Fathers play a pivotal role in the family 365 days a year

Just three days ago we celebrated Father’s Day. Many families, including that of Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, showered their fathers and grandfathers with gifts.

A photo of Mr Bainimarama, wife Mary, their children and grandchildren told the story of one big happy family.

Mr Bainimarama has been a leading light in the protection of women, children and the vulnerable because he loves his family and will go to great lengths to protect them.

In this respect he is a great example to fathers. By his deeds, he shows he is a champion and advocate for women and children. His passion is unquestioned. At a time when the institution of the family is under threat, he inspires all of us to do everything we can to protect our women and children. Domestic violence continues to be a scourge in our communities.

Despite all the noise we make in our public campaigns to condemn domestic violence, it refuses to go away because we give it life by the way we treat our women and children.

All men should have a good look at themselves in the mirror and ask: Am I worthy to be a man, a husband, a brother, a grandfather, an uncle, a brother in law or a cousin?

Some among us do not deserve to be called any of the above because of the deplorable way they treat women and children.

No reason justifies the use of violence to hurt and even kill women and children.

Father’s Day should remind all dads that as heads of the home, it is not an open licence to terrorise their women and children.

Those who do so are cowards and deserve no sympathy and no mercy.

Unless we take a hardline approach to this problem it will continue to haunt us in years to come.

All fathers have a sacred responsibility to nurture and look after their wives and children in a spirit of love.

It’s their divine calling. No other calling in a man’s life is an important as a father’s calling.

He builds the future for his family – one that can be a happy and a prosperous future or a future filled with misery and regrets. We will all reap the consequences of our actions.

Young people who are about to marry and start a family should go through an adult seminar where life’s lessons are taught or reinforced.

All the issues that lead to relationship problems and eventual breakdown of the family need to be openly discussed so couples know early how to avoid them. Sadly, it was too late is some cases.

What had started as a fairytale wedding ended in tragedy and heartache for the families.

We need to reinstate fathers in their natural calling to help prevent family tragedies from happening frequently.

They are the main feature of the family – not once a year on Father’s Day - but 365 days a year.