Single dad, big heart - Father raises his kids like royalty in the ghetto

When THE STAR visited 35-year-old Jermaine Bentley at his modest Jones Town, St Andrew, home yesterday, the comforting aroma of Sunday rice and peas and chicken filled the air. His six-year-old daughter, Jaciah, was the first to greet us, her eyes glowing as she ran to embrace her father. Her older brother, eight-year-old Jarvis, also cracked a smile before politely introducing himself.

Bentley beamed with pride as he shared their meals. "On Sundays, dem get dem food like the king and queen that they are. Mi make sure dem eat good every day, but Sundays a different plates and ting."

Bentley is a viral inspiration on TikTok, where more than 30,000 people follow his journey as a devoted single father. His videos show snippets of his everyday life -- cooking, cleaning, laughing, and guiding his children through life with gentle discipline and endless affection.

But behind the smiles and laughter is a story of resilience and sacrifice. Bentley once worked full-time, but when his children were younger, he found himself struggling to find caregivers.

"A morning time when mi put on mi clothes to go work, mi a look for people to keep dem and mi couldn't find anybody," he recalled. "Sometimes mi even take picture inna mi uniform and send to mi boss fi show mi ready, but mi couldn't leave dem. After a while, mi lose di job," he said.

Even after losing that job, Bentley refused to give up. For the past four years, he wakes up each morning at 4:30 to iron uniforms, prepare breakfast, and take his children to school. By the time they return home, dinner is ready, the house is spotless, and he is ready to help with their homework.

"This is my routine and mi nuh get tired of it because mi love to be able to see that mi youth dem happy, and it give mi a joy when mi see say mi can put a smile on mi yute dem face," he said.

Bentley said the children are doing well in school and he is determined to ensure they achieve their full potential.

Yet, life in the small two-bedroom house -- part board, part concrete -- is far from perfect. One room doubles as a kitchen and his sleeping space. A tarpaulin now covers a leaking section of the roof.

"It scary when it rain man, because there is a part that runs like a river," he told THE STAR.

Despite the challenges, Bentley's home radiates warmth, order, and love. The children are neat, well-mannered, and full of laughter -- a reflection of the man raising them. He credits his late father for showing him what true fatherhood means.

"Mi glad mi deh right where I am because mi see a lot of youths out there when nuh have dem parents around dem a get abuse in all different kind a ways," he said.

"My father was very active in my life. He passed away three years ago, and him use to find it for me, just like how mi stand here with my children," Bentley added.

Although he admits that his social life has taken a back seat, Bentley says he has no regrets.

"Being around them is enough because we have so much fun together. Dem full a love man and mi put mi put myself behind, just to make sure say dem good," he said.

Bentley shares a positive co-parenting relationship with the children's mother, Nadine Bailey, and expresses gratitude for her continued support.

"Mi and her live good where co-parenting is concern, but the youth them reside with me," he said.

His biggest dream is to one day move his children out of the inner-city to a safer, more peaceful community.

"Mi want to take mi youth dem outta the ghetto. Honestly, mi a try fi grow dem a certain type of way, but mi nuh want the influence of the garrison get to dem, because the influence of the garrison can be stronger than what mi a try to put in," he reasoned.

"Mi just want to give them a better life," he added.

As he bonds with his children, Bentley has a simple but powerful for other fathers.

"Stand up in your children's life," he said. "Being an absent father can lead to your children growing up with a lot of hate and resentment ... It a guh rough at times, but stick around and just step up to the plate, and tell yourself say you can do it," Bentley said.