Jamaican lawmaker Heroy Clarke, Member of Parliament for St. James Central, is pushing for mandatory DNA testing at birth to address the issue of paternity fraud. Clarke introduced the proposal in the 2021 State of the Constituency Debates, emphasizing the emotional and social harm caused when men unknowingly raise children who are not biologically theirs.

“Quite a number of persons really want it to happen because we are seeing families broken because of this situation,” Clarke explained. “There are men who build relationships with children who are not their own, and it is only when it goes to court that the truth comes out. By that point, families are already broken.”

The proposal gained momentum following recent revelations about two prominent Jamaicans—a sports figure and an entertainer—who discovered they were not the biological fathers of children they had been raising. These findings were made possible by 876DNA, a local DNA testing company. According to the company’s principal, Terron Dewar, 47% of their cases in 2024 returned adverse paternity results. Dewar noted that 70% of inquiries come from women, including grandmothers and partners, seeking clarity for the men in their lives.

Paternity fraud is a long-standing issue in Jamaica. A 2016 study by Dr. Herbert Gayle, an anthropologist at the University of the West Indies, found that 25% of Jamaican men are unknowingly raising children who are not biologically theirs. This phenomenon, known as “raising a jacket,” has sparked widespread concern in the Caribbean.

The problem also affects Jamaican men in the diaspora, particularly those attempting to bring their children to the United States. A leaked diplomatic cable revealed that one in 10 men presenting DNA test results to the U.S. Embassy in Kingston discover they are not the biological fathers of the children they are sponsoring.

Despite the prevalence of paternity fraud, Dr. Gayle cautioned against mandatory DNA testing at birth, warning it could lead to domestic violence and aggression. Women who knowingly misidentify the father on a birth certificate can face penalties under the Registration (Births and Deaths) Act, including fines up to $250,000 or imprisonment for up to three months.

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