| Motto: |
He
Hath Founded it Upon the Seas |
| Location: |
Caribbean,
three-island group (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little
Cayman) in the Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268
km northwest of Jamaica
|
| History: |
The Cayman
Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during
the
18th and 19th centuries and were administered by Jamaica from 1863.
In 1959 the islands became a territory within the Federation
of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved in
1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British
dependency.
|
| Elections: |
Last elections held 2009
Next elections due 2014
|
| Ruling
Party: |
United Democratic Party
(UDP) |
| Major
Political Parties: |
United Democratic Party
(UDP); People's Progressive Movement (PPM); |
| Head
of State: |
Stuart D.M. Jack, CVO, Governor |
| Head
of Government: |
.jpg)
Juliana
O’Connor-Connolly
Premier
(Appointed, 19 December 2012)
Date of Birth:
Marital Status:
Professional/Political Career:
|
| Economic
Summary: |
With no direct
taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial
centre. With no direct taxation, the islands are a
thriving offshore financial center. Some 83,532 companies
were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 2006. As of
March 2008, there were 9,681 Mutual Funds, 788 insurers, and
277 banks. A stock exchange was opened in 1997.
Tourism is
also a mainstay, accounting for about 35 % of GDP but this
figure is based on estimates. The tourist industry is aimed
at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from
North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 2.0 million
by year-end 2008, with some 79.6 of stay-over arrivals
coming from the US.
About 90% of the islands' food and
consumer goods must be imported. Caymanians enjoy one of the
highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards
of living in the world.
|
| Airports: |
Grand Cayman Airport -
Owen Roberts International Airport
Cayman Brac Airport - Gerard Smith Airport
Little Cayman Airport - Edward Bodden Airport
|
| Status: |
Overseas
Territory of the United Kingdom |
| Capital: |
George Town (on Grand
Cayman) |
| Area: |
122.23 km2
(75.97 miles2) |
| Population: |
53,172 (2006) |
| Currency: |
Cayman
dollar (KYD) |
| GDP: |
$2,034 billion (2006) |
| GDP
Per Capita (at current market prices): |
$39,100 (2006
est.) |
| Total
Exports: |
$19.2 million
(2006) |
| Total
Imports: |
$887.6 million
(2006) |
| Intra-Regional
Exports: |
$5.6 million (2006) |
| Intra-Regional
Imports: |
Not available |
| 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
|
| National
Holidays: |
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)
|
| Date
of CARICOM Membership: |
15 May 2002 |
| National
Anthem: |
"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.
|
| Highest
National Award: |
Order of Knighthood,
bestowed by Her Majesty, the Queen |
| Favourite
Dish: |
Turtle Stew |
| Government
website: |
http://www.gov.ky |
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