THE EDITOR, Sir:

It is becoming increasingly common in Jamaica to see a single man pushing a stroller while shopping or on his way to the nursery. My friend, who practises paediatrics in Kingston, tells me that more fathers are accompanying mothers during their child's visit to the doctor. Additionally, many fathers are now the sole parent who takes the children for their routine doctor's visit.

In a recent discussion with a colleague, who is a consultant obstetrics/gynaecology practitioner, I learnt that more men are also participating actively in the antenatal process. Having been a single dad myself, I have had first-hand experience with my eight-year-old daughter. These developments make me a proud Jamaican father. Jamaican dads are fighting back and seem to be gaining ground on the 'worthless dad' stigma.

Parenting is probably one of the most challenging responsibilities entrusted to individuals during their lifetime. However, there is no systematic training that prepares a parent for this job. I wish to commend the Ministry of Education for the series of workshops conducted during last Parents Month and hope that this will be a springboard for a more sustained intervention aimed at preparing parents for the job of parenting.

'Worthless dads'

Society tends to draw a lot of attention to the 'worthless dads', but there is not enough support for the top performers. I believe a national debate on paternity leave is long overdue. If we are to achieve equity among the parents, serious consideration must be given to the wide-scale implementation of paternity leave. This will give fathers the opportunity to spend critical time with their children during the very early years without jeopardising their careers. There is an urgent need for new enabling 'family friendly' legislation to encourage equity among male and female parents. Those persons who are quick to label dads as quitters should be the first to support the move towards the implementation of paternity leave.

'Family friendly' policy

A few local firms (e.g. Jamaica Money Market Brokers) currently offer paternity leave to their employees as a 'family friendly' policy. As a former United Nations staff member, I am aware that all U.N. agencies offer an eight-week paid paternity leave to dads of new-born children. Unfortunately, during my seven-year stint with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, I did not experience the joys of being a new dad, and hence, I did not qualify for paternal leave. The Scandinavian countries are the most generous with paternal leave. In Sweden, a couple can take up to 13 months off work between them, with the state paying 80 per cent of lost wages up to a ceiling of US$3,425 per month.

The new Work and Families Bill expected to be introduced this April will give British fathers of newborn children the legal right to six months unpaid paternity leave.

There are examples that Jamaica can adopt to follow and implement paternity leave, with the option of some payment. This would be an important first step towards reforming our leave system and giving parents real choice as to who looks after a baby. Such a move will only build stronger families and, by extension, a stronger Jamaica.

I am, etc.,

GLADSTONE A. BARRETT, JR.

gladstone.barrett@cwjamaica.com