3 GeoFroggy

Country Name

Conventional long form: none

Conventional short form: Cayman Islands

Administrative Divisions

6 districts; Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National Holiday

Constitution Day, first Monday in July

Constitution

Several previous; latest approved 10 June 2009, entered into force 6 November 2009 (The Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009) (2015)

Legal System

English common law and local statutes

International Law Organization Participation

Citizenship

See United Kingdom

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Helen KILPATRICK (since 6 September 2013)

Head of government: Premier Alden MCLAUGHLIN (since 29 May 2013)

Cabinet: The Cabinet (6 members selected from the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the governor on the advice of the premier)

Elections:

Legislative Branch

Description: unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; 18 members directly elected by majority vote and 2 ex officio members - the deputy governor and attorney general - appointed by the governor; members serve 4-year terms)

Elections: last held on 22 May 2013 (next to be held in 2017)

Election results: percent of vote by party - PPM 36.1%, UDP 27.8%, C4C 18.6%, PNA 5.7%, independent 11.9%; seats by party - PPM 9, UDP 3, C4C 3, PNA 1, independent 2

Judicial Branch

Highest resident court(s): Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); Grand Court (consists of the court president and at least 2 judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

Judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Grand Court judges appointed by the governor on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an 8-member independent body consisting of governor appointees, Court of Appeal president, and attorneys; Court of Appeal judges' tenure based on their individual instruments of appointment; Grand Court judges normally appointed until retirement at age 65 but can be extended until age 70

Subordinate courts: Summary Court

Political Parties and Leaders

United Democratic Party or UDP [McKeeva BUSH]

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders

National Trust

Flag Description

A blue field with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a crest with a pineapple, representing the connection with Jamaica, and a turtle, representing Cayman's seafaring tradition, above a shield bearing a golden lion, symbolizing Great Britain, below which are three green stars (representing the three islands) surmounting white and blue wavy lines representing the sea and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

National Symbols

Green sea turtle

National Anthem

Lyrics:

Year

Government Type

  • Parliamentary democracy

Capital

  • Name
    George Town (on Grand Cayman)
  • Geographic Coordinates
    19 18 N, 81 23 W
  • Time Difference
    UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  • Daylight Saving Time
    a decision has been made to introduce DST in the archipelago for the first time beginning in 2016; a date for implementation is pending, though it seems likely it will match the date used in the US and Canada

Diplomatic Representation in the US

    None (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic Representation from the US

    None (overseas territory of the UK); consular services provided through the US Embassy in Jamaica

International Organization Participation

  • Caricom (associate)
  • CDB
  • Interpol (subbureau)
  • IOC
  • UNESCO (associate)
  • UPU