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Cayman Islands

 

Contents

Flags

Historical Flags

Meaning/Origin of the Flag

Coat of Arms

Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

Map

Numbers and Facts

History

Origin of the Country's Name



Flags

Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Gösch jack Staatsflagge state
since 1801,
Union Flag → quasi national flag,
Flag of United Kingdom,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge Fahne flag Caymaninseln Kaimaninseln Cayman Islands National flag State flag national state ensign
since 1999,
National and state flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations, Flags of the World, Wikipedia (D),
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons




Flagge Fahne flag Caymaninseln Kaimaninseln Cayman Islands Merchant flag merchant flag ensign
since 1999,
Merchant flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations, Flags of the World, Wikipedia (D),
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons




Flagge Fahne flag Caymaninseln Kaimaninseln Cayman Islands Gouverneur governor
Flag of the Governor,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Wikipedia (D)



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Historical Flags

Flagge Fahne flag Spanien Spain Habsburg Vizekönigreich Neuspanien Viceroyalty of New Spain
16th/17th century,
The islands belong to the Spanish sphere of influence,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge Fahne flag Großbritannien Great Britain Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom
1760–1801,
Flag of United Kingdom (to 1707 England),
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Die Welt der Flaggen




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Gösch jack Staatsflagge state
since 1801,
Union Flag → quasi national flag,
Flag of United Kingdom,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge flag Großbritannien United Kingdom Great Britain Merchant flag merchant flag ensign
1864–1988,
Merchant flag of United Kingdom,
still in use,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Caymaninseln Kaimaninseln Cayman Islands State flag state flag
1959–1999,
Flag of the government (state flag),
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: World Statesmen




Flagge Fahne flag Caymaninseln Kaimaninseln Cayman Islands Merchant flag merchant flag ensign
1988–1999,
Merchant flag,
still in use,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World, Wikipedia (D)




Jamaica (1863–1959):

Flagge Fahne flag Britisch British Jamaika Jamaica
1875–1906 (Jamaica),
Flag of the government (state flag),
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Wikipedia (D)




Flagge Fahne flag Britisch British Jamaika Jamaica
1906–1959 (Jamaica),
Flag of the government (state flag),
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Wikipedia (D)




Federation of the West Indies (1958–1962):

Flagge Fahne Flag Westindische Föderation Federation of the West Indies
Flag of the Federation of the West Indies,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Gouverneur Governor Westindische Föderation Federation of the West Indies
Flag of the Governor General,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World



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Meaning/Origin of the Flag

From the time the country became a British possession, individuals, citizens and the authorities represented their status as citizens or organs of the British nation, embodied in the United Kingdom, through the use of the Union Jack, then called the "Union Flag". At sea, the British merchant flag, the Red Ensign, was intended for British citizens from 1864. In a few cases, the citizens of a colony were authorised by the Admiralty to use their own Red Ensign with the colony's badge at sea. This means that the Union Flag is the national and state flag on land. On land, the "Blue Ensign" (actually the state flag at sea) with the country's badge may also be used as the national flag for decorative purposes if the governor has authorised this, for a limited period of time, e.g. at an event (even outside the country) or also to distinguish it if the use of the Union flag would be inappropriate or likely to cause confusion. On land, however, the aspect ratio of the flag should be 3:5. A "Blue Ensign" is a dark blue bunting with a representation of the flag – the British Union Jack – in the upper corner and the country's badge in the flying end of the flag. The Union Jack emphasises the links with United Kingdom.

The Cayman Islands belonged to the British colony of Jamaica between 1863 and 1959, and later to the West Indies Federation, so the flags of these territories were used. The Cayman Islands became a dissociated own colony in 1962.

United Kingdom introduced a flag system in 1864 in which:
• war ships fly the "White Ensign" (naval flag), a white flag often with an uninterrupted red St. George's-Cross and with the Union Jack in the upper staff quadrant of the flag,
• merchant ships fly a "Red Ensign" (also named "Civil Ensign" → civil flag, the real merchant flag), a red flag with the Union Jack in the upper staff quadrant of the flag, and
• governmental ships fly the "Blue Ensign" (flag for the use by the gouvernment → the actual state flag), a blue flag with the Union Jack in the upper staff quadrant of the flag.

From 1865, the ships of the colonial governments were allowed to use a Blue Ensign with a badge at the flying end. The respective governments were to provide appropriate badges. Merchant ships and seafaring privateers from colonies were only allowed to use a Red Ensign with a badge if the British Admiralty had issued a corresponding licence for that colony.

Such a badge was often a regional landscape depiction on a disc, often showed ships, historical events or could simply be a kind of logo. Very often a badge also contained the name of the country or a motto. However, some possessions had a coat of arms from the beginning or were given their own coat of arms over the years and the badge was abolished. To ensure a largely uniform appearance in the flying end of the flags, coats of arms and other symbols were displayed on a white disc in the size of the former badges.

However, there were also exceptions, as some colonies dispensed with this white disc and placed their coat of arms or even just the shield – sometimes enlarged – directly on the bunting. As early as the 1940s, the white disc was removed and the coat of arms was applied directly or enlarged. This conversion process took place gradually, nowhere simultaneously and completely. In some British possessions flags with the white disc are still in use today, in others no longer and in some areas both variants exist side by side.

The islands belonged to Jamaica from 1863 to 1959, so the flags in force there were used. The Cayman Islands never had their own badge, as a coat of arms was introduced in 1958 in connection with the separation from Jamaica. It shows regional motifs, e.g. pineapple fruit, a turtle and stylised ocean waves, but also a British lion and three stars. Also in 1959, an own "Blue Ensign" was introduced as the state flag at sea, a dark blue bunting with a flag depiction – the British Union Jack – in the upper corner, which showed the badge in the flying end of the flag. In 1988, the British Admiralty authorised the islands own "Red Ensign" with badge (merchant flag). From 1999, the white disc was removed from the blue and red flags and the coat of arms was enlarged. However, many flags in the old design are still in use in the Cayman Islands, especially and also on land. Apparently, countless ships were and are registered in the Caymans, so that it was not so easy to find a standardised regulation, especially as London and George Town have apparently issued contradictory directives.

The Governor's flag for the Cayman Islands is a standard design, of older style, for all Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Commissioners, High Commissioners and other officials holding a relevant administrative office, provided that no newer design is used. Within the wreath is always the appropriate badge or coat of arms.

From 1958 to 1962 the territory was also part of the British colony "Federation of the West Indies". This political project was an attempt to unify the administration and to create a state modelled on Canada, but also to counteract the independence efforts of the associated islands and colonies. However, jealousies arose between the large and small islands and even led to open dispute. The flag of the "Federation of the West Indies" was a light blue flag with four horizontal white wavy lines and a golden disc in the middle. It symbolized the sun over the Caribbean Sea. There is some doubt about the color of the blue; it is often assumed to be the usual British heraldry blue. However, a contemporary description calls it an "imperial blue" which would be light blue and many contemporary prints also show this light blue.

Source: Flags of the World, Die Welt der Flaggen

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Coat of Arms


Wappen coat of arms Caymaninseln Kaimaninseln Cayman Islands
since 1958,
Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands,
Source, by: Corel Draw 4

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Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of the Cayman Islands – awarded in 1958, shows regional subjects, pineapple, turtle and stylized ocean-waves but also the British Lion and three stars. These stand for the three islands of the colony: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. The banner inscription is: "He hath founded it upon the Seas".

Source: Flaggen Enzyklopädie

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Map

Location:

Source: CIA World Factbook

Map of the country:

Source: CIA World Factbook

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Numbers and Facts

Area: 102 square miles

Inhabitants: 61.559 (2017), thereof 60% Mulattos, 20% of African descent, 20% Europeans

Density of Population: 604 inh./sq.mi.

Capital: George Town, 28.089 inh. (2010)

official Language: English

Currency: Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD, CI$) = 100 Cents

Time Zone: GMT – 5 h

Source: Wikipedia (D)

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History

10th of May 1503 · discovered by Columbus

since 1666 · attempts of settlement

1734 · British Colonization

18th of July 1670 · officially ceded from Spain to England (the later United Kingdom)

1832 · first own parliament

1863–1959 · to Jamaica

1959–1962 · part of the British Colony of the "Federation of the West Indies"

since 1962 · crown colony

Source: Wikipedia (D), World Statesmen

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Origin of the Country's Name

The origin of the name "Cayman Islands" is not entirely clear. When Columbus discovered the uninhabited islands on 10th of May in 1503, he named them "Islas de las Tortugas" (Turtle Islands), because of the numerous turtles. In 1520 they appeared on charts as the "Islas de las Lagartos" (Lizard Island). This referred to the on the islands occurring lizards. Probably about 1530 these lizards have been erroneously named with the Caribbean word for crocodile "Caiman", and the islands became the "Islas de las Caymanas". When the English explorer Francis Drake visited the islands in 1586, had already been established facts, and he called the lizards "Caymanas" too. When the islands finally became English in 1670, they have have been assumed as "Cayman Islands" to the administration of the Governor of Jamaica.

Source: Markus Kappeler (CH), Wikipedia (D)

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