The Bureau of Gender Affairs awarded 25 fathers with plaques and baskets at the Outstanding Father Award ceremony, which took place on Wednesday (June 23) at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston.

The fathers were recognised for their instrumental role in the development of children across the island, with 15 of the men being selected by a panel and the other 10 specially selected by the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange.

The award was initiated by the Bureau of Gender Affairs, a branch of the gender ministry, to celebrate and acknowledge the vital role fathers and father figures play within families and the wider community.

CRITERIA FOR BEING CHOSEN

The criteria for those who were chosen by the panel are being an inspirational role model, who maintains a strong commitment and involvement with his family; being an inspirational mentor to his child/children in his family and community; making a significant contribution to the development of his family and community; and showing a commitment to maintaining current and ongoing contribution to his community and the wider Jamaican society.

The men selected by the panel to receive recognition were: Roxroy McLean, Garfield Roper, Ishack Wilmot, Craig Phansang, Carvel Hanniford, Halda Shaw, Heron Plunkett, Michael Clarke, Sergeant Christopher Ward, Bishop Dr Damian Ffriend, Damian Campbell (deaf), Shavane Daley (blind), Hassan Garvey, Pastor Rohan Campbell and Conrad Hughes.

Those specially selected by Grange are State Minister Alando Terrelonge, Lenford Salmon, Andre Grange, Ric St Claire Clarke, Christopher Shackleford, Alexander Shaw, Newton Amos, Glen Nelson, DeShawn Blake and Fabian Smith.

Addressing the audience, Grange said men should keep away from stereotypical things that affect their health.

“Too often, based on cultural stereotypes, we ignore the issues faced by men and boys regarding their emotional state, the structures that influenced their masculinity and hinder male participation or the societal structures that force them to act out negatively, because they are men,” Grange said.

“As a result of this, men are oftentimes resistant to having conversations about gender-related issues, as they believe their concerns will be ignored, which leaves them feeling discouraged and demotivated.

“What we are doing through the bureau is to encourage men not to be concerned about these little things because they can become big things. They need to care for themselves, they need to look after themselves, they need to constantly get their checkups and make sure that they remain healthy.

“So, the Government of Jamaica, through me the minister, is committed to addressing the issues that affect the men and boys and to engage them in the fight against the cultural norms and stereotypes that reinforces gender inequality in the society,” Grange continued.