The father of a household is the crucible around whom the family revolves and the anchor that holds the family together. There is no substitute for the love and support of a caring father, not even a mother’s love.

Children hero-worship fathers, while mothers are loved, perhaps extremely so, but not with that incandescent radiance in the heart and soul as having a special bond with one’s father.

This is beyond any wealth, yet some men place little or no value on this bond they can share with their offspring.

Many men prefer to spend time drinking alcohol with the boys, who would desert them at the first sign of an empty pocket, or at a party, probably with the younger ‘other woman’, or sometimes even at the office on work that can either be delegated, or re-structured to manageable proportions.

Even more heinous are the abusive fathers – sexual, physical, psychological, or emotional abusers. The betrayal of trust is incomprehensible and destructive to the persons a parent should love most in the world, and over whom they should be most protective.

Last Sunday, at a rally held, among several other activities, to mark National Men’s Week under the theme “Men as Nation-Builders”, President Jagdeo eschewed many pressing matters of State to join the men of the nation in solidarity with this joint initiative of the Ministry of Human Services and Social security and the Men’s Empowerment Network (MEN).

In his address the President said, inter alia : “….But I want the concept of us getting together to be much broader than talking to you about problems or chastising men. This has to be the reawakening of very, very important values, or the creation of values in our society among ourselves, and the sharing of those values, so (that) we are prepared for the next stage of our lives.”

The re-awakening of important values, and the application of those values to existential dynamics so that they impact on families and societies with a dynamism that can effect change in the current social construct, where abusive and obsessive behaviour seems to be a norm rather than an exception in our society, are imperatives.

This should be urgently addressed, and this can only be dealt with for optimum effectiveness if it is pursued in a holistic way, with all sections of the media, irrespective their political or other loyalties, the religious fraternity, community groups, as well as the political collective, being involved, because this is a national cause for concern.

Former President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, epitomized all that a leader, a man, a father, and a human being should be; and while not all men are fortunate to find life partners like Janet Jagan, the predisposition to be the best one can be as a man – whatever the role, should not be compromised nor circumscribed by circumstances, but by one’s own inherent criteria for values and standards.

Cheddi Jagan left a blueprint for behavioural standards for his countrymen, but unfortunately this has not been adhered to, many times not even by those closest to him; yet it is never too late, and this rally is merely one step toward the achievement of that ultimate national landscape, where the men of the homes, societies, and our country can once more be, and respected as, best friends and protectors, instead of oppressors and abusers.

Under the watch of President Jagdeo, the Government has continued to pursue the ideal of, and continually promotes, healthy families as the way for advancement of a healthy society within a landscape of a cohesive and healthy nation.

President Jagdeo said at the rally: “…if we succeed, then we can take better care of women without changing our nature, and we can create greater self-esteem, and we can have more prosperous young men, and we can have a society where our boys are not preys to drug dealers, and a society where men and women are equal, not just by law, but in actual fact.”