(Trinidad Express) The Single Fathers’ Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SFATT) is again calling on Chief Justice Ivor Archie to deal with issues faced by single fathers, especially court-related matters.
The group held a meeting last week at the Chaguanas Indoor Sport Facility.
The meeting was chaired by its president Rhondall Feeles.
Feeles said the justice system in this country was being biased to mothers, and fathers were not given an opportunity to fully be a part of their children’s lives.
He said, “There is no feeling of justice or impartiality at a family court when you are a man. The orders are just dished out and you have to be grateful for whatever scraps the master lets fall off of the table. I call on magistrates and judges to make good on the oath that they swore to uphold the law and the Constitution by not showing any gender, racial or socio-economic bias. They are entrusted to pass judgment with impartiality and fairness.”
Feeles said, “We directly call on Chief Justice Ivor Archie to investigate these reports of our fathers not being able to acquire adequate time with their children.”
Three fathers who attended the meeting said they were unable to see their children even though they were paying child maintenance and one was only awarded custody of the child after the mother decided to give up the court battle.
Selvon Reyes, whose two sons and ex-wife were murdered, spoke about the loss of his two sons. He said he was still grieving and could not sleep at nights.
Feeles is appealing to single fathers to make contact with the group via their website www.sfatt.org or call 716-0405 if they needed assistance.
