A Basic Overview of the Cayman Islands
A Basic Overview of the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Territory located in the blue waters of the Caribbean. The territories 3 islands are located 480 miles south of Miami. With only 100 square miles of land these 3 small islands have managed to pack in many beautiful beaches and other natural wonders. Grand Cayman is the most popular destination for tourists seeking all inclusive resort vacations but Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman also offer visitors a little slices of paradise. Little Cayman, the smallest of the 3 Islands measuring only 10 miles long and a mile across, is home to a dive spot that have been touted as one of the best in the world. Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park and the 203 acre inland Booby Pond nature Reserve make this island a top destination for travelers wanting to experience the natural wildlife of the islands.
Cayman Brac offers some of the most awe inspiring sites of the 3 islands. The 14 mile long island has a bluff that rises to a dramatic 151.75 feet above spot bay. Along the bluffs adventurers can explore a series of caves that were carved in the rock for reasons unknown.
As a British Territory the Governor of the Cayman Islands is appointed by the British Crown. The Islands also have a Cabinet over which the Governor presides. The Current constitution of the Cayman Islands established the cabinet when it was introduced August 22, 1972. The cabinet is made up of 5 elected members and 3 appointed officials. The Cayman Island government also includes a legislative Assembly that contains 15 elected representative.
In 1972 after introducing the constitution a new currency was also introduced. The Cayman Island currency unit is the dollar. The notes come in denominations of CI 1,5,10,25,50, and 100 CI$. For visitors from the United States planning a trip to the Cayman Islands there is good news. The exchange rate between the two countries is fixed. This means that the US dollar is accepted across the islands making it unnecessary for American visitors to worry about exchanging money. Other forms of payments excepted include traveler’s checks and major credit cards excluding Discover card.
Visa and MasterCard carriers will find Automatic Teller Machines located at banks around the islands the International airport and the occasional grocery store. The United States and the Cayman Islands have gone to great lengths to make travel between the two countries easy for tourists. Until recently it was not necessary for US citizens to have a passport for travel to the islands but due to tighter US restrictions pass ports are now required.
National songs and symbols are an important part of any countries patriotism. The Cayman Islands national song “Beloved Isle Cayman” was penned by Mrs. Leila Ross-Shier in 1930. Though it was written in 1930 it was several years before the song was adopted as the national song. Mrs. Ross-Shier was a multi instrumentalist who played guitar and also was an organist at one of the countries Presbyterian churches. The Countries choices for National Flower, the Wild Banana and National Tree, the Silver Thatch Palm reflect the islands beautifully theatrical and tropical wonders. The Grand Cayman’s national bird, The Grand Cayman Parrot’s colors reflect the vibrant cultures that exist across the 3 islands.
