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Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands are situated in the western Caribbean Sea. It is an overseas territory of United Kingdom. The island nation comprises three islands: the largest island being the island of Grand Cayman with the two sister islands of Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. Cayman Islands are situated south of Cuba, northwest of Jamaica and south of Miami. The capital city George Town is located at 19 20 N 81 24 W, in the island of Grand Cayman.

The schooling system is operated by the Cayman Islands Education Department. Primary and secondary education is free for all the children of Cayman Islands. United Kingdom is responsible for the security affairs. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, is the own police force of the islands. Though United Kingdom has some responsibilities regarding the external affairs, but the islands’ government sometimes settles most of the foreign issues.

HISTORY:- The Cayman Islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus on 10 May 1503. Sir Francis Drake was the earliest visitor to the islands in 1568. Sir Francis Drake gave the name of the islands- the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands were occupied by Jamaica. In 1959, the islands were merged within the Federation of the West Indies. In 1960, after the fall of the federation, these islands were ceded to Britain with the treaty of Madrid. Until 1962, the Cayman Islands were governed along with Jamaica as a single entity. Afterwards these islands had been turned up as a separate British Overseas Territory.

GEOGRAPHY:- The Cayman Islands are located at 19 30 N, 80 30 W in the Western Caribbean sea. These islands are situated at 300 km south of Cuba, 315 km northwest of Jamaica and 650 km south of Miami. The country is formed of three islands- Grand Cayman (197 sq km), Cayman Brac (57 sq km), and Little Cayman (52 sq km). Grand Cayman is the biggest island among the three. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are nicknamed as the Sister Islands. The total land area of the islands is 262 sq km. The coastline is 160 km long along with the Caribbean Sea. The lowest point is located at the Caribbean Sea (0 m) while the highest point is located in the Cayman Brac, The Bluff (43 m). The islands are based on low-lying limestone, which is surrounded by coral reefs.

CLIMATE:- The climates of Cayman Islands are tropical marine with warm, rainy summers and cool, dry winters. The summer reigns from May to October while the winter reigns from May to October.

GOVERNMENT:- Cayman Islands are the overseas territory of the UK. The constitution was adopted in 1959 and revised in 1962, 1972, and 1994. The legal system is based on the British common law and local statutes. The administration is divided among the three main branches by the British crown:

Executive branch consists of the Queen (chief of state), the Leader of Government Business (head of government), cabinet. Cabinet is headed by the Governor. The Governor represents the Queen. 3 members of the cabinet are appointed by the governor, and 4 members of the cabinet are elected by the Legislative Assembly.

Legislative branch consists of the unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Summary Court, the Grand Court, and the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal.

Two largest political parties are the People's Progressive Movement, and the United Democratic Party. Suffrage is universal at 18.

Queen Queen Elizabeth II

Governor Stuart Jack

Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Administratively Cayman Islands are divided into 7 districts: Bodden Town, Cayman Brac, East End, George Town, Little Cayman, North Side, and West Bay.

Generally Cayman Islands are divided into 8 districts: Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, and Western.

CULTURE:- The cuisine of Cayman Islands is highly influenced by Caribbean dishes. Monogamy is permitted. Homosexuality is banned.

ECONOMY:- No direct taxation is imposed in Cayman Islands. Indirect taxation is the primary source of income for the government. The islanders have the highest standard of living among the Caribbean nations. Tourism brings 70% of the annual GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings for the islands. The islands have over 68,000 registered companies including 500 banks, 800 insurers, and 5,000 mutual funds.

GDP/PPP (2004 est.): $1.391 billion; per capita $32,300.

Real growth rate: 1.7% (2002 est.).

Budget:

Revenues: $423.8 million

Expenditures: $392.6 million (2004)

Inflation: 2.8% (2002).

Unemployment: 4.1% (1997).

Arable land: 4%.

Agriculture: vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming.

Labor force: 19,820 (1995); agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995).

Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture.

Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism.

Exports - partners: mostly US (2006)

Exports: $1.2 million (1999): turtle products, manufactured consumer goods.

Imports - partners: US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2006)

Imports: $457.4 million (1999): foodstuffs, manufactured goods.

Debt - external: $70 million (1996)

Major trading partners: U.S., Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2004).

Monetary unit: Cayman Islands dollar

LANGUAGE:- English is the official language.

CITIES:- The capital and the largest city is George Town, located on the Grand Cayman.

POPULATION:- The estimated population of Cayman Islands is 45,436 with a growth rate of 2.6%. The majority of the population has their abode in the Grand Cayman.

Density per sq mi: 449

Literacy rate: 98% (1970 est.)

RACE:-

Mixed 40%

White 20%

Black 20%

Other ethnic groups 20%

RELIGION:- United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic believes exist.

HEALTH:- The islands have modernized health care units. In the capital George Town, two government hospitals and a private Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital handle the health problems. In Cayman Brac, there is Faith Hospital with an eighteen-bed facility. In the Little Cayman, the government surpervises the health sector with a satellite clinic.

Birth rate: 12.43 births/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 4.83 deaths/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 7.1 deaths/ 1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.32 years

Total fertility rate: 1.89 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: 0 km.

Highways: total: 785 km; paved: 785 km (2000).

Ports and harbors: Cayman Brac, George Town.

Airports: 3 (2002).

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