conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands

CJ

overseas territory of the UK

British crown colony

George Town

8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South
Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Constitution Day (first Monday in July)

1959, revised 1972 and 1992

British common law and local statutes

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council
Peter SMITH (since 5 May 1999)
cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor,
four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed
by the monarch

unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three
official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 November 1996 (next to be held NA November
2000)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - National Team
coalition 9, independents 6

Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of
Appeal

no formal political parties
note: the National Team, an organization formed in 1992 to oppose some
proposals in the constitutional draft, continues to exert legislative
power

Caricom (observer), CDB,
Interpol (subbureau), IOC

none (overseas territory of the
UK)

none (overseas territory of the
UK)

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper
hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk
centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a
pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the
three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH
FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS