Will the real fathers please stand up!

Tomorrow is Fathers’ Day and many in society often lament that men are not given the same love and appreciation women receive for Mother’s Day.
OBSERVER media went on the streets yesterday, to ask men and women two questions: What is the role of a father in his children’s life and why are there so many absent dads in our society?
Everyone interviewed agreed that fathers are to assist in the rearing of their children and to provide for their needs. However, there were varying opinions on why men fail to take care of their responsibilities.
Here are the thoughts of some men and one woman.
Kenrick Francis believes that a father’s responsibility is to maintain stability in his children’s lives, and make sure all their basic needs are fulfilled. “There are scripture principles that says we should be evenly yoked of the same religion. Different religion bringing different cultures into family life setting and that’s where the conflicts start to occur.”
Okland “Okie” Francis, construction worker, father of 10

“A father must take care of his household; he must set a good standard of morals in the society for educational, social and spiritual well-being. Fathers sometimes have problems with the mother and by spite they neglect their kids and some men are just lazy; they don’t want to work to take care their necessity. Your first priority if you have a child is always to take care of that child no matter what the world throws at you, no matter what you think that times are hard, there is a way.”
James “Onion” Martin, bus driver

“To take care of the kids. I love my kids, I can’t say for anyone else.”
Kenrick Fenton
“You got to take care of all their needs. I am not an absent father, I make sure I am always there but some of them love to form the fool. Some of them love doing the act but when it’s over they don’t want to do what they have to do.”
Bertram “Champy” Paige

“A father’s responsibility is livelihood and taking care of their family and the grandkids ad making sure you leave something behind. Society has so many fathers, but because of drugs and alcohol and they can’t get any work, some of the men have no future. You have to have a trade because a father must have something in mind to maintain his family.”
Alex Thomas, of Point
“A father’s responsibility is to be there for his child or children, but not only feeding them, but to spend time with them and taking them out and to let them know that ‘daddy is here for you.’ Most feed and don’t even pass by or give of their time and that is unfair because the child needs to know that they can trust and love their father and the man must show that he has love and appreciation for the child.”
Maria “Peanut lady” Pitter, vehicle washer

“The role of the father is to bring food into the house and look after their children. Most of them run from responsibility knowing the stress they have with five pickney, plus mother, so they have to run.”
Adrian Charles, firefighter

“The role of the father is to look after their children until they become old enough that they can depart. Maybe men are just afraid of their responsibilities.”
Wrenford “Momom” Herbert, bus driver

“You have to be there for your children, right now I am on the phone with my son, I have four children two are in support and two are out, and I have two grand, but I look after all very well. Some of the children may come from one-night stand and maybe a man want to spite the mother because they not in anything anymore and some of the parents do not allow the children to have connection with their fathers because they not around and I think all of that comes from spite.”