Fatherhood denied

Some women determine fathers based on who would best be able to 'mind' the child

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

In Jamaica, a child attributed to a man who is not the biological father is popularly referred to as 'a jacket'.

This may be a source of amusement in folklore, but for two men who have found themselves on the other side of the 'suit', it is no laughing matter.

Marlon Morris is eager to tell The Sunday Gleaner his story of fatherhood denied.

His speech and mannerisms, expressive and animated, Morris says he has written down the story already. Pointing to a house where several men are telling fathers' tales in the west Kingston community of Denham Town, last Thursday, Morris says he has an exercise book full of his writings.

"About 11 years ago, me meet this girl. She have a next man. Me a roll with har, but the next man never know. Me know.

"She get pregnant. Me an har know is me. Right now him have the money, me never have it. The maintenance part ... ," Morris trails off. "Me haffi kinda pull back."

However, he says the woman and the man who was supposed to be the little boy's father did not make it as a couple and she left with the baby.

Morris saw her again at a political meeting on Spanish Town Road ahead of the last local government election in 2007.

"The intention me did have was to do har suppen, (but) when me see har me hug har up."

The two have kept in touch since and Morris is now playing a role in the child's life.

"She done know the youth need the father role. We jus' haffi step back an' forget wha' gwaan."

He goes to see his son at school, avoiding any potential conflict at the home where the child's mother lives with her partner.

The 33-year-old Morris has no intention of following his father, who, he says, had 14 children with 14 different women.

Peter Burke, yet to be officially a father, has also had a child - he believes he fathered - attributed to another man who was working, while Burke was not.

Burke has seen the boy once since he was born three years ago.

"Him have me nose, but him have him mother face. She tell me say is me get her pregnant," Burke told The Sunday Gleaner.

Burke said when his child was given to another man, "me get ignorant and tell her nuh call me, although in the thing wha gwaan (in west Kingston) she call me to see if me all right.

"You feel bad. Me did have hopes. Me did want a youth, no like some man whe jus waan have woman. Is not like him did dead. If him dead, life goes on. But another man have me yute," added Burke.

"A man without a seed, when you gone, him no live on. But a man with a seed, when you gone, him live on. Me woulda love fi have a boy, show him how fi play football. But if a girl come, you work with it. You know a boy is every man joy," Burke said.