By Mohanlall Seulall
They say that fathers are the embodiment of God. They are there for us when the going gets tough and guide us through it all and that is exactly what Jainarine Lall has been doing for his two daughters.
Lall is a unique father. At the tender age of five, he was diagnosed with poliomyelitis also known as polio and due to the economic constraints with his family; he could not have gotten the medical attention he needed at the time. The Essequibo native lost the ability to walk without aid but that never dampened his spirits.
His uncle Persaud, who was a Head Master, got him into the Poliomyelitis (now Ptolemy Reid) Rehabilitation Center in Georgetown at aged 12. After leaving the Center, he spent a few years with a cousin who was a supervisor at a local upholstery factory in the City. Visits to the factory blossomed an interest in the upholstery field resulting in him being among the best in the business right now. 
Now he operates a business with his wife Girly and two daughters Versha and Valesha. As a father, he is very loving and his only dream is to see his two daughters become successful in life. He is given them all the support necessary to fulfill their dreams.
He vividly remembered his own dad who had to be away from the family from morning to night just to earn enough for the family to survive. His encouragement to all fathers is to make time for your children and become their best friend, shower them with love and they will shower you with love. Become their role model; let them see you as their strongest pillar in the family unit.
Sometimes fathers are too busy in the day to day life that we forget our responsibilities to our children and when we become older in life it might be too late to bridge that gap.
“I wish that all fathers sit and reflect on our role as and see if we are really doing a fine job by being there for our children. They say that our parents are our god but as fathers are we really living up to that statement? Remember we are the first teachers of our children so my only wish this father’s day is to encourage all fathers to take a minute out of your busy schedule and reflect on your family relationship,” he advises.
“Although I am a disabled person living with Polio I tried to do my best for my family. I even drive my own car to Georgetown to purchased materials for my business. I will never let my disability keep me from being who I wanted to be. With determination and faith everything can be possible,” Lall added.
In addition, he advises father to listen more and show just how much they care.
When asked about some of the challenges he has faced, Lall said that the Regional Administration gave him a house lot and after doing all the preparation for construction of his home, the land was seized by the Courts and given to someone else resulting in him losing a substantial investment.
The Region eventually gave him a land in Capoey as compensation but when he attempted to access it, someone had already claimed ownership. He said that he is very frustrated he even wrote the president on the matter but seems of getting nowhere.
“Although I am a handicap person trying to make a living no one is listening to my story.”
Lall said that if not for his courage, determination and family support he might not have made it this far. (Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)
