George Town, Cayman Islands
Encyclopedia
George Town, Grand Cayman
, is the capital of the Cayman Islands
, in the British West Indies
. The city has a population of 35,600 (2009 estimates) and is the largest city on Grand Cayman.
George Town is the heart of the Cayman Islands financial
industry, with over 600 banks located there.
, the Court Houses and the Government Administration Building. The Government Administration Building houses the offices of the Premier
and other members of Cabinet, the Deputy Governor
and his staff as well as other elected officials and civil servants. The former Old Courts Building located at the corner of Shedden Road and Harbour Drive is now the National Museum of Grand Cayman. The building was built more than 150 years ago and has served the Caymanian government not only as a court building but as a jail and the island's first official Post Office.
and the West Bay District. George Town's famous Seven Mile Beach is a long crescent of coral-sand beach extending up to the West Bay region of Grand Cayman and is the most popular and populated area for tourists on the island.
). Major law firms such as Maples and Calder
have established themselves in the Cayman Islands. Similarly, large accounting firms such as KPMG
, Ogier, Ernst & Young
and Deloitte are also present. As a result, Cayman is a leader in captive domiciles, hedge fund registrations and is considered a major international banking center.
Activites available to tourists in George Town include submarine tours of George Town Harbor, glass-bottom boat tours, snorkeling, scuba-diving, parasailing, charter boat tours, rum distillery tours, art galleries, a historical museum, and of course, shopping and eating. For nightlife, Seven Mile Beach is host to numerous nightclubs and bars. George Town's waterfront is also home to a Hard Rock Cafe
, a Harley-Davidson
shop, a Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
franchise, and a Guy Harvey
art studio and restaurant.
.
operates George Town Primary School, John Gray High School and the University College of the Cayman Islands
. Caymanian children are entitled to free primary and secondary education. Various churches and private foundations operate several private schools that offer American and British based studies starting from nursery up to A Levels
and College. Montessori also operates a school in George Town. The school is located on South Church Street and was established in 1988.
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the nation's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles southwest of Cayman Brac.-Geography:Grand Cayman encompasses 76% of...
, is the capital of the Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
, in the British West Indies
British West Indies
The British West Indies was a term used to describe the islands in and around the Caribbean that were part of the British Empire The term was sometimes used to include British Honduras and British Guiana, even though these territories are not geographically part of the Caribbean...
. The city has a population of 35,600 (2009 estimates) and is the largest city on Grand Cayman.
George Town is the heart of the Cayman Islands financial
FINANCIAL
FINANCIAL is the weekly English-language newspaper with offices in Tbilisi, Georgia and Kiev, Ukraine. Published by Intelligence Group LLC, FINANCIAL is focused on opinion leaders and top business decision-makers; It's about world’s largest companies, investing, careers, and small business. It is...
industry, with over 600 banks located there.
Government
The Caymanian government offices are located in George Town. These offices include the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman IslandsLegislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands
The Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands has 18 members, 15 elected members for a four year term in two-seat constituencies and 3 members ex-officio.In the elections of 8 November 2000, with a turnout of 80% only non-partisans were elected...
, the Court Houses and the Government Administration Building. The Government Administration Building houses the offices of the Premier
Leader of Government Business
The Premier of the Cayman Islands is the political leader and head of government. The post of Premier in the Cayman Islands is the equivalent to Chief Minister or Prime Minister in other British Overseas Territories. It is the highest political level that can be attained within the British colonial...
and other members of Cabinet, the Deputy Governor
Deputy Governor
A Deputy governor is a gubernatorial official who is subordinated to a governor, rather like a Lieutenant governor.-British colonial cases:In the British empire, there were such colonial offices in :...
and his staff as well as other elected officials and civil servants. The former Old Courts Building located at the corner of Shedden Road and Harbour Drive is now the National Museum of Grand Cayman. The building was built more than 150 years ago and has served the Caymanian government not only as a court building but as a jail and the island's first official Post Office.
Geography
George Town's city limits extend from the east at the edge of the South Shore District, north just beyond Owen Roberts International Airport, south to Hog Sty Bay and west to Seven Mile BeachSeven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
Seven Mile Beach is a long crescent of coral-sand beach on the western shore of Grand Cayman island. Despite its name, the beach is only about long. Seven Mile Beach known for its beauty, recently receiving the honor of "The Caribbean's Best Beach" from Caribbean Travel and Life Magazine...
and the West Bay District. George Town's famous Seven Mile Beach is a long crescent of coral-sand beach extending up to the West Bay region of Grand Cayman and is the most popular and populated area for tourists on the island.
Climate
Finance
The financial services generated CI$1.2 billion of GDP in 2007 (55% of the total economy), 36% of all employment and 40% of all government revenue. The Cayman Islands currently ranks fifth internationally in terms of value of liabilities booked in the Cayman Islands and sixth in terms of assets booked. It has branches of 40 of the world’s 50 largest banks. The Cayman Islands are the second largest captive domicile in the world with more than 700 captives, writing more than US$7.7 billion of premiums and with US$36.8 billion of assets under management. There are more than 9,500 funds under licence with globally recognised legal, audit/accounting and fund administration services (incl. the Big Four auditorsBig Four auditors
The Big Four are the four largest international professional services networks in accountancy and professional services, which handle the vast majority of audits for publicly traded companies as well as many private companies, creating an oligopoly in auditing large companies...
). Major law firms such as Maples and Calder
Maples and Calder
Maples and Calder is the largest law firm in the Cayman Islands. As at January 2008, it is also the largest offshore law firm in the world....
have established themselves in the Cayman Islands. Similarly, large accounting firms such as KPMG
KPMG
KPMG is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PwC. Its global headquarters is located in Amstelveen, Netherlands....
, Ogier, Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
and Deloitte are also present. As a result, Cayman is a leader in captive domiciles, hedge fund registrations and is considered a major international banking center.
Tourism
George Town is a popular port of call for the Caribbean with cruise ships anchoring in George Town Harbor Tuesday through Friday. Cruise ships calling at George Town anchor offshore and ferry their passengers ashore by tenders, also known as shuttle boats. Passengers disembark in George Town, in the center of the Grand Cayman shopping district and usually remain anchored from early morning until mid-afternoon.Activites available to tourists in George Town include submarine tours of George Town Harbor, glass-bottom boat tours, snorkeling, scuba-diving, parasailing, charter boat tours, rum distillery tours, art galleries, a historical museum, and of course, shopping and eating. For nightlife, Seven Mile Beach is host to numerous nightclubs and bars. George Town's waterfront is also home to a Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
, a Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
shop, a Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville is the name of a United States-based casual dining American restaurant chain and a chain of stores selling Jimmy Buffett-themed merchandise...
franchise, and a Guy Harvey
Guy Harvey
Guy Harvey is a marine wildlife artist and conservationist. His depictions of sealife, especially of sportfish such as marlin, are very popular with sportfishermen and have been reproduced in prints, posters, t-shirts, jewelry, clothing, and other consumer items...
art studio and restaurant.
Transportation
George Town, as well as the rest of Grand Cayman, is served by nearby Owen Roberts International AirportOwen Roberts International Airport
Owen Roberts International Airport is an airport located in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. It is the main international airport for the Cayman Islands as well as the main base for Cayman Airways...
.
Education
Cayman Islands Education DepartmentCayman Islands Education Department
Cayman Islands Education Department is a department of the Ministry of Education of the Cayman Islands, a territory of the United Kingdom.The agency operates public primary and secondary schools on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac.-High schools:Cayman Brac...
operates George Town Primary School, John Gray High School and the University College of the Cayman Islands
University College of the Cayman Islands
The University College of the Cayman Islands is a tertiary educational institution in the Cayman Islands.-History:The original Community College was established as a part-time institution in 1975, the first government-sponsored tertiary education in the Cayman Islands.The Trade School, the Hotel...
. Caymanian children are entitled to free primary and secondary education. Various churches and private foundations operate several private schools that offer American and British based studies starting from nursery up to A Levels
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
and College. Montessori also operates a school in George Town. The school is located on South Church Street and was established in 1988.