A recent Father’s Day webinar hosted by Sagicor examined the changing role of fathers, the importance of strong family relationships, effective co-parenting and planning for children’s futures, according to a Sagicor press release.
The virtual event, titled “The Dad Blueprint: Building Strong, Present and Purpose-Driven Fathers,” brought together a panel of professionals from across the Caribbean who shared personal experiences and practical advice on navigating fatherhood in today’s society. The webinar was hosted by Sherlon Leon, Head of Sales, St. Lucia Branch, Sagicor Life (Eastern Caribbean) Inc., said a Sagicor release.
It also noted that one of the key discussions focused on the evolving role of fathers and the challenges many men face as they seek to redefine fatherhood in modern society.
Fabian Sargeant, Social Worker and Founder and President of the Men Empowerment Network Support (MENS) in Barbados, noted that while more fathers are embracing nurturing and caregiving responsibilities, societal perceptions have not always kept pace with those changes.
“Many of us want to be there for our children, many of us have been playing different roles in our children’s lives. In the past, mothers played some big roles in terms of taking care and nurturing, but we find a lot more fathers now taking that nurturing role and those responsibilities, but society is still giving men a real hard chance when it comes to acknowledging these roles and the changing way we men now see fatherhood.”
Sagicor reported that the discussion also examined the influence fathers have on children’s development and overall well-being.
Garth Williams, a Communications Strategist and Broadcaster from Jamaica, emphasized the importance of maintaining a child-focused approach, particularly when parents are separated.
“Globally, the people who tend to get in trouble with the law, especially as repeat offenders are people who are from broken homes. I’m not saying that homes that appear to be normal and fine don’t have people that break the law or habitual drug users, but the lion share of the people who run afoul of the justice system are those who have issues with either absentee fathers or fathers who were present but abusive. So, there is a super important role that a solid family foundation whether coparenting or under one household plays in ensuring that your child grows up to be well adjusted and not antisocial.”
The webinar also featured personal reflections from Trinidad and Tobago social media personality and influencer Anil James, who spoke about growing up without a father after his father died by suicide when he was just two years old.
James explained how that experience influenced his own approach to parenting.
“I would look at other kids and how they interact with their fathers and wish I would’ve had an opportunity to experience something like that. So, for me as an adult, the things I never did and the things I yearned for as a child, I try to provide that for my son. So being a father for me was not taught, it was caught.”
The importance of financial planning for children’s long-term success was another topic addressed during the webinar, according to the press release.
Dunovan De Graff, Manager of Business Development at Sagicor Investments Trinidad and Tobago Limited (SITTL), encouraged parents to begin investing as early as possible, regardless of their income level.
“One of the mistakes I think sometimes we can make especially when we are not earning that much is to think that we don’t have enough to invest. The bills that come up every day, you know we just so focused on that, but nothing beats starting early. I think that’s one of the major mistakes, waiting, thinking that now is not the right time.”
Andre Barrow, Assistant Vice President of Innovation and Business Solutions at Sagicor General Insurance Inc., urged parents to focus on gradual progress and consistent effort when pursuing financial and personal goals.
“Social media will make you believe you get there overnight and you go from zero to hero in a day. But the thing to remember is that real progress comes in increments, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. So, wherever you are today, I would say focus on improving by whatever little bit it might be tomorrow.”
The release further indicated that the webinar formed part of the company’s Father’s Day observance and reinforced the importance of fathers being actively involved in the lives of their children while helping to build strong family foundations for future generations.
The company noted that through open and honest discussions, panelists highlighted that fatherhood today requires presence, purpose, resilience and a commitment to lifelong growth.
