Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands (English: Cayman Islands) are a British Overseas Territory dependent on the United Kingdom and located northwest of Jamaica, between the island of Cuba and the coast of Honduras, in the waters of the Caribbean Sea. It is one of the seventeen Non-Self-Governing Territories under the supervision of the United Nations Decolonization Committee, in order to eliminate colonialism. They were colonized by British explorers between the 18th and 19th centuries and began to be administered by the Jamaican government in 1863. When Jamaica gained independence in 1962, the Cayman Islands were administered as a British Overseas Territory.

History

The Cayman Islands were visited by Christopher Columbus on May 10, 1503 during his fourth voyage to America. In 1586 the privateer Francis Drake docked on the islands, being the first Englishman on record that he visited them, and he named them the Cayman Islands. The islands, along with nearby Jamaica, were occupied by England during the Anglo-Spanish War of 1655-1660; Spain officially recognized English sovereignty over them through the Madrid Treaty of 1670. Together with Jamaica they were governed as a single colony until 1962 when they became a British Overseas Territory while Jamaica gained its independence (within the British Commonwealth of Nations).).

In 1794, ten ships returning to Britain from Jamaica were wrecked on the shores of the main island and were welcomed by the natives. For this action, King George III of the United Kingdom exempted the colony from paying taxes, a situation that continues to date.

Politics

Politically they are divided into 6 districts: Bodden Town, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay and Sister Islands, which are administered from the city of George Town. Since November 23, 2005, the governor is Stuart Jack, who is in charge of presiding over the unicameral parliament of the island made up of 18 members, of which 15 are elected and 3 are appointed by an Executive Council. The existing political parties on the island are the Popular Democratic Alliance, the Independent Party, the Popular Progressive Movement and the United Democratic Party.

Government

The Cayman Islands are a British Overseas Territory, designated by the UN Committee on Decolonization as one of the last Non-Self-Governing Territories. The fifteen representatives that make up the Legislative Assembly are elected by the People every four years, they are in charge of managing internal affairs. Of the elected members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), five are chosen to serve as ministers in a cabinet headed by the governor. The head of government is the prime minister.

The governor is appointed by the British government to represent the monarch. The governor can exercise full executive authority if he so desires through the powers reserved to him by the Constitution. Royal assent must be given to all legislation, which allows them the power to annul any law the legislator sees fit for the country. In modern times, the governor allows the country to be run by the Council of Ministers and the Civil Service to be run by the lieutenant governor, who is the acting governor when the governor is unable to perform his usual functions. The current Governor of the Cayman Islands is Anwar Choudhury.

The Cabinet is made up of two official members and five elected members, called ministers, one of whom is appointed prime minister.

The official members are the Lieutenant Governor and the Attorney General. They are appointed by the Governor, pursuant to Her Majesty's instructions, and although they hold seats in the Legislative Assembly under the 2009 Constitution, they do not vote.

The five ministers are chosen from among the fifteen elected members of the Legislative Assembly. One of the ministers, the leader of the majority political party, is appointed prime minister by the governor. After consultation with the Prime Minister, the Governor assigns a portfolio of responsibilities to each member of the Cabinet. Under the principle of collective responsibility, all ministers are obliged to support in the Assembly the measures approved by the Cabinet.

Nearly 80 departments, sections and units carry out the business of government, united by a series of official bodies and ad hoc authorities, such as the Port Authority, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Immigration Board, the Directorate of Water Resources, the University College Board of Governors, the National Board of Pensions, and the Health Insurance Commission.

The defense of the Cayman Islands is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service provides police services in the country. The Cayman Islands Cadet Corps was created in March 2001.

Since 2000, there have been ministers from the two main political parties: the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the Popular Progressive Movement (PPM). While there has been a change in political parties, many contenders for public office still function as independents.

Geography

Map of the Cayman

The Cayman Islands are located in the western part of the Caribbean Sea, about 240 km south of Cuba and about 290 km northwest of Jamaica. The archipelago consists mainly of three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, with Grand Cayman being the largest with an area of 197 km². The other two islands, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, are located 145 km east of Grand Cayman, and are 36 km² and 26 km² respectively.

There are no major landforms on the islands, with the exception of The Bluff cliff on Cayman Brac, which rises to more than 40 m s. no. m., being the highest point of the island.

Climate

Average climate parameters of George Town - capital of the Cayman Islands
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Average temperature (°C)	28	28	29	30	31	31	32	32	31	31	29	29	30.1
Average temperature (°C)	24.5	24.5	25.0	26.0	27.0	28.0	28.5	28.0	27.5	27.5	26.0	25.5	26.5
Temp. medium (°C)	21	21	21	22	23	25	25	24	24	24	23	22	22.9
Total precipitation (mm)	50	36	25	53	160	162	155	163	196	226	116	62	1404
Precipitation days (≥ 1 mm)	11	8	7	6	11	15	15	15	16	17	13	12	146
Hours of sun	248	232	279	300	279	240	279	248	240	248	210	217	3020
Source: weather2travel.com

Demographics

The Cayman Islands have more registered businesses than people. The latest population estimates for the Cayman Islands are close to 69,000 in 2008, representing a mix of over 100 nationalities. Of that number, about half are of Caymanian descent. About 60% of the population is of mixed race (mostly African-European). Of the remaining 40%, about half are of European descent and half are of African descent. The islands are almost exclusively Christian, with large numbers of Presbyterians and Catholics. The Cayman Islands enjoy the highest standard of living in the Caribbean. The vast majority of the population resides on Grand Cayman. Cayman Brac is the second most populous, followed by Little Cayman.

Religion

The predominant religion in the Cayman Islands is Christianity (81.9%). Together, the various Protestant groups make up 67.8%, while the Catholic Church makes up 14.1%. Practicing denominations include the United Church, Church of God, Anglican Church, Baptist Church, Catholic Church, Seventh-day Adventist Church, and Pentecostal Church. The Catholic churches are St. Ignatius Church, George Town Church and Stella Maris Church on Cayman Brac. Many citizens are deeply religious, going to church regularly^{[citation needed]}. The ports are closed on Sundays and Christian holidays. There are places of worship in George Town for Jehovah's Witnesses and followers of the Baha'i faith. The Cayman Islands are also home to a growing Jewish community.

Elmslie United Church, George Town, Grand Cayman Island

Languages

The official language of the Cayman Islands is English. Islander accents retain elements passed down by English, Scottish, and Welsh settlers (among others) in a language variety known as Cayman Creole. Caymanians of Jamaican origin speak their own vernacular (see Jamaican Creole and Jamaican English). It is also quite common to hear some residents conversing in Spanish, as many citizens have relocated from Latin America to work and live in Grand Cayman. The Latin American nations with the greatest representation are Honduras, Cuba, Colombia, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Spanish speakers make up approximately 10-12% of the population and are predominantly of the Caribbean dialect. Tagalog is spoken by about 5% of the inhabitants, most of whom are Filipino residents with work permits.

Economy

Main Street of Grand Cayman.

Considered a tax haven, the economy of the Caymans is one of the strongest in the Caribbean. Of the almost 40,000 companies registered on the island, 600 are banks, which manage US$500 billion in assets. Tourism is also another important source of income and is aimed at high-income travelers, mainly of the North American area. The Cayman Islands have been an associate member of the Caribbean Community since 2002. The issuance of collectible stamps is also another source of income.

Tourism

Sea view in Gran Cayman.

One of Grand Cayman's (GCM) main attractions is Seven Mile Beach, which is lined with several hotels and resorts. Visitors are drawn to GCM's historic sites like Castle St. James in BoddenTown. There are the Sister Islands - Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

All three islands offer opportunities for scuba diving. There are several reefs and places where tourists can swim with stingrays including Stingray City, Grand Cayman. There are two wrecks off the coast of Cayman Brac including the Tibbetts Keith MV.

Other Grand Cayman tourist attractions include the Hell's Ironshore landscape, a 9.3-hectare Marine Park on Boatswain's Beach, also home to the Cayman Turtle Farm, salt production gourmet of the sea and the Ruta de Mastic, a path through the forests in the center of the island. The National Trust for the Cayman Islands offers weekly guided tours on the Mastic Trail and other locations.

The Financial Services Industry

The Cayman Islands is the fifth largest international financial center. The most important sectors are banking, investment, insurance and, in general, corporate activities.

The Cayman Islands is the fifth largest banking center in the world, with US$1.5 billion in bank liabilities. There are 279 banks (as of June 2008), of which 19 are licensed to bank with customers living in Cayman and international customers, the remaining 260 are licensed to operate on an international basis with only limited domestic activity.

One of the reasons for the success of the Cayman Islands as an offshore financial center has been the concentration of leading quality service providers. These include major global financial institutions (including UBS and Goldman Sachs), over 80 trustees, leading accounting practices (including the Big Four Accounts), offshore legislation and practices (incl. Maples & Calder and Ogier).

Since the introduction of the Investment Company Act in 1993, which has been copied by jurisdictions around the world, the Cayman Islands have become the world's leading offshore hedge fund jurisdiction. In June 2008 it passed 10,000 hedge fund sign-ups, and for the year ending June 2008 CIMA reported a 12% net growth rate for hedge funds.

From the mid-to-late 1990s offshore financial centers such as the Cayman Islands came under increasing pressure from the OECD for their allegedly harmful tax regimes, where the OECD wanted to prevent low tax regimes from having an advantage in the global marketplace. The OECD threatened to blacklist the Cayman Islands and other tax havens and impose sanctions against them. However, the Cayman Islands managed to avoid being placed on that list in 2000, committing to regulatory reform to improve transparency and begin sharing information with OECD member countries about their citizens.

The Cayman Islands had previously appeared on the FATF blacklist in 2000.

In 2004, under pressure from the UK, the Cayman Islands agreed in principle to implement the European Union Savings Directive (EUSD), but only after achieving some significant benefits for the financial services industry in the Islands Alligator. As the Cayman Islands are not subject to EU law, the implementation of the EUSD is through bilateral agreements between each EU Member State and the Cayman Islands. The Government of the Cayman Islands agreed to a model agreement, which set out how the EUSD would be conducted with the Cayman Islands.

One report featured an open letter to the President defending the islands and their "role in international finance and their value to the US financial system".

Infrastructure

Roads

The Cayman Islands have over five hundred miles of roads, all of which are paved.

Ports, shipping and lighthouses

Ports: Cayman Brac, George merchant marine Population: Total: 123 ships (1,000 GRT or more) totaling 2,402,058 gross register tons and 3,792,094 metric tons deadweight (dwt) by ship type: Bulk 22, Cargo 5, Chemical Tanker 31, Container 2, LPG 1, Oil Tanker 21, Refrigerated Cargo 35, Roll On/Roll Off 5, Specialty Tanker 1 Note: Some foreign vessels register in the Cayman Islands as a flag of convenience; includes vessels from 11 countries including: Greece 15, USA 5, UK 5, Cyprus 2, Denmark 2, Norway 3 (2002 est).

The East End Light (sometimes called Görling Bluff Light) is a lighthouse located on the eastern end of Grand Cayman Island in the Cayman Islands. The lighthouse is the center of East End Lighthouse Park, managed by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, the first aid to navigation on the site was the first lighthouse in the Cayman Islands.

Airports

There are three airports in the Cayman Islands, one on each island.

George Town, as well as the rest of Grand Cayman, is served by the nearby Owen Roberts International Airport. Cayman Brac is served by Gerrard Smith International Airport and Little Cayman is served by Edward Bodden Aerodrome.

Cayman Airways is the national flag carrier of the Cayman Islands. Headquartered in Grand Cayman, it operates primarily as an international and domestic passenger carrier, with cargo services available on all routes and limited charter service. Its operation is based at the Owen Roberts International Airport, Grand Cayman.

Island Air is a small airline in the Cayman Islands providing services between Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman

Taxation

There are no direct taxes in the Cayman Islands, most government revenue comes from indirect taxes. A 20% tariff applies to imported products, although some items such as baby milk, books or cameras are exempt. The automobile tax depends on the class and model of the vehicle, and can reach 40% for high-end models. Financial institutions operating on the islands pay a flat government licensing fee. In addition, there is a 10% tax on all tourist accommodation and a small fee that each tourist pays upon arrival on the island.

Education

Elementary and secondary school

The Department of Education operates the state schools of the Cayman Islands. Children in the Cayman Islands have the right to free primary and secondary education. Various churches and private foundations operate a number of private schools offering studies based on American and British models starting from nursery.

Colleges and Universities

The College of the University of the Cayman Islands is located on Grand Cayman, and is the only government-run university on the island. The College is located at George Town University on Grand Cayman. Cayman Islands International College is a private school and is located in Newlands, Grand Cayman, 11 km east of George Town. The university was created in 1970 and offers Associate's, Bachelor's, and Graduate programs. Grand Cayman is also home to the University of San Mateo, which includes a medical school and a school of veterinary medicine. Laws of the Islands The Cayman School, a branch of the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom, is also based in Grand Cayman. Located in George Town, the law school has been in operation since 1982.

The Cayman Islands Civil Service College, a unit of the Cayman Islands Government, organized under the Civil Service portfolio, is also located on Grand Cayman. Co-located with the University College of the Cayman Islands in a building on the south side of campus, CICSC's intent is to offer both degree programs and continuing education units of various types. Furthermore, the university is planned to develop as a government research center. It opened its doors in the fall of 2007.

Health

There are two hospitals in George Town, the government run George Town Hospital and the smaller, private Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital. Also, Faith Hospital is one of eighteen beds on Cayman Brac. The Government maintains a satellite clinic on Little Cayman.

Health insurance is run by private insurers and government-run company (Cynical). All employers are required by law to provide health insurance for their employees (although the employee may be required to contribute 50% of the premium). Full-time employees also contribute $10 each month to the "pauper's fund," which helps cover care for the elderly, the unemployed, and other groups in need of cash assistance. As of January 2010, the islands have lacked facilities for cardiac catheterization. Many feel that the population is large enough to support the procedure. Several attempts to establish a catheterization laboratory at George Town Hospital have stalled. There continues to be an urgent need for retinal surgery on the islands. Currently, residents with severe diabetic eye disorders or retinal detachments are going blind unless they have the financial means to seek immediate care on the mainland. In July 2007, an MRI unit was installed at Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital, replacing the one destroyed by Hurricane Ivan. In August 2009, a new stand-alone Open RM facility was opened. This center offers MRI, CT, X-Ray and DEXA (bone density) scan. Also located in this building is the Center for Heart Health, which provides Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine, Echocardiography, and Cardiac Stress Testing.

For divers and others who need hyperbaric oxygen treatment, there is a two-person hyperbaric chamber at George Town Hospital in Grand Cayman, run by Cayman Hyperbaric Services. The same organization has built a hyperbaric unit at Hospital la Fe in Cayman Brac.

Environment

In his sea voyages, Christopher Columbus, coming across the Cayman Islands in 1503, called them the "Turtle Islands" because of the abundance of green sea turtles found there. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Cayman Islands became a stopping point for ships in the Caribbean Sea in need of food; turtles caught on the islands were brought aboard the ship and kept alive as a source of fresh meat.

Over time settlements and cities were established on the Tortuga Islands, the tortoise becoming their way of survival and income in the Cayman Islands. But in the 19th century, the turtle population around the islands was nearly depleted and their trade in the green sea turtle shifted to the coasts of Nicaragua in Central America.

Green Turtle on the Grand Cayman Turtle Farm

The Grand Cayman Turtle Farm is a tourism and conservation center located in the West Bay district of the Cayman Islands and founded in 1968 by a group of American and British investors as the "Mariculture Limited", The farm was initially a facility used to breed green turtles for commercial purposes. But investors couldn't get turtle meat for consumption without depleting the species' wild population.

Still in operation as a farm that reproduces and raises turtles in order to sell the product, the Cayman Turtle Farm has also become a tourist attraction, research center. and a major conservation project, as well as the largest land-based attraction in the Cayman Islands. The farm welcomes more than 500,000 visitors a year.

Work permits

It is necessary to have a work permit to carry out work activity on the islands. This involves passing a police background check and a health check. A prospective worker will not be granted authorization if certain medical conditions are present, including testing positive for hepatitis or HIV. Work permits are not issued after age 60. Permission can be given to people on special work.

The Cayman Islands have a small population and therefore a limited workforce. Work permits granted to foreigners therefore on a regular basis. On average, there are more than 40,000 foreigners with valid work permits.

In order for a foreigner to come to the Cayman Islands, they must first find a job. The work permit is requested by the employer. All fees associated with a work permit are paid by the employer. Work permits are not issued to foreign nationals in the Cayman Islands (unless it is a renewal). The Cayman Islands Immigration Department requires foreigners to stay at home until their work permit has been approved. Foreigners often use online resources to obtain job offers.

The Cayman Islands currently has a controversial policy regarding foreign workers who need a work permit. The Cayman Islands only allows them to reside and work within the territory for a maximum of seven years (non-renewable), unless they meet the key employee criteria. The policy has been the subject of some controversy in the press. Law firms have especially been outraged by the recruitment difficulties it has caused. Other lower-paying sectors of employment have been affected as well. Safety concerns have been raised by scuba instructors and real estate agents. Others support the transfer as necessary to protect the Cayman Islands identity in the face of large immigration of foreign workers.

Concern has been expressed that in the long term, the policy could damage the pre-eminence of the Cayman Islands as an offshore financial center by making it difficult to recruit and retain experienced, ground-based staff in financial centers. Government employees are no longer exempt from this policy, according to this report in a local newspaper. The governor has decided to use his constitutional powers, which give him absolute control over the disposition of civil service employees to determine which foreigners are fired after seven years of service and who are not.

This policy is enshrined in the Immigration Law (2003 revision), written by the UDP government and subsequently enforced by the PPM government. Both governments agree on term limits for foreign workers, and most of the Cayman Islands also agree that this is necessary to protect local culture and heritage from being spoiled by large numbers of foreigners obtaining the residence and citizenship.

Army

The defense of the Cayman Islands is the responsibility of the United Kingdom, with its own police force, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. However, the customs patrol boats that can be found on its coasts are dependent on the RCIP and Grand Cayman is one of the bases of action of the United States Coast Guard.

Sports

• Cayman Islands Soccer Selection
• Cayman Islands League
• Cayman Islands at the Olympic Games