Caribbean examinations council

English language school based

Assessment

Name: Sanya Ferguson

Center number:

Candidate number:

Institution:

Teacher:

Topic: Paternity Fraud

Sub-topic: What are the implications of Paternity Fraud?

Territory: Jamaica

Year of Submission: 2023

Table of Contents
Acknowledgement 1

Introduction 2

Plan of Investigation 3

Artifacts 4-9

Reflection Entry 1 10

Reflection Entry 2 11

Reflection Entry 3 12

Plan for Oral Presentation 13

Oral Presentation 14-16

Written Report

References

Plan of Investigation
The researcher has chosen to explore Paternity Fraud. The researcher chose this topic because it

is a topical issue and always creates a stir when brought up.

As an English student, the researcher will benefit from this research by gaining knowledge of

correct research methodology and how to choose the most useful information that relates to the

topic. The researcher will also develop useful oral, communication and writing skills.

The researcher will be using an article, a song and an image to illustrate the effects of paternity

fraud on families across the world.

Artifact 1
Magazine Article

Paternity Predicament: More Jamaican

Men Are Getting “Jackets”
November 1, 2019

Test tube with blood sample for paternity test

BySheri-Kae McLeod

KINGSTON, Jamaica – There was a time when the act of a Jamaican woman dishonestly

ascribing paternity of her child to an unsuspecting man was something to laugh about. But a

recent study indicates that this is a widespread problem in Jamaica and can have serious

implications.

Recent studies show that the number of Jamaican men on the receiving end of paternity fraud—

or as Jamaicans say, “getting ‘jacket’”—at least once is on the rise. Dr. Herbert Gayle, leading

Anthropologist at the University of the West Indies, revealed in a 2016 study that some 25
percent of Jamaican men are unknowingly raising children that are not biologically theirs. And

while Jamaicans for decades have viewed this in a somewhat humorous way, the problem is no

laughing matter.

In fact, it’s also a serious issue for men in the diaspora who are trying to petition to have their

children join them in the United States, as in some cases, paternity testing is used to verify

biological relationships. DNA testing required by the U.S. Embassy in Kingston often reveals

embarrassing figures of the number of men who were deceived about children they believed

were their own.

A 2019 report by Polygenics Consulting, a Jamaican which offers DNA testing, indicated that of

all the paternity tests that the company has conducted since 2015, when it became operational, 70

percent were not the father. Polygenics Consulting told CNW, “persons who contact us have had

some reason to doubt the paternity, and as such this statistic is based on that condition.”

Additionally, the company confirmed that many of the tests they administer are for immigration

purposes, but declined to provide a specific number.

While the 70 percent figure could be misleading in the national context—since it is related

specifically to Polygenics Consulting’s data—it raises concerns about the level of deception

between Jamaican partners and new parents. Not only do women use a “jacket” to their

advantage, men have also begun to use the alarming “jacket” statistics as an excuse to become

absentee fathers. When convinced that the child is a “jacket,” a man will refuse to care for a child

while also refusing to take a paternity test.

Conversely, there are many instances in which a man finds out he is not the biological father

after he has already begun to love, care for, and form an emotional bond with a child. This not

only has a significant emotional impact on the man, but can have devastating effects on the child

as well.

In recent years, an increasing number of Jamaican women have come forward, sharing that they

have deliberately identified other men as their children’s fathers because of infidelity,

relationship security or financial issues.

While Jamaicans may continue to see the humor in giving or getting “jacket,” the offence

remains a serious matter in court. A woman who knowingly names the wrong man as her child’s

father on the birth certificate is seen as committing a breach of the Registration (Births and

Deaths) Act. For this offence, she can be charged and mandated to pay a fine not exceeding

$250,000 or face imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, if found guilty.

Source
https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/caribbean-breaking-news-featured/paternity-
predicament-more-jamaican-men-are-getting-jackets/
Artifact 2

Comic strip

Source:
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/05/paternity-fraud-three-out-of-10-nigerian-men-are-
not-biological-fathers-of-their-children-2/
Artifact 3

Song

Derrick Morgan - Don't Call Me Daddy

There's daddy, go get him!

Don't call me daddy

Don't call me daddy!

How can a man, who have natty, natty hair

A Chiney baby come to call him daddy

No, it isn't me

No, it isn't me!

Your mama she is black and I have natty, natty hair

But Chiney baby come to call me daddy

People listen clearly

This woman is crazy!

The woman she is black and I have natty, natty hair

But Chiney baby come to call me daddy

(Daddy!) Don't call me daddy

Don't call me daddy!

How can a man, who have natty, natty hair

A Chiney baby come to call him daddy

No, it isn't me

No, it isn't me!

Your mama she is black and I have natty, natty hair

But Chiney baby come to call me daddy

Source

https://www.jah-lyrics.com/song/derrick-morgan-don-t-call-me-daddy
Refection 1
Before I started the SBA I knew of a number of suspected cases of paternity fraud in my

community and just thought the situation was a Jamaican one. While searching for articles, I

realized that this was a global issue.

Each article provided a new revelation for me. After reading and listening to them I wanted to

explore more because the information was new and interesting.

The written article provided alarming statistics that revealed how prevalent the situation was.

The image though intended for laughter provided a stark revelation for me of the promiscuous

level of our women.

The song provided some comic relief which is normally associated with the situation in Jamaica.

It also confirmed my feeling that paternity fraud is looked upon as a entertaining story in

Jamaica.
Reflection 2
The language used in Artifact 1 is very formal and factual. In most cases the author provides

information with quotes from credible sources. It is written in Standard English at a level that

most persons can understand. In two instances the author uses Jamaica slang word for fathers

parenting a child that is not theirs (Jacket)

In the second artifact, there is hardly any dialogue but the author carefully uses the word

“Daddys” ina figuratively way.

The lyrics in the song (3rd artifact) uses a combination of rhymes and question in each verse. The

repetition of “natty natty” hair and “chiney baby” is deliberate to emphasis the theme of paternity

fraud or “jacket baby” without even mentioning it. The questioning in the song is also rhetoric as

its purpose is to actually emphasize the point and prompt listeners to consider a why the child

should not call him Daddy.

Reflection 3
The researcher has realized that there is a vast amount of facts and circumstances about paternity

fraud. Before the research there was not much thought about how it affected the parties involved

and that there are legal issues related to it. However after the research the researcher has become

very conscious and is eager to find out more.

This SBA has inspired the researcher to someday write a book with a story highlighting a

Jamaican situation.

The process has also helped me to be more organized and developed my confidence in public

speaking. It has developed my research and writing skills and has helped me to work better with

people and to accept and work with different personalities. I am sure this is something I will have

to do in the world of work, so I am thankful for the practice.

Plan for Oral Presentation

For my oral presentation, I will play the role of a radio commentary show host. I will give my

opinion on the effects and consequences of Paternity fraud and share my view about what should

be done about it.

Oral Presentation
Hi, Top of the morning to all you listeners out there. Hope all is well with you especially those

mothers and fathers who are proud of your sons or daughters. Welcome to another edition of

“My Point of View”. This is your host Sanya and today I want to comment on a delicate issue. It

is not my intention to stir up any conflict or suspicion with your family but rather to make an

appeal to be faithful and honest in your relationships.

I know most of you are familiar with Derrick Morgan’s Ska song “Don’t call Me daddy” and yes

we do listen and laugh because at first the songs seems comical. But have we ever stopped to

think deeply about the underlying message? Have we ever thought of how many “Daddys” are

very uneasy with the children who have their names?

Yes indeed Paternity Fraud or in our Jamaican terminology “Jacket pickney” is very rampant in

our society. To make it clear, paternity fraud occurs when a mother or father deliberately and

falsely claim a man is (or isn’t) the child’s biological father. Usually, false claims are made in

hopes of collecting or avoiding child support payments, but it isn’t the only reason men and

women have for committing paternity fraud. Sometimes mothers only suspect a man is not the

father and would rather hold their family together than expose any infidelities or discourage a

man from continuing to be her child’s primary male role model.

Statistics show that the percentage of “Jacket fathers” is relatively high. Dr. Herbert Gayle,

leading Anthropologist at the University of the West Indies, revealed in a 2016 study that some

25 percent of Jamaican men are unknowingly raising children that are not biologically theirs.
My point of view is I believe that it is important for most men to know that they’re the

biological fathers to the children they call their own because when a man who believed he

fathered a child realizes that’s not actually the case, it can be devastating. We should take

paternity fraud very seriously, especially when a man has been paying child support for a child

be believed was his biologically.

In reality, paternity is attributed to a mother who claims a man is the father of her child when that

is not the case. She may actually know he is not the biological father or she may just suspect he

may not be, although he has been named on the child’s birth certificate. The impact paternity

fraud can have on everyone involved is huge. Paternity fraud causes immense emotional pain

and turmoil, affecting the biological father, the non-biological father, the mother, and the child at

the center of it. Paternity fraud can create devastating effects for the actual biological father and

the father who is fraudulently named. The most common result is a man being held liable for

massive child support payments for a child who is not his. This situation can have a great impact

on the life of the man who is not the father and his loved ones.

The children who are the real victims in paternity fraud, deserve better than to have their support

paid by a wrongly accused man.  Some may argue that it is in the best interest of the child not to

let them know but my point of view is that no civilized society should teach its children that lies

are the path to success in our courts or anywhere else.  

The children who are the real victims in paternity fraud, deserve better than to have their support

paid by a wrongly accused man.    Paternity fraud robs children of their medical history, identity,

father figure, and benefits such as inheritance, medical and life insurance, and rights to social

security and veteran’s benefits.  

Nobody knows for certain how many paternity fraud victims there are.  Whether the number is

ten thousand or ten million, significant numbers of paternity fraud victims exist and families are

suffering from the burdens imposed by false paternity establishments

My point of view is that there should be consequences for women who commit this type of fraud.

Men who are victims should seek full refund for child support over the years.

And so my listeners, I rest my case, Please remember that the views shared here today are my

point of view and not necessarily those4 of this broadcasting station. Catch you next week when

I bring you another episode of My Point Of View.

Written Report
Bibliography

https://study.com/learn/lesson/paternity-fraud-laws-statistics-cases.html

Williams, Paul H.-When paternity is a fraud. published: Sunday | October 7, 2007

Retrieved from: old.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20071007/news/news5.html

Abdulrasaq,Sulaimon Adekunle: Top 10 countries with highest paternity frauds

Retrieved from: https://ng.opera.news/ng/en/health/5965ba1f879b4d4b891307a5d4923c46

https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/caribbean-breaking-news-featured/paternity-

predicament-more-jamaican-men-are-getting-jackets/

https://www.jah-lyrics.com/song/derrick-morgan-don-t-call-me-daddy

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/05/paternity-fraud-three-out-of-10-nigerian-men-are-not-

biological-fathers-of-their-children-2/