THE Theatre Guild came alive Friday evening with song, dance and drama to celebrate the few good men and fathers we still have in our society on the occasion of Fathers Day, which is officially being observed today.
Conceptualized by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Ms Priya Manickchand, in conjunction with the Men’s Affairs Bureau,  and billed as ‘A Forum Theatre Event in Celebration of Guyana’s Men for Father’s Day 2011’, among items featured on the programme of events was a play entitled, ‘Magnificent Man’, which highlighted among other things a father’s role in society, stereotyping of that role, and their resort to violence when things go awry.

As Minister Manickchand observed in her brief address, in spite of all the negative things out there about fathers, there are still many good ones out there, but unfortunately, their stories have never been told. Many of them, she said, are single parents, and they continue to do exactly what a father should for the upbringing of his child or children.
Seizing the opportunity to highlight the fact that gender equality will always remain a primary focus of the present administration, Minister Manickchand said:
“Government has been doing all in its power to promote general equality…That is not to say that we don’t recognize that there are good men and good fathers; we do. But that goodness, however, sometimes gets twisted with some of the bad things that some men do.”
Noting that the government has long recognized that the only way the country can progress and achieve the heights it aspires to, is by paying close attention to the needs of men, and the partnership between women and men, Minister Manickchand said the Men and Women’s Affairs Bureaux will be working closely at moving citizens of this country forward as a united people to change the interpretation of gender-based issues in society.
Chairman of the Men’s Affairs Bureau, Rev. Patrick Findlay, meanwhile, said the doors of the Bureau are always open for men looking for guidance and advice.
The event also saw an interactive session with parents and children. The production of the entire programme was entrusted by Minister Manickchand to The Theatre Guild under the guidance of Dr. Paloma Mohamed. (GINA)