Cayman Islands

Locator map for the British colony of the Cayman Islands. The islands are situated in the West Indies, south of Cuba.

The badge bears three stars, which represent the main islands, on a blue and white field, which recalls the sea. The motto reads ‘He Hath Founded it Upon the Seas’ and above the shield is a turtle and a pineapple.

British island group in the West Indies; area 260 sq km/100 sq mi; population (2001 est) 35,500 (mostly on Grand Cayman). The Caymans lie 160 km/100 mi south of Cuba and comprise three low-lying coral islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. The capital is George Town (on Grand Cayman), which has an international airport to serve the tourist industry. The islands export seawhip coral (a source of prostaglandins), lobsters, shrimps, honey, and jewellery.

The Cayman Islands were first reached by Christopher Columbus in 1503; they were acquired by Britain following the Treaty of Madrid in 1670, and became a dependency of Jamaica in 1863. In 1959 the islands became a separate crown colony, although the inhabitants chose to remain British. From that date, changes in legislation attracted foreign banks and the Caymans are now an international financial centre and tax haven as well as a tourist resort, with emphasis on scuba diving.

The Islands are governed by a governor, executive council, and legislative assembly. English is the chief language; the currency is the Cayman Island dollar.