The Cayman Islands are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the West Indies, comprising the islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman.

First visited by Christopher Columbus on May 10, 1503 during his fourth and final voyage to the New World, the islands, along with nearby Jamaica, were ceded to Great Britain in 1670 under the Treaty of Madrid. They were governed as a single colony with Jamaica until 1962 when they became a separate British overseas territory and Jamaica became an independent commonwealth realm.

Caymanians enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the West Indies. Most residents are Protestants of British or African descent and many are of mixed racial ethnicity. The islands' main industries are tourism and offshore banking, thanks to the absence of direct taxes.

The Cayman Islands are largely self-governed and universal voting rights are granted to all citizens at the age of 18 years. A legislature is elected by the people every four years. The Governor of the islands serves as the British representative and is appointed by Queen Elizabeth II. The United Nations Committee on Decolonization lists the Cayman Islands as one of the 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories of the world since 1945.

The island of Grand Cayman was severely damaged by the Category Five Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, destroying many buildings and damaging nearly all. Power, water and communications were all disrupted.

In fiction

Large parts of the novel The Firm by John Grisham takes place on the Cayman Islands. The main character works for a Memphis, Tennessee law firm that uses island banks for money laundering.

Frank E. Flower 's 2004 film Haven takes place on Grand Cayman. Frank E. Flowers is a native of the Cayman Islands.

See also

• History of the Cayman Islands
• Geography of the Cayman Islands
• Demographics of the Cayman Islands
• Politics of the Cayman Islands
• Economy of the Cayman Islands
• Communications on the Cayman Islands
• Transportation on the Cayman Islands
• Scuba Diving on the Cayman Islands
• Military of the Cayman Islands
• Foreign relations of the Cayman Islands

References

• Originally from the CIA World Factbook 2000.
• "Non-Self-Governing Territories listed by General Assembly in 2002." United Nations Special Committee of 24 on Decolonization. Accessed on March 10, 2005.

Map of the Cayman Islands

External links

• Cayman Islands Government
• Cayman Islands Department of Tourism
• Cayman Island Overview
• Cayman Net News Nespaper
• Go To Cayman