Incest still a concern despite fewer reported cases

Despite official statistics suggesting a decline in reported cases, one researcher suggests that incest is still a significant problem in Jamaica.

Data from the Jamaica Constabulary Force indicates a steady decrease in cases from 33 in 2019, to eight as of November 18, 2024. However, Dr Paul Andrew Bourne, a statistician and researcher, warns that these numbers fail to capture the reality. Bourne argues that the actual prevalence of incest in Jamaica is significantly higher.

"Jamaicans hate to report sexual violence, and even more so incest. Whenever they report incest, it really means they can't take it any more," he said. Bourne said many perpetrators are the only breadwinners in their households, which leads to cases being unreported, except when the community speaks out. Incest is defined under Jamaican law as a male or female willingly having sex with his or her grandparent, parent, sibling, child, uncle or aunt, niece or nephew or grandchild. Bourne noted that during the pandemic, as families were confined to their homes for extended periods, reported cases of sexual violence, including incest, spiked.

"The pandemic created a perfect storm. With financial pressures and reduced freedom, many men began sexually assaulting females in their homes. Now that the economy has reopened and men have returned to work, the reported cases have decreased, but this doesn't mean the problem has disappeared," he said.

The issue is particularly pronounced in rural communities, where Bourne said incest is normalised. He recounted a case where a man fathered three children - two of whom had to be aborted -with his own daughter.

"When I asked why they didn't report it, the family said, 'Come on, doesn't the boy look like his grandfather?'" he said. "In some areas, entire communities are family members because of generations of incest. People know it's happening but are reluctant to report it because of the social and economic ties that bind them. Female victims will say 'If him [a prospective boyfriend] know say mi father rape me, him nah go want me.'" Bourne opined that addressing this issue requires a multi-faceted approach.

"We need to allow children to be aware of what incest is because a number of them don't know. When daddy or cousin comes and subtly puts it to them, they accept it [and] it becomes normal," he said. Empowering women economically is another key solution.

"We're in the 21st century where many women are still dependent on men. We need to encourage women to work for themselves. If they earn even a dollar, it gives them independence and reduces the control men have over them." While encouraging the persons who know about the cases to come forward and say "This is wrong" and go to the authorities, he acknowledged that law enforcement can sometimes fail victims.

"Particularly those officers outside of CISOCA (Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse) are not keen to understand the depth and gravity of these matters."