In some societies, genealogy is a big thing, where persons go to great lengths, and often expense, to trace their family's history as far back as possible. No doubt, it gives them a sense of their place in the world and also belonging.

In this society, though, many times the family search does not go back hundreds of years but simply one generation before, making it not so much a probe for the roots of the family but the family tree itself. The latest of many stories in this newspaper, about someone searching for their father, came on Tuesday, with 58-year-old Beverly Brown trying to find the man she first met 20 years ago.

The reason she wants to discover his whereabouts is telling, as Brown told The STAR: "I just want to find him back. Mi children dem always asking bout dem grandfather, from dem small till now. Dem want to know him."

There is, then, that need for a sense of continuity, even in the youngest. They know that something is missing, even if they cannot put adult terms to it.

There are so many cases where one parent leaves and their descendants feel the impact of that missing link in the family chain. Often, the children and grandchildren are not seeking financial assistance, but simply wish to make that connection, which goes way beyond cash.

We hope Beverly Brown finds her father. We also hope more fathers and mothers, who have lost contact with their children, voluntarily re-establish communication, no matter the financial position they are in.