BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – YESTERDAY was the turning point in the lives of many fathers in the Sandy Point community after witnessing a brief award ceremony which recognised three of the town’s most outstanding fathers.
Despite minor hiccups in the organisation of the event, children, along with their parents, turned out to support the event which was staged for the sixth consecutive year by the Sandy Point Young Father’s Association. During the late afternoon hours, children were musically entertained and they played games while adults came in a bit later for the packed schedule devoted to acknowledging exemplary fathers.
Held under the theme “Fathers joining hands in time, to eradicate crime in 2009”, the event saw a number of young people rendering songs and poems celebrating the fathers within the community and encouraging the delinquent ones to play a more active role in the lives of their children.
Some were brought to tears while others cheerfully applauded the honourees as they received their plaques of recognition from the Association. A known stone mason and father of five, Mervin Matthew, was recognised for his involvement in community sports and for being an “energetic and industrious” father to many throughout the community. Trevor Greaux, an avid proponent of community development, was also recognised for his contributions to the people of Sandy Point.
Also receiving special recognition was President of the Young Fathers Association Travis Douglas, a young father of four, for having the vision to bring individuals like himself together for the specific purpose of reversing family instability and ensuring the holistic development of the community’s children.
One of the main features of the event was a motivation speech given to the fathers by Floyd Revan. He commended the organisers for choosing what he called a “deep theme”, but urged fathers to recognise the enormous responsibility with which they are charged.
“Fathers have an awesome responsibility. Is it enough for a man just to donate his sperms? Is it enough to give money? Is it enough to buy school clothes? Is it enough to visit now and then? Is that enough? Well then, if one would say that is enough, why then are we still being faced with crime and violence?” he said.
Revan compared character building to house construction and stressed the importance of being guided by a blueprint. He said the dysfunction seen in homes is a result of the community’s disregard for the blueprint by which the nation is expected to be built – the Bible.
“I believe that because we have moved away from the standard, the Bible, we are faced with a lot of problems. Whenever the standard is removed, the society will fall and families will crumble! Fathers need to rise up and understand that in life if there is a double standard there would never be a chance for us to eradicate crime and violence. It is simple; we need to get back to the basics!” Revan asserted, as he emphasised that unless the family is raised according to God’s way, it is done in vain.
The event ended in music, games and food as parents and children socialised in celebration of fathers.
President Douglas told SKNVibes that from the “touching” response received from the crowd, the Association is encouraged to do more for the community and would be undertaking a series of similar events over the next six months.
