The CaymanIslands is a self-governing British Overseas Territory,and the largest by population. The 264-square-kilometre (102-square-mile) territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman,Cayman Brac and Little Cayman,which are located south of Cuba and north-east of Honduras,between Jamaica and Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. The capital city is George Town on Grand Cayman,which is the most populous of the three islands.
The Cayman Islands is a parliamentary representative democratic dependency. As a British Overseas Territories,Charles III is the head of state. The Premier of the Cayman Islands is the head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government,legislative power is vested in both the government and the Parliament of the Cayman Islands. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
William McKeeva Bush,is a Caymanian politician,former Speaker of the Parliament of the Cayman Islands and former Premier of the Cayman Islands. Bush,the former leader of the Cayman Democratic Party,is the elected member for the constituency of West Bay West. He is the territory's longest ever serving political figure with service spanning over 35 years,previously serving his tenth term in the Parliament of the Cayman Islands.
David Ritch,OBE,JP is a prominent Cayman Islands attorney who has done private and governmental work.
The governor of the Cayman Islands is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of the Cayman Islands. The governor,a civil servant who has in modern times typically been a British subject normally resident in the United Kingdom,is appointed by the monarch from the staff of the Foreign,Commonwealth and Development Office on the advice of the British government. The role of the governor is to act as the de facto head of state,and is responsible for appointing the Premier,who is the leader of the party with a majority of seats in the Legislature.
The People's Progressive Movement is a political party in the Cayman Islands currently headed by Roy McTaggart.
The Hon. William Warren Conolly,OBE,JP was a politician and attorney in the Cayman Islands.
Sir Alden McNee McLaughlin Jr.,is a Caymanian politician,former Premier of the Cayman Islands and current Speaker of Parliament of the Cayman Islands. McLaughlin previously served as leader of the People's Progressive Movement party from February 2011 –March 2021. McLaughlin is the elected member for the Red Bay Constituency in George Town,currently serving his sixth term in the Parliament of the Cayman Islands. He has been an elected representative in the Parliament of the Cayman Islands continuously since 2000.
Batabano is the name of the Caribbean Carnival held in the Cayman Islands. The festival takes place annually during the first week of May in George Town. Batabano is a time for people of all different descents to gather with a common interest and celebrate community spirit. The Cayman Islands are home to over 100 different nationalities,all brought together and embraced by the festival. It is a cultural celebration filled with music,dance,and elaborate costumes that reflect the landscapes,heritage,and culture. International interest is growing in the Batabano celebrations,despite only having existed for about 30 years.
Bodden Town is the former capital of the Cayman Islands and the largest district in the territory. It is situated on a natural harbour and a coral reef. The first settlement was named after a government leader,William Bodden. Once ravaged by pirates,this village is known for its remains of a 4 mi (6 km) wall and cannon. Bodden Town has a population of 14,845. Its top attractions include the Mission House,which features the lifestyle of early Caymanian settlers. Bodden Town is also considered the fastest growing district in the islands in terms of resident population.
Lesbian,gay,bisexual,and transgender (LGBT) persons in the Cayman Islands may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity are legal in the Cayman Islands. Despite anti-gay attitudes expressed by certain members of the government,social acceptance by the Caymanian public has been known to be some of the best in the Caribbean. Some have attributed this to the strong British influence in the territory.
The politics of Saint Helena,Ascension and Tristan da Cunha operate under the jurisdiction of the government of the United Kingdom. The three parts of the territory—Saint Helena,Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha—effectively form an asymmetric federacy and collectively constitute one of United Kingdom's fourteen overseas territories.
Drew Howard Wrigley is an American attorney,lawyer,and politician from North Dakota. Wrigley currently serves as the attorney general of North Dakota after being appointed to the position by Governor Doug Burgum following the death of Wayne Stenehjem. Wrigley previously served as the United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota from 2001 to 2009 and again from 2019 to 2021,appointed by President George W. Bush and Donald Trump,respectively. Between his terms as United States attorney,Wrigley served as the 37th lieutenant governor of North Dakota from 2010 to 2016.
Juliana O'Connor-Connolly is a Caymanian politician,former Speaker of the Parliament of the Cayman Islands and current Premier of the Cayman Islands,assuming office on 15 November 2023. She previously served as premier in 2012.
General elections were held in the Cayman Islands on 22 May 2013. The incumbent United Democratic Party (UDP) government fell on a motion of non-confidence in December 2012 and was replaced by an interim government made up of former UDP members who formed the People's National Alliance (PNA). The main competition in the election was between the People's Progressive Movement (Progressives) and the UDP,with the PNA and a new political group the Coalition for Cayman (C4C) presenting an insufficient number of candidates to win a majority government.
Islay Conolly,MBE was a Caymanian teacher and school administrator. Serving as a teacher and principal at various schools on the islands,she became Chief Education Officer in 1970. She was honored by the Caymanian government with the Spirit of Excellence Award during National Heroes Day and was first recipient of the Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award in Education. Conolly was honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1982 New Year Honours.
Same-sex marriage is currently not recognised in the Cayman Islands. The island's statutory law limits marriage to different-sex couples. A lawsuit with the Grand Court successfully challenged this ban in March 2019;however,the Court of Appeal overturned the ruling in November 2019. Same-sex civil partnerships are legal following the enactment of the Civil Partnership Law,2020 on 4 September 2020.
General elections were held in the Cayman Islands on 14 April 2021 to elect the 19 members of the Parliament. The elections were originally set to be held on 26 May,but Premier Alden McLaughlin asked Governor Martyn Roper to dissolve Parliament on 14 February,triggering early elections. The move was made in order to avoid a no-confidence motion against Speaker McKeeva Bush,who had received a two-month suspended jail sentence in December 2020 for assaulting a woman in February 2020.
Newlands is a suburb in the town of Savannah,which is located in the district of Bodden Town,Cayman Islands. It is a 15-minute drive from the capital of the Cayman Islands,George Town. The former Premier of the Cayman Islands,Wayne Panton,is from Newlands and represents their electoral district. Newlands is also the location of the International College of the Cayman Islands,and the Joint Marine Unit for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.
Crime in the Cayman Islands has remained low since first being recorded. The British territory is known for being one of the safest in the Caribbean,however,since March 2022,there has been an increase in gun violence which has prompted the Premier of the Cayman Islands,Wayne Panton to reassure the public that the situation is being tackled.
