Editor-In-Chief Garfield Grandison (left) presents The Gleaner's Silver Pen award for March to Dr. Byron Wilson, lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Mona, yesterday at the newspaper's North Street, central Kingston, offices. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

After reading in The Gleaner that Government will still allow cousins to marry, Silver Pen award winner for March, Dr. Byron Wilson, was moved to write to this newspaper.

A lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences, at the University of the West Indies, Mona, the New Orleans-born biologist wanted to remind readers of the significant health risks affecting any potential offspring. These include increased risk of genetic disorders, decreased growth rate, ill health and higher mortality rates.

Social taboo

Despite the social taboo, cousin-to-cousin relationships in Jamaica are not, legally speaking, incest, since the term only applies legally to first-degree relatives. Incest refers to those who are too closely related to have sex or marry. However, the health risks for offspring remain, stressed Dr. Wilson, hence the original title of his letter, 'Why cousins should only kiss', published on March 26 as 'Serious health risks from inbreeding'.

"You have to think of the health implications. In my opinion, consenting adults should be able to make any decision about what they want to do sexually with each other behind closed doors," said Dr. Wilson. "However, they must have the information to do so safely and be aware of the consequences."

He was keen to stress that just because someone was born to a first-cousin relationship does not make them affected; rather that the probabilities are greater among such persons.

More information about incest:

Speaking last year to The Gleaner's Flair magazine supplement, Loreen MacFarlane, counsellor at Woman Inc. offered her advice on incest and molestation:

Victims need to tell someone who will listen: parents, school counsellor, or someone at church such as a pastor.

These people must be prepared to believe the child. Some mothers disbelieve their children in such cases. This will cause the child to lose trust in adults.

A consequence of early molestation is promiscuity. Victims can also become withdrawn.

Children need to be taught about sex from an early age and have all their questions answered.

Relatives need to understand that incest is a crime, and is punishable by law. They also need to know that the experience affects the person for life.