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Cayman Islands (British Overseas Territory)

 Flag of Cayman Islands

Last reviewed: 29 September 2009

Country information

Map of the Cayman Islands

THE CAYMAN ISLANDS TODAY

Country Facts

Full Name: Cayman Islands
Status: British Overseas Territory
Area: 260 sq km (100 sq miles)
Population: 53,886 (2007 estimate)
Capital City: George Town (Grand Cayman)
Languages: English
Religion(s): Mainly Christian
Currency: Caymanian Dollar
Major political parties: UDP (United Democratic Party), PPM (People’s Progressive Movement).
Governor: His Excellency Stuart Jack CVO
Leader of Government Business: The Honourable McKeeva Bush OBE JP MLA

HEALTH

There are 3 hospitals: the 124-bed Cayman Islands Hospital and 18-bed Chrissie Tomlinson Hospital on Grand Cayman; and Faith Hospital on Cayman Brac which has 18 beds.

Life expectancy at birth is 75 years for men and 79 years for women.

ECONOMY

Basic economic facts

GDP per head: CI$40,200 (2006 estimate)
Annual Growth: 2.2% (2007)
Inflation: 2.9% (2007)
Major Industries: Tourism, offshore finance
Major trading partners: USA, UK, CARICOM
Exchange rate: UK£1 = CI $1.32 (January 2009)

HISTORY

In 1503 Christopher Columbus passing by the islands noted the great abundance of giant green turtles. The Islands appeared to be uninhabited. For the next 200 years they were visited by many ships for revictualling, and small groups of pirates and shipwrecked sailors formed temporary settlements. No country attempted to colonise the islands before 1670, when Spain ceded the Cayman Islands and Jamaica to Britain by the Treaty of Madrid. After 1863 the Caymans formally became a dependency of Jamaica and the legislature of Jamaica had the final say over the locally passed laws of the islands. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman were not settled until 1833, and it was not until 1887 that a formal administrative connection between them and Grand Cayman was achieved. In 1959 the islands ceased to be a dependency of Jamaica and became a unit territory within the Federation of the West Indies. When the Federation was dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain under the British Crown, thereupon receiving a revised constitution, which in 1972 was modified to allow for directly responsible government. This was further modified in March 1994. A wider constitutional review, started in 2001, was put on hold early in 2004 pending elections that year. A new four phase constitutional review programme began in March 2007. Phase 1 will end later this year with the publication of a public discussion paper.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Relations with Neighbours

Cayman Islands enjoy a close relationship with the other Caribbean Overseas Territories. Cayman Islands have been an associate member of CARICOM since 2002.

Relations with the International Community

HMG is responsible for Cayman Island's external relations.

Relations with the UK

HMG is responsible for Cayman Islands' external relations, defence and internal security. The principal point of contact is Overseas Territories Directorate, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (+44 20 7008 2696/otdenquiries@fco.gov.uk), and the Governor's Office, George Town, Grand Cayman.

UK Representative of the Cayman Islands

Ms Mary Chandler Allen
Acting Representative Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
Government Office
6 Arlington Street
London
SW1A 1RE
Tel: 020 7491 7772
Fax: 020 7491 7944
Email: info@cigo.co.uk

GEOGRAPHY

The 3 Cayman Islands are situated 268km (180 miles) north-west of Jamaica in the Caribbean Sea and 150 miles south of Cuba. Grand Cayman, which is much larger than the others, lies 128km (80 miles) to the west of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, which are separated from each other by a channel 8km (5 miles) wide. Grand Cayman is approximately 22 miles long with an average width of 4 miles. About half of Grand Cayman's area is wetland. Cayman Brac is about 12 miles long with an average width of one and a quarter miles. A huge central limestone outcrop called The Bluff rises along the length of the island up to 140 feet. Little Cayman, a low-lying island, is approximately 10 miles long with an average width of little more than a mile. 94% of the population lives on Grand Cayman, with around 1,822 people residing on Cayman Brac and some 115 on Little Cayman. Offshore reefs and a mangrove fringe surround most of the islands' coasts.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Trade and Investment with the UK

UK exports to the Cayman Islands: £14.7 million (2006)
Cayman Islands exports to the UK: £31.2 million (2006)

Development Assistance

Information on the British humanitarian response to Hurricane Ivan (DFID link).

POLITICS

Constitutional Status

Cayman Islands form a British Overseas Territory with a large measure of self-government. The Governor retains responsibility for the civil service, defence, external affairs and internal security. The present constitution, which came into effect in 1972, provides for a system of government headed by a Governor, a Cabinet and a Legislative Assembly. Unlike other Caribbean Overseas Territories there is no Chief Minister, but a Leader of Government Business. The Legislative Assembly comprises the Speaker, who acts as President, 3 official members (the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary and the Attorney General) and 15 elected members. The Cabinet consists of the Governor as Chairman, 3 official members and 5 members drawn from the elected members of the Assembly. As Ministers, the 5 elected members of the Cabinet have direct responsibility for government portfolios.

A new Cayman Islands Constitution was agreed in February 2009, following a constitutional review which began in 2001. The new Constitution, which includes for the first time a Bill of Rights, was accepted by the people of the Cayman Islands in a referendum held on 20 May. The Constitution was subsequently approved by the Privy Council on 10 June, and will come into force on a date set by the Governor.

Recent Political Developments

The last elections were held on 20 May 2009. The opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) won 9 of the 15 seats in the Legislative Assembly against the incumbent People's Progressive Movement (PPM), who kept five seats. The one successful independent candidate elected to join the UDP. The results therefore constitute a reversal of the 2005 election, when the then UDP administration was voted out, with the parties taking 5 and 10 seats respectively.

Elections

The next elections are due to be held in 2014.

Government

Governor's Office

Governor: HE Stuart Jack CVO
Head of Governor’s Office: Steve Moore
Staff Officer: Andy Holbrook
PA/HE Governor: Mandy Heffield

Governor’s Office
Suite 202 Second Floor
The Smith Road Centre
154 Smith Road
George Town
Grand Cayman
Tel: 00 1 345 949 7900
Fax: 00 1 345 949 4131

Government Ministers

  • Leader of Government Business and Minister for Financial Services, Tourism and Development: The Hon McKeeva Bush OBE JP
  • Minister for Education, Training and Employment: Hon Rolston AnglinMinister for District Administration, Works and Gender Affairs: Hon Julianna O’Connor-Connolly  
  • Minister for Community Affairs and Housing: Hon Mike Adam  
  • Minister for Health, Environment, Youth, Sports and Culture: Hon Mark Scotland  Official Members of Legislative Assembly
  • Financial Secretary: The Hon Kenneth Jefferson, JP 
  • Attorney General: The Hon Samuel Bulgin, JP 
  • Chief Secretary: The Hon George AM McCarthy OBE JP

Official Members of Legislative Assembly

  • Financial Secretary: The Hon Kenneth Jefferson, JP
  • Attorney General: The Hon Samuel Bulgin, JP
  • Chief Secretary: The Hon George A.M. McCarthy OBE JP

HUMAN RIGHTS

Overseas Territories are expected to comply with their obligations under the international human rights instruments which have been extended to them. The following major Conventions apply in Cayman Islands:

  • European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
  • International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights (ICESCR)
  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
  • UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT)
  • UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
  • UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

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Contacts

Cayman Islands, George Town, Governor's Office

Address:


Postal Address:
Governor's Office
PO Box 10261
Grand Cayman
CAYMAN ISLANDS KY1-1003

Physical Address:
Governor's Office
Suite 202
Second Floor
The Smith Road Centre
154 Smith Road
George Town
Grand Cayman  
Cayman Islands

Fax:

(+1) 345 945 4131 General

Email: staffoff@candw.ky

Office hours:

1330-1800/1900-2200 GMT
0830-1700 Local Time

Website: http://ukincayman.fco.gov.uk/en/