Flag of the Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands (Great, Small, and Brac) are located 130 miles south of the island of Cuba and 400 miles south of Miami, USA. The name of the islands comes from the mid-16th century and is associated with the caiman crocodiles. Remaining uninhabited, the islands served as an intermediate point for ships in the Caribbean Sea. The Cayman Islands have been recognized as British-controlled territories since 1670.

This is what the modern flag of the Cayman Islands looks like:

History of the flag

The Cayman Islands belong to the British Overseas Territories. The basis for the flag, as for other colonial possessions, was the British stern flag. It was used by organizations, public services, officials and civilians of the country.

The symbols of the Cayman Islands have varieties. For example, the civilian flag is similar to the national flag and differs only in the fact that all the symbols are on a red background, as in the British merchant flag. The flag of the Cayman Islands Navy is again a blue cloth with all the other attributes. The difference is that the coat of arms is not placed in a white circle. This type of flag was approved in 1999.

The current national flag was officially adopted in May 1958. At the same time, the national emblem was also approved.

The flag of the governor of the Cayman Islands:

Description

The flag of the Cayman Islands is a dark blue background with the British Union Jack in the upper left corner. It has the customary rectangular shape. The aspect ratio is one to two. The size of the Union Jack is equal to a quarter of the size of the entire flag. On the right side, in the center of the second half of the cloth, is the Cayman Islands coat of arms inscribed in a white circle.

The coat of arms depicts a heraldic shield divided into horizontal parts of different sizes. On a bright red background in the upper part is a golden lion – the symbol of Great Britain, which includes the Cayman Islands archipelago. The lower half of the shield, in the form of wavy blue and white stripes, depicts the sea waves, on which are located 3 five-pointed stars of green color in a gold border, symbolizing the 3 islands of the archipelago.

On the shield itself a green turtle is drawn, sitting on twisted white and blue ropes, and a golden pineapple is seen behind it. Beneath the shield is a yellow ribbon with a red hem with the inscription: “He founded it in the seas”.

Flag colors

The flag of the Cayman Islands uses five colors: blue (common background), red, white, yellow and green. All five colors are present in the Cayman Islands coat of arms, which is depicted on the right side of the cloth.

Meaning of colors and flag symbol

Burelet – making ropes and twisted ropes symbolizes the traditions, way of life, crafts of the inhabitants of the archipelago. The main product of agriculture is the pineapple, and the turtle symbolizes the rich fauna of the archipelago. Both symbols represent the maritime history of these territories and its industry. Blue is the symbol of the sea.

The country’s motto, “He founded it in the seas,” is taken from Psalm 23:2 and attests to the Christian heritage of the Cayman Islands.

Interesting facts about the flag

To commemorate the terrorist attack on the New York skyscrapers and other targets on 9/11/2001, the Cayman Islands issued a postage stamp depicting the Statue of Liberty, the US and Cayman Island flags.

The appearance of the turtle on the coat of arms, and thus on the Cayman Islands flag itself, is due to the fact that the territory was formerly known as “Tortuga” (Spanish for “turtle”). This was done because the island was teeming with turtles.

General information about the Cayman Islands

Map of the Cayman Islands