FATHERS?who attended the Child Care Board sponsored panel discussion on DNA Paternity Testing left with a wealth of information about what they should do in trying to overcome some of their challenges.
The event took place recently at the Atrium Room, Supreme Court building, and although it was targeting men only, a number of women also turned up.
Panellists were Lorianne Alleyne, deputy director of the investigations division of the Forensic Science Centre; Sean Pilgrim, clinical psychologist; magistrate Barbara Cooke-Alleyne and Arch Deacon Eric Lynch.
Alleyne began the discussion by explaining that a paternity test could be executed one of two ways: either through a court requested paternity or a personal paternity.
“With the court requested paternity, the court requests us (DNA testing centre) to have a test done and the results go directly back to the court and are taken through a strict chain of custody guidelines,” Alleyne explained.
She added that a personal paternity test on the other hand, could be done by taking DNA from a person without their consent and submitted to be tested.
She noted that the results from a personal paternity test were not court admissible and could potentially be more damaging when done that way.
Currently in Barbados consent has to be attained in order to have testing done, unlike what obtains in the United States.
On the legal side of things, Cooke-Alleyne addressed one gentleman’s concern of being unable to locate his son and the mother.
“The lawyers are telling me that they cannot locate my son and his mother, and I would have to serve them myself,” said the troubled gentleman.
“But how can I serve them if I cannot even find them myself? If they were looking for me, I would have been found.”
Cooke-Alleyne’s advice was to “seek a new lawyer”, because it was possible to locate a local individual and serve them summons.
Lynch gave positive reinforcement by reaffirming that God cared and loved every human being. He referred to the church as an ambulance for sick souls.
Pilgrim’s input was from a different angle, noting that men should examine what ‘fatherhood’ and being a man meant. (SM)
