The Cayman Islands are in the north-western Caribbean and consist of three islands called Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman (the Islands or the Territory). They are collectively a British Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom (the UK), and have recognition as such since the 1670 Treaty of Madrid.
Grand Cayman, the largest island, is known for its beach resorts and varied scuba diving and snorkelling sites. Cayman Brac is a popular launch point for deep-sea fishing excursions. Little Cayman, the smallest island, is home to diverse wildlife, from endangered iguanas to seabirds such as red-footed boobies.
The Islands officially became a British colony in 1725 by settlement but formally became a dependency of Jamaica for administrative purposes in 1863. They remained a dependency of Jamaica until 1962, which was until then itself a British colony. Following Jamaica’s independence and withdrawal of membership from the short-lived West Indies Federation, formed in 1958, the Cayman Islands re-emerged as a separate British colony in 1962. Cayman Islands law consequently has been influenced by English and Jamaican law through the Territory’s history and close relationship with those countries and English law remains influential in the development of the Territory’s jurisprudence today.
