Caribbean, south of Cuba, 770km (480 miles) southwest of Miami.

GMT - 5.

260 sq km (100 sq miles).

44,270 (official estimate 2005).

168 per sq km (2005).

George Town. Population: 29,000 (2005).

The Cayman Islands are situated in the Caribbean, 290km (180 miles) northwest of Jamaica, 240km (150 miles) south of Cuba and 770km (480 miles) south of Miami. The island country comprises Grand Cayman, the largest and most populous of the islands, and the sister islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, which lie approximately 143km (89 miles) northeast of Grand Cayman and are separated from each other by a channel about 12km (8 miles) wide. The islands are peaks of a subterranean mountain range extending from Cuba towards the Gulf of Honduras. The beaches are said to be the best in the Caribbean, the most notable being Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. Tall pines line many of the beaches; those located on the east and west coasts are equally well protected offshore by the Barrier Reef.

As a British Overseas Territory, the Caymans have a Governor who is appointed by the British monarch. The Governor is responsible for external affairs, security and defence. He is also Chairman of the Executive Council comprising three members appointed by the Governor and four members from the Legislative Assembly, elected by that body itself. The Legislative Assembly comprises the above three members of the Executive Council appointed by the Governor and 15 members elected by universal adult suffrage every four years.

British Crown Colony since 1670. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor Bruce Dinwiddy since 2002. Recent history: Following the November 2000 poll, the United Democratic Party was formed by the ‘non-partisan’ bloc which won the majority of seats. Thus the Cayman Islands joined the world of regular party politics. McKeeva Bush assumed the Premiership. Bush was defeated in the May 2005 general elections by the People's Progressive Movement, led by Kurt Tibbetts.
Although the UK is officially responsible for the islands’ foreign policy, the USA, as in the rest of the Caribbean, exerts a dominant influence over its ‘back yard’. Both the US and British Governments have been concerned about the exploitation of the islands for drug trafficking and its associated money laundering. There is virtually no concern on the islands about the issue of independence, leaving just one other issue of contention – citizenship.
Following a change of policy, the British Government has announced that it is prepared, in principle, to grant full British citizenship to the inhabitants of the Cayman Islands. As a British Overseas Territory, the Caymans have a Governor who is appointed by the British Monarch. The Governor is responsible for external affairs, security and defence. He is also Chairman of the Executive Council comprising three members appointed by the Governor and four members from the Legislative Assembly, elected by that body itself. The Legislative Assembly comprises the above three members of the Executive Council appointed by the Governor and 15 members elected by universal adult suffrage every four years.

English is the official language, with a distinctive ‘brogue’ reflecting heritage of Welsh, Scottish and English ancestors still distinguishing the speech of the Caymanian people. The number of Jamaican residents in the workforce means the Jamaican patois and accompanying heavier accent is also common. Spanish, particularly regional dialects of Central America and Cuba, is also widely spoken.

Mainly Presbyterian with Anglican, Roman Catholic, Seventh Day Adventists, Pilgrims, Pilgrim Holiness Church of God, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Bahai minorities on Grand Cayman; Baptists on Cayman Brac.

The mode of life on the Cayman Islands is a blend of local traditions and of US and British patterns of behaviour. Handshaking is the usual greeting. Because of the large number of people with a similar surname (such as Ebanks and Bodden), a person may be introduced by his christian name (such as Mr Tom or Mr Jim). Flowers are acceptable as a gift on arrival or following a visit for a meal. Dinner jackets are seldom worn. Short or long dresses are appropriate for women in the evenings. It is normal to prescribe the required mode of dress on invitation cards. Casual wear is acceptable in most places, but beachwear is best confined to the beach to avoid offence. Topless bathing is prohibited.

120 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style (flat) two-pin plugs are standard.