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Motto:
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He
hath founded it upon the seas
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History
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The
Cayman Islands were discovered on May 10th, 1503 by
Christopher Columbus on his forth and last voyage to the new
world. He was actually on his way from Panama to Hispaniola
when his ships were steered off course by strong winds and he
sighted Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The story says that he
reported sighting two small islands so full of tortoises
(turtles) that they looked like rocks and he gave the islands
the name Las Tortugas (The Turtles).
Over the next 150 years the
islands went through several name changes and played host to
various visiting ships as sailors would use the islands to
replenish their supplies of fresh water, as well as stocking
up on turtle meat and various wild fowls. One of the name
changes, Caymanas, is believed to have reflected the presence
of crocodiles and was derived from the Carib word for the
crocodile family. Indeed, several visiting buccaneers
including Sir Francis Drake and William Dampier noted
"large lizards" and crocodiles on these islands
during the 1500's to 1700's.
In 1655, the islands came
under British control when Jamaica was captured from the
Spanish by Oliver Cromwell's army. They officially became a
British territory when the Treaty of Madrid was signed in 1670
and Spain gave to Britain, "all those lands, islands,
colonies and places whatsoever situated in the West
Indies".
The motto He hath founded it
upon the seas is referring to the fact that Christopher
Columbus was the first European to discover the Cayman Islands
which were then named "Las Tortugas" by Columbus
himself.
The Cayman Islands were
colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th
centuries. Administered by Jamaica from 1863, they remained a
British dependency after 1962 when the former became
independent.
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Geography |
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Location:
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Caribbean,
three island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) in Caribbean Sea,
240 km northwest of Jamaica. |
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Geographic coordinates:
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19
30 N, 80 30 W
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Map references:
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Central
America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total:
264 sq km
land: 264 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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Coastline:
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160
km
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive
fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical
marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool,
relatively dry winters (November to April)
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Terrain:
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low-lying
limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff 43 m
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Natural resources:
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fish,
climate and beaches that foster tourism
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Land use:
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arable
land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 8%
forests and woodland: 23%
other: 69% (1993 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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hurricanes
(July to November)
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Environment - current issues:
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no
natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be
met by rainwater catchments
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Geography note: |
important
location between Cuba and Central America |
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People |
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Population:
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49,035
note: most of the population lives on the island of Grand Cayman
(July 2009 est) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 19.6% (male
4,824/female 4,783)
15-64 years: 71.1% (male 16,994/female 17,884)
65 years and over: 9.3% (male 2,139/female 2,411) (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate: |
2.394% (2009 est) |
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Birth rate: |
12.36 births/1,000 population
(2009 est.) |
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Death rate: |
4.89 deaths/1,000 population
(July 2009 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
16.48 migrant(s)/1,000
population
country comparison to the world: 3
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US
(2009 est.) |
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Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.) |
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Nationality: |
noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian
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Ethnic groups: |
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mixed
40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic
groups 20% |
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Religions: |
Church of God 26%, United Church
11.8% (Presbyterian and Congregational), Roman Catholic 11%,
Baptist 8.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.2%, Anglican 5.7%,
Pentecostal 5.3%, other Christian 2.7%, non-denominational 5.8%,
other 3.8%, none 9.8%, unspecified 1.1% (1999 census) |
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Languages: |
English 95%, Spanish 3.2%, other
1.8% (1999 census) |
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Literacy: |
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.) |
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Government |
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Country name: |
Cayman
Islands |
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Dependency status: |
overseas
territory of the UK |
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Government type: |
British
crown colony |
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Capital: |
George
Town
geographic coordinates: 19 18 N, 81 23 W |
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Administrative divisions: |
8
districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay,
Stake Bay, West End, Western |
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Independence: |
none (overseas territory of the
UK) |
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National holiday: |
New Years Day (01 January);
National Heroes Day (Fourth Monday in January); Ash Wednesday,
Good Friday,; Easter Monday,; Queens Official Birthday (mid
June); Constitution Day (first Monday in July); Remembrance Day
(10 November, 2008); Christmas Day (25 December); Boxing Day (26
December) |
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Constitution: |
1959,
revised 1962, 1972 and 1994 |
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Legal system: |
British
common law and local statutes |
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Suffrage: |
18
years of age; universal |
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Executive branch: |
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH
II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Stuart JACK
(since 23 November 2005)
head of government: Leader of Government Business McKeeva BUSH
(since 27 May 2009). Mr. Bush was born on January 20, 1955 and
was elected to the post of Leader of Government business in 2001
and again in 2005
cabinet: The Cabinet (three members appointed by the governor,
five members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed
by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of
the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor
Leader of Government Business |
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Legislative branch: |
unicameral Legislative Assembly
(18 seats; 3 appointed members from The Cabinet and 15 elected
by popular vote; to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 May 2009 (next to be held not later than
May 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party
- UDP 9, PPM 5, independent 1 |
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Judicial branch: |
Summary
Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal |
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Political parties and leaders: |
United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva
BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Kurt TIBBETTS]
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International organization participation: |
Caricom (associate), CDB,
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WFTU |
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Date of Caricom Membership: |
15 May 2002 |
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Flag description: |
Blue,
with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and
the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the
outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple
and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the
three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE
HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS |
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Economy |
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Overview: |
With
no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore
financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered
in the Cayman Islands as of 1997, including almost 600 banks
and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A
stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay,
accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency
earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market
and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total
tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million visitors in 1997. About
90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported.
The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and
one of the highest standards of living in the world |
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GDP Purchasing
power parity: |
-$1.939
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate: |
0.9% (2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita: |
$43,800 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.) |
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Labor force: |
23,450 (2004) |
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Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 12.6%
services: 86% (1995) |
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Unemployment rate: |
4.4%
(2004) |
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Budget: |
revenues: $423.8 million
expenditures: $392.6 million (2004) |
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Industries: |
Tourism,
banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction
materials, furniture |
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Agriculture - products: |
Vegetables,
fruit; livestock, turtle farming |
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Exports: |
$2.52 million (2004) |
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Exports - commodities:
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turtle products, manufactured
consumer goods |
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Imports: |
$866.9 million (2004) |
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Imports - commodities: |
Foodstuffs,
manufactured goods |
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Exchange rates: |
Caymanian dollars (KYD) per US
dollar - NA (2007), 0.8496 (2006) |
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Fiscal year: |
1
April - 31 March |
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Business Hours: |
Commercial: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. Monday to Saturday;
Government: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday |
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Communications |
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Telephones - main lines in use: |
38,000 (2008) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular: |
33,800 (2004) |
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Telephone system: |
general assessment: reasonably
good system
domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003; introduction
of competition in the mobile-cellular market in 2004
international: country code - 1-345; landing point for the
MAYA-1 submarine telephone cable network that provides links to
the US and parts of Central and South America; submarine cable
provides connectivity to Jamaica; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007) |
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Radio broadcast stations: |
AM
1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004) |
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Radios: |
36,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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4 with cable system (2004) |
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Televisions: |
7,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.ky |
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Internet Hosts: |
4648 (2008) |
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Internet users: |
22,000 (2007) |
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Transportation |
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Highways: |
total: 785 km
country comparison to the world: 187
paved: 785 km (2007) |
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Ports and
Terminals: |
Cayman
Brac, George Town |
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Merchant marine: |
total: 109
country comparison to the world: 49
by type: bulk carrier 30, cargo 2, chemical tanker 42, petroleum
tanker 15, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle
carrier 7
foreign-owned: 107 (Denmark 3, Germany 15, Greece 16, Italy 4,
Japan 13, Norway 1, Singapore 10, UK 3, US 42) (2008) |
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Airports: |
3
(2000 est.) Owen Roberts International Airport, Grand Cayman;
Gerard Smith Airport, Cayman Brac; Edward Bodden Airport, Little
Cayman |
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Airports - with paved runways: |
total:
2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2000 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total:
1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
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Military |
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no regular military
forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (2008) |
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defense
is the responsibility of the UK |
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Main Source of Information: the Central Intelligence Agency
World Factbook |
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National Anthem: |
God Save the Queen
God Save the Queen"
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save The Queen.
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save The Queen.
O Lord our God, arise,
Scatter our enemies,
And make them fall;
Confound their politics,
Frustrate their knavish tricks;
On thee our hopes we fix:
God save us all.
Thy choicest gifts in store,
On her be pleased to pour,
Long may she reign.
May she defend our laws,
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice,
God save The Queen.
"Beloved Isle Cayman"
(Local National Anthem)
Words by: Leila E. Ross
Music by: Leila E. Ross
Adopted: 1930
1. O land of soft, fresh breezes
And verdant trees so fair,
With the Creator's glory
Reflected ev'rywhere,
O sea of palest em'rald,
Merging to darkest blue,
Whene'er my thoughts fly Godward,
I always think of you.
Chorus:
Dear, verdant island, set in blue Caribbean Sea,
I'm coming, coming very soon, O beautious isle, to thee.
Although I wandered far,
My heart enshrines thee yet.
Homeland, fair Cayman Isle,
I cannot thee forget.
2. Away from noise of cities,
Their fret and carking care,
With moonbeams' soft caresses,
Unchecked by garish glare,
Thy fruit with rarest juices,
Abundant, rich and free,
When sweet church bells are chiming,
My fond heart yearns for thee.
Chorus
3. When tired of all excitement
And glam'rous worldly care,
How sweet thy shores to reach
And find a welcome there,
And when comes on the season
Of peace, goodwill to man,
'Tis then I love thee best of all,
Beloved Isle Cayman.
Chorus
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Highest National Award:
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Order of Knighthood, bestowed by
Her Majesty, the Queen
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Favourite Local Cuisine: |
Turtle Stew |
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Government Web Page: |
http://www.belize.gov.bz |
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