WHILE industry Minister Donville Inniss believes there needs to be a “rebalancing” of Barbados’ population given the noticeable decline in recent years, he says fathers must also play a greater supportive role to their children and mothers of their children.
His comments came yesterday as he fielded questions from the media at his Ministry’s Reef Road headquarters.
The Minister who concurs fully with Education Minister, Ronald Jones’, call for the population to be increased, said there is undisputed evidence which shows that the percentage of the working and reproductive age population has not been growing at the same rate as the retired or aged population.
This he said naturally puts pressure on the society as a whole to be able to care for the elderly for the state to be able to provide the range of services that all citizens need in the future. “Therefore it is a rational call for the younger population size to increase.” Inniss said this can occur either as a result of women having more babies, by way of immigration or both.
“But my issue is that as you strive towards an increase in the younger population it must be done in a manner that ensures that we are able to care for that young population as well. I wouldn’t want to say to women of reproductive age based on our current demographics, you need to have three babies. Because you know what – I would also have to ask, are our men acting responsibly to parent them as well,” he stated.
“Are these ladies in a position that adequately provides for them. Do we have adequate support mechanisms in place?” he queried, saying these are considerations being undoubtedly contemplated.
While bemoaning the fact that on Sunday, Father’s Day, there was not the fanfare associated with Mother’s Day, Inniss reiterated that a bigger issue is getting fathers to act responsibly at all times when it comes to their children.
“I know you can’t get blood from stone. I know there are some men out there who are unemployed and have to support their children financially as mandated by the court or as they feel morally bound to do, but some of them can’t do it financially,” he explained.
“But you know what? Everything in life doesn’t cost money and if you can’t support your child financially, at least still go and keep that child an evening or weekend so that the mother can get on with her own life as well. But I encounter too many cases when there is too much bitterness towards the mother and the child then has to pay the price,” it was further pointed out.
“I don’t have much care for men, who know that they father the child and feel that their only role is to give $100 per week for that child. That child sometimes need a conversation, they need someone to hug them, say ‘I love you’, take them to the beach, take them to a cricket game, walk them to school,” he added.
“I think any man who has been afforded the opportunity to be a father should consider it a joy and should make all efforts to have a bond with your child. No matter how that child turns out in life, let that child never say that my father was worthless and indifferent. Let them say at least he tried to be a good father,” he said. (JH)
