Fathers have a significant role to play in the nurturing of their families and communities.

This view was expressed by the Acting Director of the Bureau of Gender Affairs, John Hollingsworth, as Barbados prepares to join several countries around the world to commemorate Father’s Day, on Sunday, June 21.

Mr. Hollingsworth said: "We want to use this opportunity to dispel some of the myths of the Barbadian male and help society to see them in a more positive light. We also want to encourage more men to adopt a more serious approach to their roles and responsibilities, especially as they relate to family life."

The Bureau and its partners have organised three events for next week under the theme, "Loving Men Build Strong Families" in an effort to get Barbadians to focus on the positive contributions men and fathers make to this island’s development.

A service will be held next Sunday at the Bank Hall Church of the Nazarene, beginning at 10:30 a.m.; while a panel discussion on "The Role of Men in Today’s Changing Society" will follow on Wednesday, June 24, at the Barbados Workers’ Union Headquarters, Solidarity House, St. Michael, starting at 7:00 p.m. A Family Fun Day on Saturday, June 27, in Queen’s Park, the City, from 10:00 a.m. will bring the curtain down on the activities.??????

The Acting Director is encouraging men across the island to take the opportunity to interact with each other by participating in the activities with their families.

Father’s Day is observed on the third Sunday in June in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Canada, while fathers are honoured on the first Sunday in September in Australia and New Zealand. The first known celebration of the day was on July 5, 1908, in West Virginia.

saustin@barbados.gov.bb

Pin It on Pinterest