Featured father in the Office of Gender Affairs fatherhood campaign, boat captain Mr. Kenric George, is encouraging fathers to spend quality time with children as Men’s Month celebration continues.

A boat captain for the past twenty six years, Mr. George shared his personal experiences on how he has spent quality time with his children over the years.

“My son is always on the boat with me,” he said, adding, “I teach him everything I know about the boat so when he gets to be my age he does not need to learn about boats again he would already know. I spend a lot of time with him. Whatever he does I am always there with him. He is more like my friend.  I am teaching him things and he is teaching me things.”

Mr. George said fathers can unite their children who may be living in several different households.  He reminded parents that children are innocent and they did not ask to be brought in the world. “We have to let the children come together, let the brothers and sisters know each other and spend time together,” he said.

The father stated that it is also easier when the children do not see the parents arguing and fighting and cautioned parents against holding broken relationships against the children. 

He said, “When you have two people that make a child and they decide to go their separate ways, some fathers try to spite the mothers by not supporting and some mothers try to spite fathers by putting them in court for child support. It does not make sense. It’s a lot better when you just deal with it like responsible adults.”

George encouraged parents in similar situations to do what is in the best interest of the child by rendering financial and other support for the child’s development.

The featured father stated that he mentors children on Virgin Gorda and that he is a role model to the youth. He said he intends to take care of them as he does his own children.

He outlined lessons learnt from parenting which he said include showing children that you are willing to listen and that you are not always right.

“You have to correct them when needed and apologise to them sometimes. Let them know that you are not going to support them in wrong. You are going to correct them. That is what a good father is about,” he said.

Men’s Month is an initiative by the Office of Gender Affairs which aims to educate men on the importance of living holistic healthy lives and raise public awareness of the unique health concerns affecting men and boys in the Territory. Men are also encouraged to be aware of their overall health and secure lasting relationships with their child/children.

Persons interested in learning more about healthy co-parenting relationships can tune in to CBN Channel 51 from today, Wednesday, June 24 to Wednesday, June 30 at 7:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. daily.

The Office of Gender Affairs is committed to the development and implementation of policies and programmes that promote gender equality and equity.