Shut-in fathers receive surprise visit from Minister Broomes

Written by Leroy Smith

Fathers are considered to be the bedrock of the family, and it is often said that without the “father figure” in the home, children, especially boys are a bit harder to groom in their upbringing.

Today fathers around the world were honoured by loved ones while those who have passed on were remembered via visits to their grave sites.

The ‘St. Thomas More Men’s Homestead’ located in Kitty, Georgetown, is a place which houses only males. At the moment, the facility cares for more than two dozen men, all of whom are fathers.

Today the men received a Fathers’ Day visit from Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes and a team from her Ministry.

The visit was part of an initiative started by the Minister to visit facilities and communities on every special holiday and meet with the section of society being celebrated.

Speaking with the News Room during her visit, Minister Broomes told the News Room that she decided to meet with the elderly men who she is aware are not being visited very often by relatives, and she wanted to spend some time with them.

Accompanied by a pastor and senior member of her staff, Broomes visited and presented the personal items to the fathers as well as Fathers’ Day Cards which carried their names and her signature along with a short message from her.

A prayer service was also hosted for the men.

During her visit also, Broomes expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of Guyana, for the contribution the men would have made to society prior to them being institutionalised.

Among those present at the home is a former mayor who even used the opportunity to give the Minister, a born resident of Bartica, a crash course on certain historical facts surrounding the City of Georgetown and its various landmarks and buildings which were not usually spoken about.

At the end of it all, the team was thanked for its visit by one of the residents who pointed out that they are not very often visited by persons at the administrative level in Government and expressed the hope that similar visits can be forthcoming.