A local attorney is calling for an increase in child maintenance fees on the island, arguing the amount stipulated by law is simply not enough.
The Child Maintenance Act for Dominica provides a maximum of $75 per week for child support, but Joshua Francis said the fee should be raised for many reasons.
Chief among them is the fact that the cost of living has increased and the amount is not enough to provide the necessities for any child.
“There are some serious questions raised about this issue. When a man has abandoned his child and is taken to court for child maintenance, the magistrate only has limited powers in terms of how much contribution he can make the child every week. The question is should we increase that?” he said.
Francis says while persons may rationalize that the economy is bad, $75 is not adequate.
“As far as the right of the child and economic security is concerned, we are at a stage where we may have to consider increasing that amount. The magistrate should be given the leeway to decide how much is being charged to the culprit,” he explained.
Francis is also concerned about the “hush hush” money being paid to parents to keep sexual abuse a secret.
“When a child is sexually abuse, the perpetrator sometimes gets away that is because the virtual complainant, namely the mother, sometimes accept money in return for the child not giving evidence in court. While we do not have the statutory provision, in common law, it is referred to as perverting justice…” he said.
The attorney noted that in cases like these, a parent could be arrested and charged under the law, “but unfortunately we don’t see that happening.”
He said the review and implementation of laws pertaining to children’s right must be implemented.
Does anyone know if this amount is still accurate as of 2020? Thanks.
Lets say it depends on how much the non custodial parent makes a month after taxes
Given the state of the economy and joblessness, I think $75 per child is enough, and should just be a guideline – taking into consideration the father’s working status(more money you make more you contribute to each child’s upbringing).
I agree bcuz 75 bucks a week not enuff… D child hav to use water, light, gas, PTA not to mention when they fall sick, ask for if is a disable children I could go on and on….. Is up to the father to tell the judge about his financial position…
just asking….when women gv fathers the children shouldn’t they be allowed to pay child support to?
I will NEVER stoop to that level and take a man to court to support a child. Is the child a commodity?When it was ooh ahh lar lar lar … Nobody didn’t take man to court. Niceness done now is sourness… I just think if i have to take a man to court to support his own kid, i am degrading myself…on another note shame on these men who put women through this because there are people who really need the money for the kids. All u need to come to the usa ,see what child support means. Pay u ok. No pay, warning letter, liscense about to be suspended, second notice liscense suspened. Third notice summons to go to court. Ignore notice , go directly to jail, do not pass go forget about paying now. No passport renewal , therefore no travel. Getting tax refund, notice already in mail. Due to outstanding child support irs hold your money, the list goes on. So all u can say all u have it good in da to pay that little money. And women , take care of your kids with the money and stop dressing up like papishow with those stupid wigs and fake eyelashes…. Dust we come , dust we go. God made u pretty. Stop being artficial…
Raise child support self. How a man can say he cannot pay $75 a week which is $300 a month , and he spending more that $300 in less than an hour with spanish… Hmmn. Open your eyes
I want to know if is the man alone that have to support his child,tell the women and the to go and work to,some of them taking the money in court and they giving it to their man. And if they raise the money I hope that they will ensure is for the child that the mother is using it and not for her to bling in the road. I don’t know how they are going to ensure is for the child but they have to,because if a man has other responsibility out there and he paying child support the child should not have to be calling him a few days to say she is hungry?So that means the mother is not checking the child and using the money otherwise.So attorney or whoever make sure you all ensure that the mother is taking the money to swear the man child and let her go work to if she is able.
As a divorced mother let me say thay I am not going to court to beg no man for 300.00 a month. That is nowhere close to support a child. But most men don’t know that because they are not involved in all the daily expenses related to raising a child.
I will toil and work hard to give my child everything he deserves and needs. But wait! Those same “fathers” when the child does well, is they that does want to come and say “my child” SMH. They think a child can eat words? They think afternoon classes and daycare cheap? They think a proper snack everyday cheap? Every week is something else in the school to pay for. Please! These fathers have no idea!
So all you lambasting women about a little change hold it for allu selves. Black women are strong and resilient. And we will do what we need to do to make sure our children are clean, healthy and well take care of.
if you was close id shake your toe….
I support the attorney’s call fully but you sound very angry to me. The child belongs to both parents hence if he pays $300.00 you as the mother should also contribute $300.00 and that will make it $600.00 for the child’s monthly expense. A child can live on $600.00 a month in Dominica.
Too many women think that child support money is to pay their rent, car note, gas,do their hair and even take their new man out on the town or dinner. Too many women with children just sit home and expect the child father to care for them also as if he owe them some kind of alimony. Children are the god given gift to both parents (unless sperm is donated anonymously) and remain the responsibility of both.
Further, any amendment in the law MUST make an absolute requirement for DNA, paid for by the government and refunded after the case. If is a jacket they try giving the man then the woman MUST pay and if its the accused child then he MUST be held responsible and pay al and sundry and back child support from nanny cannar. But Change Must Come and I am very excited.
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
all of the woman that talking and saying that they have so many children and that they have no help,all u did not know know that before allu just go and make children black is white.Child maintainnance should not be increased rather it should be brought down because them women does going to make children and bringing man court,that is nonsense and they not even taking care of the child when they getting the money?They should bring it down to 50 dollars because the women and them taking the money and buying shoes and clothes for themselves and not for the child.yes that’s what they are doing and after the child still calling back the father and say she hungry after the father put money in court?NONSENSE;And all u forget after the man is not with the woman he have another girlfriend or wife and they have children,what about the children that he has with his wife,he have to take care of them too.So no;I don’t think that child maintainance should be raised.Tell the women to keep their legs close and stop making children to bring man court,and the money that they getting in the court use it to help them they care of the child and not to buy shoos and clothes and to bling in the road.
I totally agree with you.Majority of the times the money they go look for in court is not for the benefit of the children at all……..Instead they look for a way where they can support themselves along with the kid/s….They sit there and threatened the men who are trying and have other responsibilities, to take them to court and do nothing but use the monies collected on them rather than the kids……..stupidity! Leave the price how it is….Get your lazy but up and work too! It takes 2 to tango and 2 to accept responsibilities
Bernice,
true this may be the case with some women but should every abandoned mother be blamed for all those who are delinquent? You are being unfair.
My child’s father is with me and my child and I thank God for that but do you know the cost of pampers? wipes? baby clothes? I am not even mentioning those who have to buy formula, doctor visits and other expenses.
I pray for your sake you don’t end up in the situation where you are pregnant, unemployed because of your situation and have no support, then let me hear you say that child maintenance should not be raised.
The nerve
Even if some women take the child support money. all shouldn’t suffer for a few.
Is it the woman’s fault he may have a wife, girlfriend or other child? did he not know that before going to have sex with her, what about his responsibility to use protection. Typical of our women to take the other side instead of supporting each other.
You people really thinking about what you saying?
I am a single mom of 2 kids by 1 man. The man took care of our 1st when we were together. Since the relationship ended whie I was pregnant with our 2nd child he quit asisting. He works several jobs and makes over $3000 a fortnight on 1 job. We have been to court several times and he told the magistrate that he is unable the maximum and was only allowed to pay $50 per week per fortnight. The man never makes payments. Each time i have to pay another $15 in stamps to get a dime of maintenance. Each time he comes to court with a bogus story as to why he is not making payments and gets an arrangement to make the back payments which he never keeps.
It is a true fact that the maximum pay out needs to increase because it is of not much assistance since $100 can only get about 10 grocery items which will last a week. However the entire court system for maintenance needs to change. We should not have to come back to court again and again if the person (male or female) is not making payments. If the amount has surpassed $1000 or $2000 then the court should automatically place an arrest warrent for the perpetrator. The police force needs to start enforcing these warrants (there has been a warrant out for my kids dad since june 19th 2013 and the man can be located but has not been arrested.)
If the person is a repeat offender he should not be given any payment arrangements.
So we should not just focus on the fact that there should just be an increase in the maintenance payout per week but there should be a review of the entire system that governs child maintenance.
The parents who receive hush money are pimping there children. Does not matter how poor you are, your children’s virtue shouldn’t be compromised. This sends a wrong message to the children that sex= money and no one cares. Also, I think child support should be based on a percentage of the non custodial parent’s salary. This percentage should be based on many factors such as cost of living etc. For those that aren’t employed a minimum amount should be given until employment is obtained. That means with increase of salary child support should be increased also. It will then be left up to the custodial parent to budget the support money wisely.
They should pay according to how much they make.If they dont work there should be a minimun
Firstly, why dont the court ask the unemployed mothers to try and find a job rather than expecting the father alone to support the child. The last time i checked it takes two to tango, so y does the law make it look like the burden is entirely laid on the backs of the fathers.
i just said the samething…Atleast someone makes sense
What I would like to know is that if a man has never supported his child and a woman takes him to the courts. Will the courts ask him to pay back child support for all the years he has not paid?
@ ma army
what happen to your kids father? did he die when they were young…how many baby daddy’s do your have???
maybe one or a couple of your sons is paying court ordered child support payments and they are dead beat dads so to keep them out of trouble/prison you have no choice but to make the payments with the little money that you have…… too bad for you…..well you are about to pay more when the payment is increased……
maybe if your boys had a good father in their life they would have been good father to their kids……….
Mr. Attorney Sir When and if your party forms the next government of this country will your government put up a strong case for the plight of public servants to receive a decent salary? in this case we will be able to meet your request in respect to the increase in child maintenance and all the other high utliti bills and cost of living we are struggling with.
Good move ! Love it thanks ! Mi myself have to take one to court very soon!
Agreed for all those breeders out there who just want to give babies and don’t turn back..by the way make sure also if they do not pay for at least three (3) months the police goes knocking on their doors and it’s pay or confine, i do not have that problem but i feel the pain of the women in those situations and the children who goes to bed hungry while daddy is out there having fun.
government need to raise salary first
This law of $75 a week is ridiculous for this reason; you can charge every man that amount if you don’t know their financial status. They should be allowed to pay child maintenance based on their salary and based on their expenses(ONCE IT CAN BE PROVED). Secondly, all the men that are being taken to court for maintenance are they the biological father or they have been given children. DNA test should be done to see whether the man is the biological father because I would hate to know a man is paying child support and after many years find out that he is not the father. Also, the women that give the men children knowingly that he is not the father should be charged for deception and should be allowed to pay the money back. This way more kids will know their right father…………just saying
well
I say just give them the NY style 29% of gross (non taxable) for 1 child, 23% each for two and 17% each four 3 and above
I myself make 10 chidren, 10 different pregnancies and no help from no body. I took care of my children by myself. Sice I 14 I in business. Lawyer, leave them alone to take care of their children. No body send them to take their man.
Lmao …. wht I reading there nuh lol
Is that the advice you have for your children? “No body send them to take their man.” I guess that is what you was told. No wonder you had to raise 10 children by yourself. May I ask, was the 10 children fathered by 10 different men?
Just an opinion.
think
who could have given that post above 3 thumbs up? how is that possible?
who send those man to have sex with those women??????????????why are women the only one to get the blame??????????
why should the men not be held accountable???????? if so we should not hold men accountable for anything………….they should be able to rape kill and steal and we should leave them alone
so all man that come to her she have to say yes,why cant she say no to?give me a break,and why cant she protect herself instead of making ten children with ten different father
who tell you to go for all these children if u know how the economy is already.
You are the same one criticising the lady from Chance for asking for help whereas both of you are in the same boat. The poor lady did not even have that number of children like you. But you purposely left out the part where you did go and beg for assistance.
i disagree with Mr Francis $300 is plenty for a man to pay as it right now and to increase it now will be way to much, can u imagine a man working for $1000 per month with 2 children from a former relationship that went bad how is the man going to and take care of himself and how much is the woman paying. why is always men that are at fault and have to pay child support? the children came from a man and a woman so man must not carry the financial load alone.
@giving, I agree that $300 is a lot when/if the funds are not available, but you are looking at only one side of the coin. Milk, sugar, and soap is very expensive. If the custodial parent is unable to supply the basic necessities for the child, how is she supposed to survive. Mr. Francis is not saying that this is the case for every father, I think he is saying $75 is not enough to support a child; however, this increase is on a case by case basis. Every father is not paying $75, some pay less, so this matter will be evaluated by the court and the court will decide accordingly. The increase will NOT be too much. Can you imagine a man working for $1000 per month with 2 children from any relationship and giving them NEXT TO NOTHING or NOTHING AT ALL? Hello, a relationship that went bad has NOTHING to do with the child/children. The man will be fine, he MUST SUPPORT HIS CHILD. He can take care of himself. By-the-way, the woman pays A LOT. NINE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY, 24 – 36 HOURS OF LABOR, sometimes longer, UNDECIDED NUMBER OF MONTHS OF BREAST FEEDING, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS WHEN THE CHILD/CHILDREN IS/ARE SICK, COOKING, CLEANING, HOMEWORK, JUST TO NAME A FEW. YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF HOW MUCH THE WOMAN IS PAYING. You asked, “why is always men that are at fault and have to pay child support?” NO ONE is at fault, ESPECIALLY THE CHILD. You are right when you say, “the children came from a man and a woman so man must not carry the financial load alone” YOU FORGOT THE MAIN FACTOR, which is THE WOMAN CARRIES THE ENTIRE BURDEN, not that the child is a burden, from the moment of CONCEPTION UNTIL THE AGE OF MATURITY. The only part the man plays is making the DEPOSIT. MEN SHOULD BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CHILD/CHILDREN SUPPORT.
STOP HAVING UNPROTECTED SEX, NO ONE WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE AND THE INNOCENT CHILDREN WHO DID NOT ASK TO BE BORN WILL NO LONGER BE VICTIMS.
well as a father I support this but mr. francis you may be in a position to pay these raises I know for a fact I cant not on the little government salary I getting there so tell the govt to raise salaries so that we can pay more. not even a mortgage you can get on those salaries is a gwaya. now also DO YOU KNOW? that the allowance government gives a pauper is $150.00 and if you decide to help a neglected child out the welfare department gives you a stipend of $220.00 so that is still less than the $300.00 some of those mothers would get and on average you have to give children at least five meals. So although these things should improve tell them salaries need to increase too and these allowances government gives to the poor and by the way are these not some of the things your leader has been saying he will remove. ON THAT NOTE this is why WORKERS will NEVER WIN because you guys just believe strongly in sending out emotive filled reponses on issues without assessing the bigger picture or looking at it in a holistic manner and within the context of the societal constraints.
I strongly disagree with the sentiments you expressed in your last statement since this is what our current administration thrives on and they are more popular than ever. I think that Dominicans adore the emotive aspect in politicians because they like to beg a would really like government to take care of their every need. Dominicans definitely vote based on the emotive responses that they anticipate from their representatives even in the context of societal constraints.
this is pittance to support a child,the law should not make excuses for these good for nothing men, personally anytime u neglect a child you r good for nothing,blaming the economy is a sorry excuse because these r the men who have money enough to support 1,2.3 women plus their kids, and still a young schoolgirl on the side, topping her up, buying Kfc and nice phone, our society and law makers, church leaders, welfare Ministry are all blind to the ills in our country, wake Dominica and let these men respect their children and take up their responsibilities.
I could not have said this better. Fully in agreement. I think the men are complaining, not because they MUST SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN to the FULLEST, but because they may not be able to sponsoring their BAD HABITS/MISTRESSES.
Some women get plenty children so that they’ve got plenty fathers to make the woman plenty money. Women even lie and say they are on birth control, to trap men. I’ve seen it with my own eyes and then the woman stay unemployed even when the children going to school. Some women are wicked! (written by a woman)
I partially agree with you. Although some women have more children than they can manage, thinking that they will get more money, that is still NOT THE CASE. Yes, some women say “they are on birth control”, but is it not the man’s responsibility to ASCERTAIN HIMSELF by NOT DEPENDING on that gesture and USE HIS OWN PROTECTION. WHY ARE WOMEN THE ONES TO ALWAYS USE BIRTH CONTROL OR TIE THEIR TUBES? I agree that SOME WOMEN REMAIN UNEMPLOYED to gain more support from the men; however, SOME MEN DO EITHER REMAIN UNEMPLOYED OR WORK FOR CASH (UNDER THE TABLE) so they DO NOT HAVE TO PAY ANY OR MINIMAL AMOUNT OF CHILD SUPPORT. Which is worse? You say “Some women are wicked!” I say YOU ARE BIASED. BOTH HAS THE SAME ATTITUDE.
Attorney Joshua Francis, I applaud you for taking the stand in the BEST INTEREST of the CHILDREN. Too many children are disowned and/or neglected by their fathers. Too many children are in MISERY because their “fathers” do not pay child support or not enough child support. I think you should PUSH for the INCREASE in SUPPORT PAYMENTS because the children are INNOCENT. They should be afforded EQUAL lifestyle living as that of their fathers. The list goes on and on, but I am pretty sure that you are on the RIGHT PATH. Congratulations on your venture, which is in the BEST INTEREST of the CHILDREN.
I not saying that men should not take care of their children but when the women are getting the money from the court they should use the money to take care of the child and not for her to bling in the road because that what they do
$75 a week turn out to be around $325 a month. Now considering that child support is to be shared equally between the monther and father, it goes to reason that we are talking about $650 a month per child.
I fail to see how $650 is not enough to support a child for one month.
this analysis is lacking. this did not or could not have accounted for school fees, school supplies, daycare if there are no grandparents, medical needs if necessary, miscellaneous items. need I continue? this can all be done on $650?
$100.00 a week….in other cases where the man makes a better salary…175.00 a week…
While i understand there may be a need for an increase in child maintenance will that same Attorney call on the government to give their employees a better salary to meet the rapidly increase of cost of living on a daily basis my boy money is scarce to some of us we operate from hand to mouth cant save a penny tackle those you know have lots of money YOU KNO DEM
I say yes to raising the fees. As a hard working mother, I’ve got 2 kids. I work long hard hours and side jobs as well just to make sure my kids have a comfortable home, pay my bills and provide food for myself and extra for my kids. I live alone with my kids. Sometimes their fathers provide for them, and sometimes they don’t. This puts a strain on me muchless for the mothers who don’t have a job. In the normal life of a child, 5 meals are required. Breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner. Tell me how much groceries can $200 contribute to a child monthly.I know for a fact that alot of mothers don’t get more than $200 monthly for their kids. Let raise that fee and we’ll see if men wont start protecting themselves. Cause when a man get a teenage girl pregnant and shes uneducated, what sort of job do u think she can get to get a good salary to provide for herself and her child? Some men need to get serious. Too many times I hear fathers saying they rather eat stone than to go get a job just so they won’t pay no money in court for children. Some women self I don’t know where to start.
How you make your bed is so you lie on it. You making children with poor men who have children all over the place. Have your eyes on the prize for you next baby. All your expenses will be covered. You will even get a free SUV and a free villa and a million dollars hush money.
DNA tests should be made to establish the father of the child to be able to protect an innocent man. And women should be made to refund men their money when they are found not to be the child’s father.
Well the man should pay for the test…..he is the one who wants to prove whether the child is his or not…..he should be riembursed with half the cost of the test if it shows that he is not the dad
If you are sexually active with ONLY ONE PARTNER there should be NO REASON FOR PATERNITY TESTS.
What about the fathers who are taking good care of their kids and are not with the mothers and for some reason the mother decides to do her best to take the father to court for lying to the court claiming the father isn’t taking care of the child?some mothers are just plain wicked.some mothers don’t even know who are their kids father,they give wrong fathers and they taking the wrong men to court sayin they are not maintaining the child.some even using the kids money on their self then make some men look bad.what about the so called mothers who don’t check their kids nd its the father who does everything?
Yes this happens but the court will handle the matter……..this article is about raising child support payments
I agree that there are “fathers who are taking good care of their kids”. They do not have to be “with the mothers” to support their responsibility. I also agree that “some mothers take the fathers to court claiming the father isn’t taking care of the child” Certainly, “some mothers don’t even know who their kids fathers are”. There is a SOLUTION, “PATERNITY TEST”. Another SOLUTION, if you are aware that the woman/women are sexually active with MORE THAN ONE MAN, DO NOT PARTICIPATE. Some men seek women in that category just to say “this is not my child” when the woman becomes pregnant. So what if “some even using the kids money on their self” your concern should be that the child is well kept, fed, clean and educated. That is one of the PROBLEMS with SOME MEN. DID YOU KNOW MEN CAN TAKE WOMEN TO COURT FOR CHILD SUPPORT? If “the father does everything” for the child he should request child support, but the child has to be in his care.
MEN, KEEP RECEIPTS FOR WHATEVER YOU DO FOR YOUR CHILD, FINANCIALLY. If a woman takes you to court you will have PROOF that you are taking care of your child. I do not think that this is the issue at hand. The issue at hand is that $75 weekly is NOT ENOUGH.
FREE ADVICE, DO NOT GIVE CASH. IF YOU SHOULD GIVE CASH AT ANY GIVEN TIME WRITE DOWN THE DATE AND AMOUNT GIVEN, and MAKE SURE that the MOTHER SIGNS that book. It is IMPERATIVE that you get a SIGNATURE, or you will be in court for NON-PAYMENT of CHILD SUPPORT.
Young man that is the first good thing you have mentioned.
The second good thing is to get off the UWP LOOSING TRAIN.
@ patriot You are such a brain washed illiterate. YOU MUST KNOW WHEN TO SHUT THE HELL UP!!!!!! YOUR FOOL! Do you know the young man? Have you ever listened to him? So you think that the young man is corrupt? Why do you want him to go join corrupt people? Go give those evil advice to your wife and children, the young man will stay away from your evil and corrupt gang. YOUR DARN GROVELLER.
On the subject of child maintenance, I concur, but the problem is some fathers work for almost nothing, and can hardly survive on the little pittance that they get. I do not believe that all the culprits ( fathers ) are deliberately refusing to take care of their children. This problem has to be looked at from many many angles. I FEEL FOR THE MOTHERS, but I know some fathers just cannot do better. That is why we need to look at the unemployment problem on island and ask for it to be reduced or else…….
Why he/she is an illiterate? Sometimes when all you calling people name, all you worse than the person all you calling illiterate. I hope you or your child not illiterate. Then again why all you calling people illiterate? All you have a high school drop out.
@patriot So after 14 years of devastation by DLP, the party you support like a blind bat cannot attract anybody with credibility? Are they ashamed of joining DLP now?
THAT’S WHY THEIR ROPE IS COMING TO AN END.Once people like you are out there crying, well things are really bad with you all.
Hello and good afternoon my people. Well I think Seventy Five Dollars a week for child support is low but when added its actually Three Hundred Dollars a month per child. Now I don’t think it should be a dollar amount rather it should be a percentage of the payee salary in that way the amount would be different for people with different salaries. I think one child should be Fifteen percent ,Two children at Twenty Five percent ,Three or more children should max out at forty percent of the payee salary.
Forty percent of the payee salary? And that sounds reasonable to you?
Too Hard To Long.
Hello and good afternoon to you. I said if the payee has to support Three or more children then forty percent of that person salary should be the maximum taken out for support
Payment.
@Tony, I know you mean well, but child support regardless to the number of children is and should be 50 percent from EACH PARENT. If both are employed, both salaries should be combined and divided in two. You do not give a percentage PER CHILD, that is not how it works. I hope that there is a child support guideline in Dominican that the court can follow. I suggest if there are no child support guideline in Dominica ONE SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED. Everyone wins.
Ft Lauderdale, FL.
Hello and good evening to you. Parents must be held accountable for the well being of their Child/Children and Family Court must established a base line percentage for child support. The amount of money will be different base on the person salary after taking into account both parent salary. Anyway I do agree with you even though we have minor differences but I think we want the best for the children.
@ Tony, well is now Dominican woman in Dominica going to do like St. Thomas women! Make children with different men to gain benifit; give man poke children and collect allowance and sit their lazy backside in the projects sleeping and smoking their lives away!!
On a serious note we cannot ask for more than what a man is genuinely able to give; that would lead the man to criminal activities to maintain child support. Women now have to be more responsible as to whom they would make the father to their children.
Positive Vibration.
Hello and good afternoon to you. As per the first part of your paragraph I don’t think that would happen in Dominica.
We must establish a base line percentage in that way the law will be uniformed. One must look within themselves and make a conscious decision and determine if they want to engage in criminal activity. The child support should not be blamed for such behavior rather the indivisible should. Thanks.
I am sorry but i disagree to raising the fée. Think about thé father who do not have a job to feed them own selves. Furtherless for their children. I agree that the mother cannot raise the Child on her own but certain m’en are already in problem with the law because they can’t pay the 75ec$ per week so imagine if they raise the fée. I mean come on this is going to make illégal buisness raise in thé country because most of the m’en who has à fée to pay are Young. And just see where our Young m’en are goin when they need money. Thats my point of view. Alot May not agree
If you cannot afford to pay child support, wrap it up. I am sure a condom cost less than $75.00
“I am sorry but I disagree to raising the fee.” When a man brings a child into the world that child comes FIRST. He, the father, will find a way to feed himself, but until the child becomes the age of 18 years that child is the FATHER’S RESPONSIBILITY. “Think about the father who do not have a job to feed them own selves.” Are you serious? Who is supposed to FEED, CLOTHE, and keep that child CLEAN and SHELTERED, during the child’s development? That man should think before he brings a child into the world. THERE YOU HAVE IT. “I agree that the mother cannot raise the Child on her own” but “certain men are already in problem with the law because they can’t pay the 75ec$ per week”. You should agree that this is NOT THE CHILD’S FAULT, nor his/her PREROGATIVE. I would think that if you are unable to support what you already have you should NOT have ANY MORE.
YOU ALL MEN BELIEVE ONCE YOU MAKE THE DEPOSIT THAT IS THE END OF IT, well, NOT SO FAST, we are in the 21st century and the days that “WE” WOMEN ACCEPTED LESS and sometimes NOTHING IS NO MORE.
SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD IS NOT “going to make illegal business raise in the country”. WHO CARES if “most of the men who has a fee to pay are Young.” THEY should PROTECT THEMSELVES from IMPREGNATING the “YOUNG” women. The women should PROTECT THEMSELVES ALSO. Having to SUPPORT the person you bring into the world, that DID NOT ASK to be HERE, should NOT be at ISSUE. DO NOT BLAME “where our Young men are going when they need money” on the HELPLESS CHILDREN.
In my opinion, RAISING THE AMOUNT OF CHILD SUPPORT IS “PAST DUE”.
BY-THE-WAY, if for any reason the “fathers or so-called fathers” are unable to become GAINFULLY EMPLOYED back home, those who can should LEAVE find means to SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN. Go to Tortola, St. Maarten, or elsewhere where they will be able to SUPPORT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
ENOUGH ALREADY.
I am in agreement with the Attorney regarding the “hush hush” money. There is a grown man no less than age 70 who has gotten away with abusing teens and pre-teens, even impregnating some of them, and he has gotten away with that behavior for many years because of “hush hush” money. This is only something known by the people of his community and it has never reached the court system. He has a wife who is aware of that but has stayed by his side.
Sometimes the VICTIMS do not accept “hush hush” money, but rather too ashamed to say anything. Sometimes the VICTIMS are VICTIMIZED when they go to court. There are several reasons why the VICTIMS decide to just LET IT BE. GO FIGURE.
Teenager above 15 know damn well what they doing and should be held accountable for their actions….
And now back to the original story!!!lol
Now the men are going to sue for custody of the children because theu don’t want to make higher child support payments
Mr. Joshua should also make mention of sexual offenders/perpetrators getting away when the court imposes minimal sentences and after short periods sent back in society to carry on with their dirty habits.
i am a woman and i say stupes , woman we are responsible for our kids to $75.00 a week three hundred a month so if we put our three hundred a month we have six 600 , i have a bf who has a child and trust me no matter how much he gives the mother for the child she still want more , some if us females to wicked and like use them kids to have men like papishow, i have a child to and trust me i rather my child have a good relationship with the father than just money cause some of us just use these monies to benefit our self , dem man have lives too don’t forget that ,
I don’t believe a woman penned this feedback. Are you for real. God have mercy on the child you mothered.
Sounds like u are in a relationship with a man who is making child support payments and u want that money for yourself
stop your rubbish , i am an independent woman born into a well off family and i am employed bey the way making four times my mans salary i thank you , so know what you saying i rest my case to say you sound like one off them woman that using all your child money on yourselves and leaving the child without ,
The government needs to tell some women stop lying and protect their self from getting pregnant with Tom , Dick and Harry .
@Unknown, this is a BIASED STATEMENT. “The government needs to tell some women stop lying and protect their self from getting pregnant with Tom, Dick and Harry”. How about, the Government telling some men to STOP lying and protect themselves so they wont IMPREGNATE the women that they lay with.
How about you not lying with Tina, Daisy and Harriett so you will NOT have to worry about making CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS.
250 a week per child is better
u they working for u see
@Florida, you must be kidding. Florida has child support guidelines. NO ONE GETS $250 WEEKLY unless that man/father is FINANCIALLY STABLE. Not even if the mother is unemployed. I receive LESS than $300 monthly, well that is because the father decided to stay unemployed and the woman he was with at the time wrote FALSE RECEIPTS to prevent him from making a higher payment. His income was also slightly higher than mine. All-in-all, to receive that amount, like I said, the father is FINANCIALLY STABLE. The Court follows the guidelines. I do not just talk. I talk based on experience. I hope that $250 weekly is YOUR EXPERIENCE.
250 a week,all u wicked like hell,all of all u believe is so, what about the man other children and his bills and other responsibility?go work,not the man alone that have to swear his child,all u want the money to take care of all u own problem and to give all u man.
now u sending people and make contter many
truth…… you cannot be serious, i wont call you idiot but get the MESSAGE clear… the messanger DOES NOT deserve an attack for that statement, it is so true that the current figure is NOT ENOUGH. If you even have to go to the court to collect child maintanace money, something is already very wrong ! !
Agreed. No mother should have to go to court for a father to support HIS CHILD.
Why not consider making the payment a percentage rather than an amount?
Percentage will not work because there are too many other factors to consider such as other kids, family situation etc. The maximum should be increased but the minimum remain the same. With that said the court will determine if based on the father’s situation and the ability of the mother to provide if he is to be contributing closer to the min or max.
@ArAb this is NOT how Child Support is determined. You are right “Percentage will not work” but the “other factors” you mentioned “other kids, family situation etc” are NOT considered even if they are included in the financial statement. The only consideration is the INCOME of BOTH PARENTS. WHY should “The maximum increase but the minimum remain the same”? I hope you meant that the MINIMUM BE INCREASED but the MAXIMUM REMAINS the SAME. I think that the determination is in the hands of the court. Child support is child support regardless to how many children that the man has fathered.
MEN HAVE ALL OF YOUR CHILDREN WITH ONE WOMAN – PROBLEM SOLVED.
If you are MARRIED or are in a RELATIONSHIP BEHAVE YOURSELVES because this is what being MARRIED or in a RELATIONSHIP is ALL ABOUT. COMMITMENT.
A percentage of what?
Good idea…and it probably should be a range depending on one’s salary…the higher your salary the more you should be made to pay
That is right.
Child support is based on the income of both parents, if both are employed. If only one parent is employed, namely the father, the total amount should come from his income. If the mother is employed and the father is not then the total support comes from the mother. Provisions should also be made that when the father becomes gainfully employed “he” should compensate for the time he was unemployed. I am not familiar with the law back home, but it should not be different. Child support is child support. The court should combine both incomes and divide the amount in two. If $75, although that amount is nothing considering the HIGH COST OF LIVING, is adequate based on their income there is not much any one can do.
This is exactly it, charge based on income, I think it’s a fair approach for both child and father.
The women made stupid decisions to sleep with these types of men…but the fact is the child is already born as a result so BOTH should be held accountable and not just the women…..75 dollars per child is a joke
Four dollars a pack of condoms!!! safety first my friends…lol
And if the man does not have a job or does not have a steady income , compell him to get a job or 2 jobs do what ever he can for the child payment to be increased….or go to jail……..because if the mother were to leave the child unclothed or hungry she will be charged with child abuse……
its child neglect dummy
Ok smarty pants….a child is not abused if the mother refuses to feed them
what good is he going to be to the child if he is in jail?
Would u want to go to jail? Or would u make the payments
He is no good to the child if he is NOT giving CHILD SUPPORT.
You are female donkey ehhh….your baby daddy in jail?
Good call on children’s day. The current payments are not even adequate to cover day care expenses and lets not talk about preschool.
I also think that in addition to that child support payments should be made through mandatory salary deductions where applicable. Too many men in permanent positions still have to be dragged back and forth to the courts to make payments.
i agree totally just as long as the father’s wage
goes up too
@saltfish, you do not increase anyone’s wages to increase child support. As the child gets older their COST OF LIVING get HIGHER, and as such child support payment also get HIGHER. It is up to the individuals to consider their options. Some of us are considerate and we do compromise, but the other party, which is the father in that case must be willing to compromise and be considerate. If not, take his arse before the court.
Thank you Attorney Francis for this article which stimulates discussion regarding this issue.
One may agree that the cost of living has risen and that child maintenance fees should be raised, how about pointing to the fact that salaries need to be augmented to increase spending power of our men?
Not only is the economy bad but the cost of living is extremely high in Dominica. What is the average income of the very few men who are working in Dominica? What are the expenditures most men are faced with? One may assert that men and women should keep their privates in their clothes however, reproduction is a natural way of life, the same way living things eat they reproduce so let’s not forget this.
Regarding the “hush-hush” issue, it is very sad and this is how the poor are exploited. Here is a woman and her underage girl who have needs, the man exploits this girl; the man is willing to “compensate” the mother for the damage done, she has to evaluate between taking the man to court which may take time, the mother gets no monetary compensation, it doesn’t restore the girl’s virginity or reverse the situation in any way. Or, she gets the “hush-hush” money so that she may fulfill her convenient wants or needs at the time, the money comes in faster hence the vicious ugly cycle continues.
I believe one needs to examine the root causes of these problems where fathers are negligent of his offspring and the sexual abuse of boys and girls in order to curb these problems in the society. Women in our society have become objectified due to the media psychology and bombardment men are hit with everyday. Second, we may it extremely difficult to marry and divorce. Thirdly, our gender and sexual attitudes towards each other and a range of other problems.
In conclusion, if we would like to curb these problems a rigorous and scientific approach to research into the roots of these problems as well as constancy in the implementation of these findings by fair application of the new laws which governs the issues.
It should be a percentage of the father salary after taxes. Unless the father is a farmer and wages are not registered then you look at saving patterns based on current banking.
rubbish…you must be a woman to make such comment
Dude, I am a man and if you going to have unprotected sex, you have to take care of what you plant. Unless you an atheist
Nothing is based on NET INCOME, always PRE-TAX INCOME. True, if the “father is a farmer and wages are not registered then you look at saving patterns based on current banking.” Children are innocent and should be treated as such.
Go ahead and hit dislike people!! I don’t care but is this a campaign strategy Mr. Francis. You just contradicting, you talking about economy not good and yet you talking about raising child maintenance.
Have a VASECTOMY or USE a CONDOM. The children has NOTHING to do with ECONOMY. One do NOT get to DECIDE when to SUPPORT HIS CHILD/CHILDREN. THAT IS A MUST.
For your information I’ve got children & they are taken care off. Stay Miami & leave DNO for Dominicans living here.
you slept on your brain!!campaign strategy? All you have to give me some of what all you smoking down there because i think majority of you all are too high to simply comprehend.
They must put a law for all fathers to register their children under their names. to many unfathered kids in the place.
even if is an underage you got pregnant it is important to claim your child and register it, particularly if you know that you yourself grew up without the love and care of a father.
Some mother’s don’t know who there baby fathers are and they afraid to do DNA test. You know the amount of fathers that claiming jackets in Dominica you would be surprised!!
you will be surprised to know the amount of children that their fathers are afraid to register them under their names because they are married and the mother of the kid was involved with the from age 14 or 15
I recommend the encouragement of marriage. Frankly this is the outcome of fornication and adultery in our society. Marriage allows men to commit and to generally fulfill their obligations. If the men have the option to sleep around with as many women as he pleases, this in my view is where the problem lies.
U will be surprise to know the amount of husbands that dont support their children born within marriage and also dont support their homes
It is true that every child should have his/her father’s name, but the name means NOTHING WITHOUT the NURTURING of the father.
Look out people election is coming and you will hear talk. Why were we not hearing from the Attorney before. These guys really think we don’t know what they up to? Thank you sir I will go to the court and ask for more money from my child father.
Not everything is about politics..right now we talking about what’s best for our children. it is not an easy feat for a mother to go to court to ask for help to support her child..it’s time that legislature gives more attention to that probelm. and it’s about time that parents who take hush hush money be jailed because at the end of the day its the child who suffers a lifetime of psychological problems. Many of the young girls who lash out by living promiscuous lives are victims of child abuse but some of us are so busy judging and condemning that we don’t take the time to listen to their story and get them the help they so desperately need.
truth.. this attorney isnt the first to bring this up.. as a matter of fact earlier this year a female attorney did
you are such an idiot. this concerns everyone yr damn idiot
When I read blogs like the one written by TRUTH, I become more and more convinced that Dominica will never move on.
where are you living ? he is an out spoken lawyer he has a column in onE of the papers.
What an idiotic statement. Everything has to be seen through colored lenses?
Truth, are you asserting that this Attorney’s motives are politically motivated?
Are you serious? …and we wonder why this country is DOOMED!
you must be an educated fool or an uneducated genius!!!lol my my my all u killing me!!!