Government and Politics of Cayman Islands

Government Type

British crown colony

Administrative Divisions

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

Legal System

British common law and local statutes

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Executive Branch

Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); Governor Jane OWEN (since 22 April 2023) Head of government: Premier Wayne PANTON (since 14 April 2021) Cabinet: The Cabinet consists of the governor, the premier, and seven ministers, with members drawn from the elected Parliament (formerly the Legislative Assembly, renamed following constitutional updates). Elections: None; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor as Premier.

Legislative Branch

Unicameral Parliament (21 seats; 19 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 2 ex officio members — the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker — who are appointed; members serve four-year terms) Elections: last held on 14 April 2021 (next to be held in 2025) Election results: percent of vote by party — NA; seats by party — PACT coalition 12 (including independents aligned with PACT), People's Progressive Movement (PPM) 7, independent 2

Judicial Branch

Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Political Parties

no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections; United Democratic Party or UDP [leader McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [leader Kurt TIBBETTS]

Head of State

King CHARLES III

Head of Government

Premier Wayne PANTON

Cabinet

Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)

Elections

last held on 14 April 2021 (next to be held in 2025)

Election Results

Percent of vote by party — NA; seats by party — PACT coalition 12 (including independents aligned with PACT), People's Progressive Movement (PPM) 7, independent 2

Constitution

1959, revised 1972 and 1992

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National Holiday

Constitution Day, first Monday in July

International Organization Participation

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate)

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

none (overseas territory of the UK)

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital City

George Town (on Grand Cayman)

Location

19 18 N, 81 23 W

Time Difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

named after English King GEORGE III (1738-1820)

U.S. Embassy Kingston 142 Old Hope Road Kingston, Jamaica Telephone: (876) 702-6000 Facsimile: (876) 702-6018 E-mail: KingstonACS@state.gov U.S. Consular Agency Cayman Islands Cayman Centre Unit B-1, 118 Dorcy Drive George Town, Grand Cayman Public Hours are M-F, from 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Telephone: (345) 945-8173 E-Mail: CaymanACS@state.gov

Military Branches

No regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force