Best Father’s Day ever - St James dad happy to be reunited with son

Holding his son, Hayden, by his side, Leonard Haughton was as proud as a peacock as he enjoyed Father's Day with his offspring at his home in Salt Spring, St James, yesterday.

The elder Haughton, who goes by the name Fargo, said he was enjoying the "Best Father's Day ever". He had dreamt of the day when he would bond with Hayden, who was taken from his mother's home by a man who claimed he was the child's father.

Fargo said that his child was born in April of 2018, but shortly after his mother died. He said that after learning of her death, he went to her home in the neighbouring community of Flower Hill, to pick up his children -- Baby Hayden and his four-year-old daughter -- and it was then that he discovered that Hayden was not there.

He said that he was told that the child was taken from the home by another man, who also claimed to be his father. The relatives, who had given Hayden to the man, told him they had no idea of his address.

Shocked by what had taken place, he went to the police station and filed a report that his son had been kidnapped. However, with little information about the other man, the police were unsuccessful in locating the child.

Haughton, who was unrelenting in his search for his son, reached out to this newspaper. After his story was published, he received information that a man fitting the description of the person who had his child was living in a section of the parish. The police were alerted and the child was removed from the home while the matter was considered by the Family Court.

Haughton was granted parental rights last June after DNA tests proved he was the father.

"Mi get the best ever Father's Day a man can get because mi get fi spend mi first full year with mi son," an overjoyed Haughton told THE STAR.

"Hayden is now three years old, and a me a him mother and him father, and although mi don't really get a material gift, spending Father's Day wid him is the best Father's Day that any man could ever ask for."

Haughton, a taxi operator, said he was moved to tears yesterday as he looked at his son and reflected on the struggles he has endured in order to be reunited with him.

"Mi affi thank THE STAR because if a neva unnu, mi would a never get back mi son, and most importantly, mi could not enjoy Father's Day," Haughton said.