Legal rights, by age, for Paradisian young people

from *The Essential Paradise*, series sourcebook

#### **Doc. 5.14.**

**British Paradise Islands Territorial Ministry of Justice, Statutory Division**

Certain legal rights are conferred on basis of age in the British Paradise Islands, as featured in the Two Paradises fiction/fantasy realm devised by author Jonnie Comet.

## Legal rights, by age, for Paradisian young people

As a vestige of the formerly indigenous Polynesian culture, the age of majority for most milestones is young: at age fifteen a Paradisian citizen (legally recognised as a belonger or full-time resident) has many rights other cultures withhold of its citizens until eighteen or twenty-one. Though precocious, this right of young people to initiate and exercise their independence is inextricably conjoined to the unwavering sense of propriety as established and regulated by the British– for example, education and job training are comprehensive, there is little publicassistance for the able-bodied, and judicial penalties for abuse of decency statutes tend to be harsh and an adequate deterrent to transgression. Therefore it is vital to not judge too quickly on appearances; or, if one does, he had best assume all is much saner, safer, more modest and more dignified than it seems at first glance.

The following overview briefly describes the statutory privileges, rights and responsibilities to which all Paradisian citizens (belongers, full-time residents, and others as defined within terms of the Territorial Constitution), and those only, are independently eligible or entitled by criteria of age.

### Legal definitions

The legal definitions of these are as follows:

* **Privilege**: That which the citizen ***MAY*** do, pursuant to personal discretion and established procedures, but from which the citizen may be barred, or in which the citizen may be restricted, as particular circumstances merit, are demonstrated and are made known.
* **Right**: That which the citizen ***CAN*** do, pursuant to established procedures, or the citizen’s own volition, without any further restraints or permissions, as defended as ***inalienable*** under Paradisian law
* **Responsibility**: That which the citizen ***SHALL*** do, or attempt, pursuant to established procedures, aware that failure to do so may result in legal, financial and judicial consequences for the citizen.

Many privileges may be mitigated by parental consent; i.e., a parent or guardian may accompany a person of 14 to view a film rated BBFC ‘15’ or accompany a person of 12 into a public house where such young people would be prohibited on their own. The privileges advertised imply the citizen’s own volition and sense of responsibility, not as mollified by a minder’s presence.

In many cases the rights advertised apply only to citizens resident within the British Paradise Islands; other territories’ statutes may differ and, in fact, may limit rights which the citizen would otherwise have in Paradise (such as that to independent travel under a Paradisian passport).

In all cases any Paradisian citizen of any age, abroad anywhere, has the right to seek and to be granted refuge and relief at any British embassy in the world.

It is ***vital*** to mind that these responsibilities and rights, and in most cases these privileges, ***do not*** extend to part-time residents, visitors, tourists, and those not recognised as meeting the definition of citizenship as defined by the Territorial Constitution.

At no time and under no circumstances shall any person *de facto* resident in the territory be denied basic human rights, amongst these being provisions for physical health and safety, defence against persecution, and access to communication with appropriate legal counsel; but such ***does not*** grant the noncitizen such rights, responsibilities or privileges as may be essentially equivalent to those of legally-recognised Paradisian citizens.

Further clarification on the official policy towards noncitzens in Paradise may be found in Doc. 2.69. The Paradisian Tourist Experience.

## Rights, responsibilities and privileges as conferred by age

### Age 10

All of the following are conferred upon the official birthdate of the citizen:

* Privilege to ride public bus, beyond commutation to and from school, unescorted by guardian
* Privilege, given successful completion of community- or school-conducted safety course, to conduct bicycle on public ways, till 19.00
* Privilege to conduct draw/harness animal of 1 or 2 per team, on public ways, till 19.00

### Age 12

All of the above remaining in effect; the following are conferred upon the official birthdate of the citizen:

* Privilege to conduct bicycle on public ways, till 21.00
* Privilege to view films rated BBFC ‘12’ at public cinema
* Privilege to apply for training, examination and, if approved, certification as childminder
* Privilege to seek and, if hired, enter childminding contract, under supervision by parent or guardian, of up to 12 hrs/week, maximum 5 hrs/day, till 20.30 Sunday through Thursday, till 23.00 Friday and Saturday, at a rate of not less than 70 percent of established minimum wage (net £2.80/hr, c.1999)
* Privilege to apply for training and examination and, if approved, licensure for conduct of motor vehicle on public ways, 2-, 3-, and 4-wheeled, to 10 BHP, till 21.00
* Privilege to view films rated BBFC ‘12’ at public cinema
* Privilege to apply for MOT license for conduct of motor vehicle on public ways, 2-, 3-, and 4-wheeled, to 10 BHP, till 21.00

* Parochial responsibility to begin Confirmation instruction, towards conferral of Confirmation by episcopate

### Age 13

The age of 13 years is a first degree of recognised maturity in Paradise.

All of the above remaining in effect; the following are conferred upon the official birthdate of the citizen:

* Privilege to conduct bicycle or single draw/harness animal on public ways, till 23.00
* Privilege of access to prescription medications
* Privilege of access to abortion, subject to medical providers’ policy and to medical and psychological counselling, and with parental notification
* Privilege to enter and be served at public house till 21.00; receipt of alcoholic beverages excluded
* Right of access to and limited confidentiality in medical examination and treatment, including at school infirmary
* Right of access to birth-control measures and to non-invasive procedures
* Right to seek and, if hired, enter labour contract, for a part-time nonagricultural job, of up to 20 hrs/week, maximum 5 hrs/day, till 21.00 Sunday through Thursday, till 23.00 Friday and Saturday, at a rate of not less than 80 percent of established minimum wage (net £3.20/hr, c.1999; less employee taxes deducted @9%); service and cleanup of alcoholic beverages excluded

### Age 14

All of the above remaining in effect; the following are conferred upon the official birthdate of the citizen:

* Parochial responsibility to contribute regular monetary contributions to church parish
* Privilege to apply for ownership registration for motor vehicle, to 30 BHP
* Privilege to apply for training, examination and licence for conduct of motor vehicle to 30 BHP, draw/harness over 2/team, on public ways, till 23.00
* Right to seek and, if hired, enter labour contract of up to 30 hours per week, maximum 8 hrs/day, till 23.00, at a rate not less than minimum wage (net £4.00/hour, c.1999; less employee taxes deducted @18%); service and cleanup of alcoholic beverages excluded
* Responsibility to maintain adequate driving insurance, per driving and ownership status, and legal proof thereof
* Responsibility to file formal annual tax report, pursuant to policy

### Age 15

At the age of 15 years a Paradisian resident or belonger is regarded as an adult in the general sense, excepting certain rights and responsibilities as interpreted by local law when outside the territory (i.e., in Britain, in nations of the Commonwealth, or abroad).

All of the above remaining in effect; the following are conferred upon the official birthdate of the belonger or resident:

* Privilege to conduct bicycle, motor vehicle to 30 BHP, or draw/harness team on public ways, unrestricted hours
* Privilege to sit for MOE O-level school examinations
* Privilege to file for public assistance including unemployment compensation
* Privilege to apply for training and examination and, if approved, licensure as lifesaver, scuba diver, firefighter, emergency medical assistant
* Privilege to apply for training and examination and, if approved, licensure to own and manage horse, game and livestock
* Privilege to apply for employment and training at most employer- and public-certificated jobs such as machine operator, petrol dispenser, park ranger, postal carrier, amusements operator, barber or hairdresser...
* Privilege to enter and be served (food and drink) at public house or licensed casino
* Privilege to view films rated BBFC ‘15’ films at public cinema
* Privilege to patronise ‘comprehensive’ spa, resort or club
* Privilege to sit for O-level school examinations
* Privilege to apply for training and examination and, if approved, licensure as student (private) pilot, pleasure-boat skipper
* Privilege to apply for and, if approved, to receive business or personal loan
* Right to apply for and, if approved, to enter into tenant or mortgage contract
* Right to apply for and, if approved, to enter into line-of-credit contract, bank loan contract
* Right to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages
* Right to seek and, if hired, enter labour contract of up to 50 hours per week, maximum 10 hrs/day, at a rate not less than minimum wage (net £4.00/hour, c.1999; less employee taxes deducted at 18%), including in the serving, cleaning-up, or distribution of alcoholic beverages or pharmaceutical products, without restriction
* Right to apply for and, if approved, to be granted business licence
* Right to withdraw from or reapply to school (MOE request 2 weeks' prep and processing time)
* Right to apply for and to gain passport and access to immigration/emigration procedure
* Right to engage in consensual sexual relations
* Right to procure, own and use sexual paraphernalia, including pornography
* Right to abortion, subject to medical providers’ policy
* Right to enter into marriage contract, to be married in a recognised ceremony
* Right to establish independent living arrangements, free of parental domicile, responsibility or authority
* Right to consult with and engage independent legal representation
* Right to file for adjudicated relief as aggrieved party (legal suit)
* Right to establish marital separation
* Right to file legal suit for divorce
* Right to contend for and, if approved, to be granted primary or sole custody of child
* Right to cast confidential vote, weighed at 60 percent ‘adult vote’, at public election
* Responsibility to register status of independent eligibility with MHW for National Health Services
* Responsibility to be subject to financial, legal and contractual provisions, in full
* Responsibility to maintain, once established, independent living arrangements
* Responsibility to be subject to limited criminal and judicial process, including eligibility for sentencing, probation and parole, and all adjudicated fines
* Responsibility to be subject to real-estate and income taxati
* Responsibility to maintain, bear and produce proof of Paradisian residency status and of age when required by authorities, in order to assert rights and privileges when outside the territory

### Age 16

All of the above remaining in effect; the following are conferred upon the official birthdate of the citizen:

* Privilege to apply for training, examination and licence as emergency medical responder
* Privilege to sit for MOE A-level bursary school examinations
* Privilege to apply for enrolment in and to be accepted for college or trade school
* Privilege to apply for ownership registration for motor vehicle, unrestricted BHP
* Privilege to apply for training and examination and, if approved, licensure for conduct of motor vehicle on public ways, unrestricted BHP and hours
* Privilege to apply for training and examination and, if approved, licensure for racing of horse or harness on public-access closed course
* Responsibility to be subject to full criminal and judicial process, including eligibility for full sentence to HM prisons, probation and parole

### Age 17

All of the above remaining in effect; the following are conferred upon the official birthdate of the citizen:

* Privilege to apply for MOT license for racing of motor vehicle on public course
* Privilege to apply for discretionary military service

### Age 18

The age of 18 years represents the achievement of unconditional adult status in Paradise.

All of the above remaining in effect; the following are conferred upon the official birthdate of the citizen:

* Privilege to view films rated BBFC ‘18’
* Privilege to apply for training and examination and, if approved, licensure for conduct of commercial vessel, of commercial aircraft, of motor vehicle, commercial/for-hire, lorry, articulated, or
* Privilege to gamble at licensed BPI casino
* Privilege to apply for training and examination and, if approved, licensure for employment as croupier in BPI public casino
* Right to cast full vote at public election
* Right to apply for candidacy for territorial elected office
* Right to enter into sole responsibility for real-estate mortgage
* Responsibility to establish independent living arrangements and income, free of parental domicile, responsibility or authority, if so compelled by providers of same
* Responsibility to register status of MOD eligibility for territorial or home military service
* All other privileges, rights and responsibilities as pertain to all Paradisian citizens under the provisions of the Territorial Constitution

#### \* \* \*

Doc. 5.14. b. 2013.0912. ©Jonnie Comet Productions Ltd. All rights reserved