Cayman Islands: Government#
Country name | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands etymology: the islands' name comes from the native Carib word "caiman," describing the marine crocodiles living there |
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Dependency status | overseas territory of the UK |
Government type | parliamentary democracy (Legislative Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK |
Capital | George Town (on Grand Cayman)
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 |
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) (2016) |
Legal system | English common law and local statutes |
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/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition appointed premier by the governor |
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 | People's Progressive Movement or PPM (Kurt TIBBETTS) United Democratic Party or UDP (McKeeva BUSH) |
Political pressure groups and leaders | Coalition for Cayman or C4C National People's Alliance or PNA National Trustother: environmentalists |
International organization participation | Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU |
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 |
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 symbol(s) | green sea turtle |
National anthem | name: "Beloved Isle Cayman" lyrics/music: Leila E. ROSS note: adopted 1993; served as an unofficial anthem since 1930; as a territory of the United Kingdom, in addition to the local anthem, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom) |