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Elements of Child Law in the Commonwealth Caribbean This page intentionally left blank ELEMENTS OF CHILD LAW IN THE COMMONWEALTH CARIBBEAN Zanifa McDowell UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES PRESS Barbados * Jamaica • Trinidad and Tobago The University of the West Indies Press 1A Aqueduct Flats Mona Kingston 7 Jamaica ©2000 by Zanifa McDowell All rights reserved. Published 2000 ISBN 976-640-085-7 04 03 02 01 00 5 4 3 2 1 CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION DATA McDowell, Zanifa Elements of Child Law in the Commonwealth Caribbean / Zanifa McDowell p.cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN: 976-640-085-7 1. Children - legal status, laws, etc. - Caribbean, English-speaking. 2. Children's rights - Caribbean, English-speaking. 3. Conflict of laws - Illegitimacy Caribbean, English-speaking. 4. Custody of children Caribbean, English-speaking. 5. Adoption - Law and legislation - Caribbean, English-speaking. 6. Parent and child (Law) - Caribbean, English-speaking. I. Title. KGJ160.A37M24 2000 Set in Stone Informal, 10/14pt Book and cover design by Alan Ross Printed in USA 346.01 To my children, Kimberley, sheri and Sasha, the memory of my mother, Isha, and for my husband, Sean This page intentionally left blank Contents Preface and Acknowledgments / xii List of Cases / xv List of Statutes / xxiii CHAPTER 1 Scope of the Law Relating to Children / 1 Introduction / 1 Legal Regimes / 2 English Basis of Regional Family Law / 3 General Content of the Law Relating to Children / 4 Definition of Child / 5 Legal Position of Foetus / 6 Relevant Legislation Regulating Abortions / 9 Convention on the Rights of the Child / 10 Legal Disabilities or Incapacities of Children / 13 Contractual Disability / 13 Sale and Lease of Property Belonging to Infants / 15 Settlement of Infant's Property / 15 Parties to Legal Proceedings / 15 Testamentary Capacity / 16 Trustees and Executors / 16 Liability for Tort / 17 Liability for Crime I 17 VIM • CONTENTS Limitation Periods / 18 Laws Affecting Children Generally / 18 Status of Children: Legitimate versus Illegitimate / 19 The Illegitimate Child under the Common Law / 20 Social Reality / 27 Effect of Status of Children Legislation / 28 Perpetuation of Old Discriminations / 29 CHAPTER 2 The Presumption of Legitimacy / 33 Introduction / 33 Statutory Presumptions / 34 Common Law Presumption / 35 Rebuttal of Presumption of Legitimacy / 36 Absence of Sexual Relations /37 Scientific Evidence / 38 CHAPTER 3 Legitimation by Statute / 44 Introduction / 44 Void Marriages / 45 Voidable Marriages / 46 Legitimation by Subsequent Marriage / 49 Effects of Legitimation: Personal Rights and Obligations/Property Rights / 50 Registration Procedure for Legitimation / 51 Legitimation by Adoption / 52 Repeal of Legitimacy/Legitimation Acts / 53 CHAPTER 4 Status of Children Legislation / 55 Introduction / 55 Content of the Legislation / 57 Equality of Status / 58 Persons and Property Subject to the Acts / 59 Presumptions of Paternity or Parenthood / 61 Balance of Probabilities Test / 65 Blood Tests / 67 Who May Apply for Declaration of Paternity / 71 Legal Effect of Declaration of Paternity / 72 Abolition of Old Rule of Construction / 73 Retention of Discriminatory Provisions / 74 Judicial Interpretation of the Legislation / 75 Assessment of the Legislation / 76 CONTENTS • ix CHAPTER 5 Parental Rights and Duties/ 78 Introduction / 78 Persons Having Parental Rights and Duties / 80 Composition of Parental Rights and Duties / 82 Rights and Duties Laid down by Statute / 82 Custody, Care and Control / 83 Education / 83 Right to Administer Punishment / 84 Duty to Maintain / 85 Duty to Protect Child / 85 Penalties for Failure to Observe Duties / 86 The Welf