204 lines
16 KiB
Plaintext
204 lines
16 KiB
Plaintext
CAYMAN ISLANDS
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(dependent territory of the UK)
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GEOGRAPHY
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Total area: 260 km2; land area: 260 km2
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Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of
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Washington, DC
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Land boundaries: none
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Coastline: 160 km
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Maritime claims:
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Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
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Territorial sea: 3 nm
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Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and
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cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
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Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
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Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
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Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
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8%; forest and woodland 23%; other 69%
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Environment: within the Caribbean hurricane belt
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Note: important location between Cuba and Central America
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PEOPLE
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Population: 27,489 (July 1991), growth rate 4.2% (1991)
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Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1991)
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Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
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Net migration rate: 33 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
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Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
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Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 80 years female (1991)
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Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (1991)
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Nationality: noun--Caymanian(s); adjective--Caymanian
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Ethnic divisions: 40% mixed, 20% white, 20% black, 20% expatriates
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of various ethnic groups
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Religion: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational),
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Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant
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denominations
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Language: English
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Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over having ever
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attended school (1970)
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Labor force: 8,061; service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%,
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construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business
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managers 5.9% (1979)
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Organized labor: Global Seaman's Union; Cayman All Trade Union
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GOVERNMENT
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Long-form name: none
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Type: dependent territory of the UK
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Capital: George Town
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Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland,
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South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
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Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
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Legal system: British common law and local statutes
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Constitution: 1959, revised 1972
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National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July), 1 July
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1991
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Executive branch: British monarch, governor, Executive Council
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(cabinet)
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Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly
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Judicial branch: Grand Court, Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
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Leaders:
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Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
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represented by Governor Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987);
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Head of Government--Governor and President of the Executive Council
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Alan James SCOTT (since NA 1987)
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Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties
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Suffrage: universal at age 18
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Elections:
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Legislative Assembly--last held NA November 1988 (next to be held
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November 1992); results--percent of vote NA;
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seats--(15 total, 12 elected)
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Communists: none
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Member of: CDB, IOC
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Diplomatic representation: as a dependent territory of the UK,
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Caymanian interests in the US are represented by the UK;
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US--none
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Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant
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and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half
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of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a
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shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at
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the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
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ECONOMY
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Overview: The economy depends heavily on tourism (70% of GDP
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and 75% of export earnings) and offshore financial services, with
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the tourist industry aimed at the luxury market and catering
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mainly to visitors from North America. About 90% of the islands' food and
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consumer goods needs must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the
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highest standards of living in the region.
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GDP: $342 million, per capita $13,670 (1989); real growth
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rate 15% (1988)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.2% (1988)
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Unemployment rate: NA%
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Budget: revenues $76 million; expenditures $56 million,
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including capital expenditures of $NA (1988)
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Exports: $1.5 million (f.o.b., 1987 est.);
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commodities--turtle products, manufactured consumer goods;
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partners--mostly US
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Imports: $136 million (c.i.f., 1987 est.);
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commodities--foodstuffs, manufactured goods;
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partners--US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
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External debt: $15 million (1986)
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Industrial production: growth rate NA%
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Electricity: 74,000 kW capacity; 256 million kWh produced,
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9,710 kWh per capita (1990)
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Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction,
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building materials, furniture making
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Agriculture: minor production of vegetables, fruit, livestock;
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turtle farming
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Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $26.7
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million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
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(1970-88), $35.0 million
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Currency: Caymanian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Caymanian dollar
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(CI$) = 100 cents
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Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1--1.20 (fixed
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rate)
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Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
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COMMUNICATIONS
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Highways: 160 km of main roads
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Ports: George Town, Cayman Brac
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Merchant marine: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 372,732
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GRT/604,395 DWT; includes 1 passenger-cargo, 6 cargo, 7 roll-on/roll-off
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cargo, 6 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker,
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2 specialized tanker, 1 liquefied gas carrier, 9 bulk; note--a flag of
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convenience registry
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Airports: 3 total; 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;
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none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
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Telecommunications: 35,000 telephones; telephone system uses 1
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submarine coaxial cable and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station to
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link islands and access international services; stations--2 AM, 1 FM,
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no TV
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DEFENSE FORCES
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Branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
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Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
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