DNA paternity test a step in the right direction

THE EDITOR, Madam:

PLEASE ALLOW me to express my views on the issue of mandatory DNA paternity testing at birth for Jamaican children. The issue of paternity fraud, referred to in Jamaica as “the jacket phenomenon”, is a perennial problem in Jamaica and other parts of the world. Ironically, by a quirk of nature some of these children are the splitting image of the real father and people speak about these children in hushed tones. Some triumphantly declare that “what’s done in darkness must come to light” and other such pronouncements.

There are songs about this phenomenon like “shame and scandal in the family”. This is a real societal problem that manifests itself in various ways. At the root of this problem is infidelity, promiscuity and deception by both men and women.

Some women are raped by influential men in society who forbid these women to call their names. It is not always a case of women just sleeping around with multiple partners.

Legislating mandatory DNA paternity testing at birth is a good thing for the Jamaican society. Both men and women will be far more responsible in their sexual conduct, especially those who do not like to use any form of protection. A woman would not be so free to just choose one of the men that she has slept with and name him father for her child. Every man would be able to confidently put his name on his child’s birth certificate. Some men can do that even without a mandatory DNA paternity test, but some can’t. Others have taken care of other men’s child/children until they discover the painful truth.

Men are victims of paternity fraud, but the real victims are the children. Every child has a right to know who his biological parents are. Settling the paternity of a child at birth is best for this nation. Some ugly truths would be revealed, but we will be able to prevent unnecessary suffering. Let the man be sure that the woman’s baby is his and not just may be.

WINNE ANDERSON-BROWN winabenator@gmail.com