TNAG-0831-FCO40-1039-Commonwealth-Parliamentary-Association-(CPA)-annual-conferen-1979 — Page 77

YMAN ISLANDS

General

The Cayman Islands comprise 3 islands with a total land surface of

100 square miles, and a population of 15,000. Grand Cayman is the largest island and contains the capital George Town. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman,

collectively known as the Lesser Caymans, lie 90 miles to the north-east of

the main island. Grand Cayman and Little Cayman are both low-lying but

Cayman Brac is distinguished by a central limestone bluff rising to

140 feet. The coasts are for the most part rock-bound, protected by coral

reefs enclosing a few fair anchorages. There are no rivers.

The Islands were sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1503; ceded from Spain to Britain by the Treaty of Madrid in 1670 but the earliest record of

settlement is 1734, with colonists from Jamaica and later from England. In

1863 they were formally annexed to Jamaica and remained a dependency of that country until 1959 when they became a unit territory within the

Federation of the West Indies, The Federation was dissolved in 1962 when

Jamaica achieved independence, and whereupon the Cayman Islands became a separate colony with a legislature elected largely by universal adult

suffrage.

Political

The Cayman Islands are proud of their present status as a dependent

territory of the UK and are opposed to seeking independence. They enjoy a

large measure of internal self-government. The present constitution,

introduced in 1972, provides for member system, whereby elected Members are assigned responsibility for departments of Government. An Executive Council, made up of 3 official members and 4 elected members (elected from the 12 elected members of the Legislative Assembly) and, presided over by

the Governor, is responsible for day-to-day government. Under the consti- tution elections are held every 4 years, and the last one was in 1976.

There are no political parties.

Economic

The islanders enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the

Caribbean. The offshore finance industry and tourism are the present

/mainstays