The Men’s Empowerment Network Support is backing calls for mandatory DNA testing in child maintenance cases.
Executive Director Fabian Sergeant says he supports Acting Chief Magistrate Deidre McKenna’s position, stressing that it is critical for men to know their true status.
However, while he disagrees with the suggestion that the testing be funded by the state, Mr. Sergeant said it was critical that men knew their true status.
Going further, Mr. Sergeant also said mothers should be made to reimburse the man in such a circumstance or at least cover partial cost of the DNA Test.
Meantime, President of the National Organization of Women, Melissa Savory-Gittens, while supporting the call for fairness of the system, believes there must be careful consideration given to the impact mandatory testing can have on society and families in Barbados, suggesting it be reserved for special cases only.
Acting Chief Magistrate Deidre McKenna during her comments, highlighted a case where a man discovered through DNA testing that he was not the father of a nine-year-old child for whom he had been paying support.
However, another test confirmed his paternity of the mother’s younger child where he initially had the doubt.
