‘Fathers wake up’

One baby was born in Tobago on Christmas Day to first-time parents Kirby and Akimbar Grant-James.

The couple, of Calder Hall, had a girl–Talisea Lilly James– who was born at 12.02 pm at Scarborough General Hospital. They were happy to have their baby born on Christmas Day.

Kirby described the feeling as “a happy moment”.

“I feel renewed and fresh again. As a child it wasn’t easy but, as a man, I know how a father is supposed to operate and I thank God for that. Our child will be fathered and when she looks up at us, she will know that she has great parents. God is a miracle-working God. He worked miracles in our lives and this family will be a testimony family in years to come,” he said.

He recalled in 2015, his wife had a still-birth, an experience which was "a very sad time for us".

"It was not an easy moment. At that time, my wife did not have me at her side, but this time we saw it through together and I must say that it was only God who could have done that, and I want to thoroughly thank him,” he said.

With that, Kirby went further to encourage fathers to be present in their children's lives.

“Fathers need to wake up. You need to step up, you need to wake up because mothers cannot do it by themselves. They did not make a child on their own and they need our support, they need 100 per cent from us.

“If we, as fathers, do what we have to do and really step up to the plate, the world, how it is right now would not be like this," he said.

Kirby, an employee of the Division of Community Development, even offered to help fathers especially those who are in need.

“Fathers, come to me if you need advice because I was and am still fatherless but I have a bigger father; I have God and I want you all to come to me and your life will never be the same again. If you are on drugs you will come off drugs, if you’re a vagrant you will not be a vagrant again. I love you and God is in charge,” he added.

On hand to make a presentation to the parents were Michelle Edwards-Benjamin, acting chief executive officer of the Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA), Dr Ogonna Okeke, acting medical chief of staff and Sarah Celestine-Balfour, acting secondary care nurse manager. Edwards-Benjamin extended best wishes to the couple on behalf of the Secretary of Health, Wellness and Family Development Dr Agatha Carrington, and the TRHA chairman Ingrid Melville.

“On behalf of the division and the TRHA, I congratulate you and your wife on the new addition to your family and wish you long life and prosperity. I am very pleased to see you stepping up as a father and may God continue to bless and keep your family,” Edwards-Benjamin stated.