Flag of Cayman Islands

Flag origins

The Cayman Islands use a British blue ensign with the Union Jack and a coat of arms. The flag dates to 1959 and the arms to 1958. Three green stars represent Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman; blue and white waves represent the sea. A gold lion recalls Britain, a turtle maritime history, a rope the thatch-rope industry, and a pineapple historical ties with Jamaica. The motto, 'He hath founded it upon the seas,' comes from Psalm 24.

Flag story

Turtles were central to the islands' early maritime economy. Columbus named the islands Las Tortugas in 1503 after the turtles found there. The pineapple also has a historical explanation: the islands were long administered in connection with Jamaica. Several small details in the arms thus record different parts of local history.

Editorial notes and references

Edited by ABELHA WORKS. The English text translates the administrator-edited Japanese description. Legends should be distinguished from documented history. General reference links do not substantiate every statement in the text.

• Cayman Islands — general information on Wikipedia
• Japan MOFA: countries and regions (Japanese)

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