“There was a delay because it was not fully operationalised.”
