Tackle delinquent fathers

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Failure by fathers to fulfil their parental responsibilities by neglecting, abandoning or refusing to provide financial and emotional support to their children, can have significant negative consequences.

Children may experience feelings of rejection, anger and low self-worth due to their father’s absence or lack of involvement, and this can lead to long-lasting emotional and psychological issues, including depression, anxiety and difficulties in forming healthy relationships.

Delinquent fathers also create unneeded economic strain by placing an additional burden on the custodial parent, usually the mother, who is left to shoulder the financial responsibilities alone. This can lead to increased poverty, limited access to resources, and reduced opportunities for the child’s well-being and development. Further, delinquent fathers can perpetuate cycles of intergenerational delinquency and social problems. When fathers are absent, children are more likely to struggle with behavioural issues, academic underachievement and involvement in delinquent activities themselves. This can have long-term consequences for the child’s educational attainment, future employment prospects and overall life outcomes, and some children become involved in crime.

Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach. It involves promoting responsible fatherhood through education, awareness and support programmes. Also, legislation should be passed to punish delinquent fathers. A robust and comprehensive system that upholds parental financial responsibility, prioritises the well-being of the child, and provides necessary support for custodial parents should be put in place. For example, enforcing child support payments could involve wage garnishment or asset seizure to ensure timely and consistent payments. Penalties or fines should be imposed for non-compliance; and suspension of driver’s licences, professional licences or passports can be looked into to further incentivise compliance.

Through legislation, specialised enforcement agencies dedicated to tracking and collecting child support can be established, and improved collaboration among government agencies can aid in facilitating enforcement efforts. Legislation can also be used to facilitate legal assistance and support services for custodial parents, thus ensuring custodial parents have the necessary resources to navigate the legal process and seek remedies for unpaid child support.

RICARDO CHUNG

Attorney-at-law