| George Town | |
|---|---|
| From top to the bottom and from left to right: The Lighthouse,West bay Road,Cayman National Bank,7Mile Beach,The Ritz-Carlton Hotel,7 Mile beach Road,Water Front,The Port,Owen Roberts International Airport. | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Overseas Territory | Cayman Islands |
| Island | Grand Cayman |
| Population (2006 est)[1] | |
| • Total | 30,600 |
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.[1]
George Town is the heart of the Cayman Islands financial industry, with over 600 banks located there.
Contents |
The Caymanian government offices are located in George Town. These offices include the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands, 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.
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 Beach 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 data for George Town | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 26 (79) |
26 (79) |
27 (81) |
28 (82) |
29 (84) |
30 (86) |
30 (86) |
30 (86) |
30 (86) |
29 (84) |
28 (82) |
27 (81) |
28 (82) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 25 (77) |
25 (77) |
26 (79) |
27 (81) |
27 (81) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
28 (82) |
27 (81) |
27 (81) |
25 (77) |
27 (81) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 23 (73) |
22 (72) |
23 (73) |
25 (77) |
26 (79) |
27 (81) |
27 (81) |
27 (81) |
26 (79) |
26 (79) |
25 (77) |
23 (73) |
25 (77) |
| Avg. precipitation days | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 80 |
| Source: Weatherbase[2] | |||||||||||||
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 auditors). 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.
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, a Harley-Davidson shop, a Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville franchise, and a Guy Harvey art studio and restaurant.
George Town, as well as the rest of Grand Cayman, is served by nearby Owen Roberts International Airport.
Cayman Islands Education Department 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.[3] Montessori also operates a school in George Town. The school is located on South Church Street and was established in 1988.[4]
|
||||||||||||