GENERAL

Status: UK Overseas Territory, with a substantial measure of self-government.
Location: Western Caribbean, 200 miles north-west of Jamaica. The Cayman Islands are a group of three islands – Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The Cayman Islands are situated only 480 miles south of Miami (US).
Area: 264km2
Capital: George Town (Grand Cayman)
Population: 36,600 (estimate 1997)
Business language: English
Currency: Cayman Islands Dollar (CI$)
Time zone: GMT -5, EST, as for Miami and New York. There is no switch to daylight savings time in the summer months.
Business hours: Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm. Banking Hours are Mon-Thurs 9am to 4pm, Fri 9am to 4.30pm.
Climate: Tropical.
The average winter temperature (October to March) is 26.6ºc. The average summer temperature (April to September) is 28.5ºc. Total annual rainfall is 74.9 inches.

IMPORTANT CONTACTS

Thomas Russell, CMG, OBE
Cayman Islands Government Representative
Cayman Islands Office United Kingdom
6 Arlington Street
London
SW1A 1RE
Tel: + 44 207 491 7772
Fax: + 44 207 491 7944

The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority
PO Box 10052 APO
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands
Tel: + 345 949 7089
Fax: + 345 949 2532
email: banking@cimoney.com.ky

EXPAT EMPLOYMENT DETAILS

Work permits must be obtained by expatriates, including EU nationals, before their arrival on the Islands. The cost of these licences ranges from US$300 to US$6,000.

COMMUNICATIONS

There are regular flights to Miami, Houston, Tampa, Atlanta and Kingston, Jamaica from Grand Cayman. British Airways offers direct flights to London Gatwick also. The flight time to Miami is one hour. The Cayman Islands have excellent communications with the rest of the world. International telephone, fax, cable, Internet and email links are available, and airmail services to and from the Islands are good. Daily courier services are available to destinations worldwide and there are regular weekly containerised sea cargo services between Florida and George Town.

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STABILITY

As a UK Overseas Territory, the Cayman Islands are politically and economically stable. The executive and legislative power of the Islands is vested in the Governor, the Executive Council and the Legislative Assembly. The Assemble consists of three senior civil servants and 15 elected members who are elected every four years. The Cayman Islands have developed successfully as a base for offshore financial and business operations over the last 30 years.

KEY ACTIVITIES

The Cayman economy is based on tourism and international financial services.

ADVANTAGES OF CAYMAN ISLANDS

  • A well established legislative framework.
  • High standard of living.
  • No direct taxation.
  • No exchange controls.
  • Excellent professional services.
  • Good communications.

The content of this factfile is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances

This factfile also appears in the 'International Offshore and Financial Centres Handbook 1999/2000'. For further information about this highly informative guide to offshore centres, or to order your copy, please phone +44 (0) 207 820 7733 or send an email to iofch@mondaq.com