Father’s Day is often a celebration of fathers. And rightly so.
It is a day to recognise the men who sacrifice, provide, guide and love. The fathers who wake up before sunrise to work, who miss meals so their children can eat, who quietly shoulder responsibilities without expecting applause.
But Father’s Day should also prompt a deeper national conversation.
What kind of men are we raising in Guyana? And perhaps more importantly, what kind of society are we building for our boys?
These questions matter because every father was once a boy. Every husband, leader, teacher, policeman, businessman and worker was once a child shaped by a home, a community and a set of experiences that influenced the man he eventually became.
As Guyana celebrates 60 years of independence, the conversation about development must go beyond infrastructure, oil production and economic growth. It must also include the development of people, particularly the boys who will one day become the nation’s fathers, community leaders and decision-makers.
Across Guyana and the wider Caribbean, there is growing recognition that many of the social challenges confronting society today are linked to issues affecting boys and men. Violence, family breakdown, substance abuse, school dropouts, crime, suicide and mental-health struggles do not emerge in isolation. They are often symptoms of deeper social issues that require intervention, mentorship and support.
In recent years, the Government of Guyana has increasingly recognised this reality.
One of the most visible interventions has been the Men on Mission (MoM) initiative launched by President Dr. Irfaan Ali. What began as a programme aimed at encouraging positive masculinity and community service has evolved into a national movement spanning all 10 administrative regions.
The initiative has assisted vulnerable families through housing support, youth mentorship and community outreach. Homes have already been built for vulnerable families, while hundreds of men have become involved in activities focused on fatherhood, volunteerism, health awareness and community development.
The government has also expanded programmes aimed at addressing gender-based violence, strengthening families and encouraging responsible fatherhood. Through the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, initiatives such as the BRAVE Men’s Policy seek to engage men as partners in building healthier homes and communities.
At the same time, health interventions targeting men have become increasingly important. Men on Mission, working alongside the Ministry of Health, has promoted nationwide prostate cancer screening programmes and broader health awareness campaigns aimed at encouraging men to take better care of their physical and mental well-being.
These efforts matter because strong communities require strong men, and strong men are not born; they are nurtured.
Yet government programmes alone cannot solve the challenges facing boys and men.
There is another conversation that deserves greater attention.
Too often, society speaks about men only when something has gone wrong. When violence occurs. When a family breaks down. When a crime is committed. Rarely do we discuss the responsibility men have to support one another before problems reach crisis point.
For generations, many men were taught to carry burdens alone. To remain silent when struggling. To suppress emotions. To avoid asking for help. The consequences are often visible in untreated trauma, broken relationships, mental-health challenges and cycles of pain passed from one generation to the next.
Guyana needs a culture in which men become their brother’s keeper.
A culture in which men check on one another. Mentor younger men. Offer guidance. Intervene when they see a friend heading down the wrong path. Encourage fathers to remain active in the lives of their children. Support those facing hardship instead of ridiculing them.