image by Graham
Bartram, 21 March 2001 and António Martins-Tuválkin,
28 April 2016
Last modified: 2024-06-22 by rob raeside
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image by Graham
Bartram, 21 March 2001 and António Martins-Tuválkin,
28 April 2016
Official Name: Cayman Islands
Capital: George Town
Flag adopted: 14
May 1958
Coat of Arms adopted: 14 May 1958
See also:
I found that the white disc was removed from Cayman Islands
blue ensign on Flag Data Base (by Flag Institute) although before
it has white disc.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 3 June 2000
In 1999 the Ministry of Defence (MoD) department in charge of
flags, the DCTA, decided, in consultation with the College of
Arms, that the badges on many British flags were too small for
identification. They also did not match the newer flags granted
directly by the Queen, through the College of Arms, which have
much larger badges.
So the MoD decided to make the badges much larger - the size and
placement of badges on British ensigns was a decision in the
power of the Admiralty, and passed to the MoD when the Admiralty
ceased to exists as a separate body. So the MoD was simply
exercising its authority in the matter, for the better
identification of flags.
This meant that the white discs had to get larger. In fact the
discs had to be so large that they looked ridiculous and it was
therefore decided to discard them as they were no longer
necessary, the new badges being clear even without the discs. So
the new illustration of the Falkland Islands,
Cayman Islands and Montserrat in BR20 (the
government flag book) all had much larger badges (but no change
to the design of the badge) and no white discs.
Of course the MoD's authority on flags only covers flags at sea,
so the Islands concerned are free to continue using flags with
discs on land if they wish to, but flags for use at sea should no
longer have discs (unless they are old flags still in use). The
question of discs of red ensigns is more complex as the size and
placement of badges is usually specified in the Statutory
Instrument that creates them and it is not clear whether the long
standing MoD/Admiralty power over the size and placement of
badges can be used to alter a flag created by a Statutory
Instrument.
Graham Bartram, 6 July 2000
I noticed that Cayman Flags have changed in 1999. I refer you to page www.flags.net/CYIS.htm.
Tom Rothe, 21 March 2001
Yes, the white disc was removed and the arms enlarged. Tom is
referring to the change made when BR20 change 5 was published.
Incidentally the Cayman Islands will be using the new flag at
next year's Commonwealth Games
Graham Bartram, 21 March 2001
The page for the Cayman Islands seems to attribute a new
Cayman Islands flag to an event that occurred on 25 January 1999.
From the postings, I gather that the event may be the appearance
of the amendments to BR 20 (the Ministry of Defence flag book).
The incorrect depiction of the Queen's Harbour Master (QHM) flag
shown in the 1999 amendments to BR 20 reflects that the amendment
does not necessarily reflect a policy decision regarding flags,
even those of the defence establishment. BR 20 is a
reference work issued by one agency of HM Government; it
illustrates the flags of all nations. But if the Navy or
MoD ever wished to alter the Queen's Harbour Master flag, they
would necessarily speak through channels similar to those used by
the Admiralty when they created the flag some 88 years ago. The
work's effect on flags used outside the defence ministry cannot
be greater.
James T. Liston, 15 June 2003
An article published on 11 December 2006 by Cayman
Net News Online contains interesting details on the
availability and use of the flag of the islands.
Full quote of the article:
"A call to remove some of the controls surrounding use of
the Cayman flag was heard in the Legislative Assembly last week
following Government Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA),
Alfonso Wright’s question about why the country’s flag
was, he believed, rarely flown. Mr Wright complained that he had
been to, “so many events where the national anthem was being
performed and at ninety-five per cent of these events there was
no display of the flag.” He asked what were the formal
regulations and protocol regarding the sale of the Cayman Islands
flag and the Chief Secretary, Hon George McCarthy, extolled the
benefits of having the National Museum alone being responsible
for the flag. Mr Wright said the flag should be seen more as
increased visibility would result in higher levels of national
pride.
“The Cayman Islands National Museum is responsible for the
sale of Cayman Islands flags,” said Mr McCarthy. “The
flags are sold in various sizes and include the blue ensign, the
land flag, and the red ensign, the marine flag. The Government
recognises the Cayman Islands flag as a symbol of sovereignty. As
such, a single official point of sale was designated for the
Cayman Islands flag and the Coat of Arms.” He explained that
the single point of sale means that Government exercises quality
control over the design, reproduction and sale of the National
Flag.
Mr Wright said that Sovereignty was important but so was national
pride. “The flag is an important part of what we are about
and we need to see the flag more often,” he said. “Can
the museum look to having the flag distributed throughout the
Island? Has the museum made any efforts to encourage any other
points of sale?” Mr Wright asked the Chief Secretary –
under whose portfolio the matter falls. Mr McCarthy articulated
his reservations about not being to control the display and
presentation of the flag, once the number of venues for sale
increased, saying that he would rather not see the flag, at
whatever size, lumped, without special care, with other artefacts
at other outlets. “I don’t think the flag should be
grouped as a bulk item, amongst other items, where it is being
sold,” he said adding that, for example, he would not want
to see the flag sold in supermarkets. Pressed by Mr Wright to
explore the possibility of increasing the distribution options
for the flag, Mr McCarthy said he would ensure that this is done,
but, he would also ensure that “wherever the flag is
displayed it is done with the appropriate dignity.”
Ivan Sache, 16 December 2006
Quoting Brent Fuller, "Cay
Compass", 4 September 2007:
"A seemingly innocuous motion made in support of the Cayman
Islands flag and national song sparked hours of contentious
political argument Monday in the Legislative Assembly.
Government back bench MLA Alfonso Wright put forth what’s
known as a private member’s motion urging the government to
adopt guidelines for how and where the Cayman Islands’ flag
should be displayed, as well as drawing up protocols for
occasions on which the national song is sung. Those included
suggestions that the flag should be raised and lowered daily at
all government buildings; that the Cayman Islands national song
be sung daily at each primary and high school; and that penalties
be established for improperly displaying or handling the flag.
Mr. Wright also suggested that a new symbol representing
education be placed in the country’s coat of arms. [...]
Opposition party members supported Mr. Wright’s motion
concerning the Cayman Islands flag or national song, but
Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush did take exception to some of the
off–topic comments. [...]
There was unanimous support at the end of the debate for Mr.
Wright’s motion, although Leader of Government Business Kurt
Tibbetts said a few sections may have to be
“fine–tuned.”"
Ivan Sache, 8 September 2007
A "follow-up" to my recent message on this subject
was published in "The
Cayman Net News", 7 September 2007:
"Government has agreed to establish protocol for the proper
use of the Cayman Islands Flag and National Song emanating from a
Private Member’s Motion brought by Member of the Legislative
Assembly (MLA) for George Town Alfonso Wright.
In his first motion since being elected in May 2005 the
Government backbencher sought proper established protocol for the
management of the Cayman Islands National Song as well as the
display and management of the Cayman Flag. The newly established
Protocol Office is to be put in charge of dealing with the
matter. The motion passed unanimously in the Legislative Assembly
(LA) on Monday 3 September. [...]
Noting that the flag is a symbol of pride that evokes patriotism
in the Islands’ citizens, the motion [...] asked Government
to consider:
- the raising and lowering of the flag at all prominent
government buildings daily;
- the display of the flag at all government functions, wherever
possible, especially where the National Song is a programme item;
- establishing a policy whereby the flag is raised in a ceremony
each day at each school; and establishing a policy to guarantee
that the National Song is sung in every primary and high school,
public and private, each day of school.
Also being sought is the establishing of official protocol of
standing to attention by all present while the National Song is
played. Additionally, the motion asks that improper displaying
and handling of the flag attract established penalties. In his
contribution, Mr Wright also wanted included in the Cayman
Islands Coat of Arms a symbol to reflect the importance given to
education in the Cayman Islands. [...]
Minister Tibbetts, however, noted that some aspects raised in the
motion would have to be fine-tuned for ease of putting the
protocol into practice."
Ivan Sache, 10 September 2007
I recreated Graham Bartram's image, which, uses the big-sized coat of arms
that become the (British) MoD’s official spec in 1999 and may or may not have
caught up locally. I used another, bigger, rendering of the same
vectorial original.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 28 April 2016
image by Željko Heimer and Antonio Martins, 05 January 2000
The blue ensign with the white disc seems to be used
everywhere (government site, American Express commercial, the
2000 chart from Shipmate, Znamierowski's books out now).
Steve Stringfellow, 17 June 2000
As you may know, currently the XIX edition of the Central
American Games are being held in El Salvador. On the flagpoles
there are hoisted the flag of the 31 participating teams. The
flag of the Cayman Islands is the Blue Ensign with the arms
within a white circle.
Even in the official web page of the Cayman Islands www.gov.ky
the flag bears an white circle...
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 8 December 2002
From www.gov.ky:
The flag of the Cayman Islands was adopted in 1959. Prior to
that, the Islands had used the British flag for all official
occasions. Set on a navy blue field, the flag features the red,
white and blue British Union Jack in its upper left-hand corner,
and the Cayman coat of arms encircled in a pure white ground in
the right-hand centre of the field. The maritime flag features a
red field.
James T. Liston, 6 February 2002
The Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory (the FCO has
decreed what we used to call "colonies" will no longer
to be called dependant territories) has issued A postage stamp in
remembrance of 11th September 2001, showing the Statue of
Liberty, the US flag, and the Cayman Islands Blue Ensign with the
arms in a white disc! The government of the Cayman Islands
website shows the flag as is shown on the stamp.
James T. Liston, 14 March 2002 and Dave Cox, 1
April 2002
Here is a response for my letter to Cayman Islands' government web-site www.gov.ky:
"I am writing to you in reference to your enquiry sent to
the Portfolio of Internal and External Affairs regarding the
Cayman Islands flag. I have examined the National Archive's
collection of government records for the relevant time period and
I was able to ascertain the following:
- On 3rd April 1957 Cayman's legislative body passed a resolution
to seek a grant from Her Majesty for a Coat-of-Arms.
- In a government notice, dated 11th April 1957, Commissioner
Donald requested submissions for the Coat-of-Arms based on a
template agreed to by the Advisory Executive Council. Deadline
for submissions was 1st May 1957.
- According to Government file (ref: CERE/SYMB dated 1958-1974),
on 13 January 1957 Her Majesty approved that the design of the
Coat-of-Arms should be used on a white circular ground in the fly
of the Blue Ensign as the Flag Badge of the territory.
- Government Notice no. 67 of 1958, dated 14 July 1958, published
a copy of the Royal Warrant (signed on 14 May 1958) and a sketch
of the Arms and Crest.
- The Coat-of-Arms and flag were not recognized in legislation
until 1993. It was then revised in 1998 and amended in 2002. The
original law specified that the use of the Coat of Arms and Flag
is restricted for trade and business and that unauthorized use is
subject to penalties. It also provides for the C. I. Government
to issue guidelines setting out how the Coats-of-Arms may be used
,and how the flag is to be flown. There is no description of the
Flag in the law. The subsequent legislation only pertains to the
penalties and fees for use of the Ensign.
- In 1999 the British Ministry of Defence's publication Flags of
All Nations (BR 20) removed the white background discs from the
illustrations of both the Blue and Red Ensigns. However, the pure
white disc remains on the official flag of the Cayman Islands.
In my examination of the records, I was unable to find any
archival evidence to suggest a connection between the adoption of
the flag and the 1959 Constitution. It should be noted however,
that the Constitution does make mention of a "Public
Seal".
I hope that you will find his response to your enquiry
helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact us again, if you have
any further
questions.
Yours sincerely,
Tamara Selzer, Archivist"
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 9 September 2003
According photos from the last two editions of the Islands
Games, and the Commonwealth Games, I should say that the official
flag (at sports at least) flown by the Cayman Islands is the
defaced British blue ensign with encircled emblem…
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 10 July 2007
At the opening ceremony of Sydney 2000 Olympic games, the
Cayman Islands flag was still displayed with the white disk and
had particularly well noticeable large badge.
Pascal Gross and Željko Heimer, 16
September 2000
At Athens Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, the Cayman flag had a
pretty large white disc around a badge. The athletes were
waiving similar flags as well.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 15 August 2004
It was interesting to see that the flag of the Cayman Islands carried during
the Olympics opening ceremony was the previous version with the arms in the
centre of a white disc.
Bruce Berry, 28 July 2012
I noticed that the little mini-flags that the athletes were waving had the
version with no disc. Could the big flag have been a mistake on the part of the
organizers?
Brendan Patrick Hennessy, 28 July 2012
I doubt it, I think the Cayman Islands NOC is responsible for the big flag (remember
that Bosnia's new flag was I think debuted at Nagano, Nagano wouldn't have known
about the new flag unless the Bosnian NOC told them), even if it is London's
responsibility the Caymans are a British possession, they should know.
David Kendall, 28 July 2012
Not a possession, but one of "The Overseas Territories". Source:
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
website, 'The Overseas Territories', last updated 16 July 2012, as consulted
30 July 2012
That's three different generic name changes, since I've been on FoTW, my friends
- and that is not even ten years.
Colin Dobson, 29 July 2012
I watched the opening ceremony of the Winter
Olympics in Sochi and noticed that the flag used for the Cayman Islands is
the pre-2000 version i.e. badge on white disc. The Cayman Islands
representatives were carry table flags of the version with the larger badge and
no disc.
Bruce Berry, 10 February 2014
The protocol manual for the
London 2012 Olympics (Flags and Anthems Manual
London 2012 [loc12]) provides recommendations
for national flag designs. Each NOC was sent an image of the flag,
including the PMS shades, for their approval by LOCOG. Once this was obtained, LOCOG produced
a 60 x 90 cm version of the flag for further approval. So, while these specs may
not be the official, government, version of each flag, they are certainly what
the NOC believed the flag to be.
For Cayman Islands: PMS 281 blue, 032 red, 348 green, 361 green, 292 blue, 109
yellow and black. The vertical flag is simply the horizontal version turned 90
degrees clockwise. And the arms are on a white disc.
Ian Sumner, 10 October 2012
The Government website has a
page about national symbols, but it still illustrates the flag with the white
disc! There are no color specifications.
Other sources for colors:
The
Flag Manual - Beijing 2008 gives Pantone colors: PMS 109 (yellow), PMS 032
(red), PMS 281 (blue), PMS 348 (green), PMS 292 (light blue), PMS 361 (light
green), and PMS Black. It illustrates the flag with the white disc.
Flags
and Anthems Manual London 2012 [loc12] gives
Pantone colors: PMS 281 (dark blue), PMS 032 (red), PMS 348 (dark green), PMS
361 (light green), PMS 292 (light blue), PMS 109 (yellow), PMS Black. It
illustrates the flag with the white disc.
The Rio 2016 Flags and Anthems
Manual shows the flag with the white disc, but the Tokyo 2020 Flags and Anthems
Manual illustrates the flag without the white disc and with the large coat of
arms. Athletes of Cayman Islands marched under the flag with a white disc during
the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony, you can see athletes from 1:24:35:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_qXm9HY9Ro. But they marched under the flag
without a white disc during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony in 2021.
You can see them from 1:32:18:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u6uCbe6zh8.
The French Navy Books
don’t give any color specification for its flag, but both editions illustrate
the flags without white disc.
Vexilla Mundi gives colors in
Pantone system: PMS 281C (blue), PMS 186C (red), PMS White.
Wikipedia doesn’t give any color
specification for the flag.
Flag Color Codes gives the following color
values:
Red: Hex. # EF3340, RGB 239-51-64, CMYK 0-90-76-0, Pantone 032,
RAL 3024
White: Hex. # FFF FFF, RGB 255-255-255, CMYK 0-0-0-0, Pantone
N/A, RAL N/A
Dark Blue: Hex. # 00205B, RGB 0-32-91, CMYK 100-78-0-57,
Pantone 281, RAL 5026
Based on images found online, it appears
that the flag with the white disc is still in common use in the Cayman Islands. Even in the case of official bodies and persons, the old flag is seen more
often, and the official flag appears relatively rarely.
Zoltan Horvath,
1 May 2024
Cayman Islands is divided to 8 districts. There are no known
flags of those districts. The districts are:
- Creek
- Eastern
- Midland
- South Town
- Spot Bay
- Stake Bay
- West End
- Western
List based on Administrative
divisions of the World.
Dov Gutterman, 29 October 2004
According to www.caymanprepared.ky
there are four of them:
- Tropical Storm Flag Alert:
a red pennant
- Tropical Storm Flag All Clear:
a green pennant
- Tropical Storm Flag Warning:
two red pennants with black triangle pointing outwards
- Tropical Storm Flag Watch:
red pennant with black triangle pointing outwards. Page 36 of this
document states that in case of an alert, “The
Commissioner of Police will arrange to have one red flag hoisted
at the designated buildings” which I take are shelters:
Page 37 states that in the case of a watch, “one red flag
with black centre [is] to be hoisted at each designated
building”.
Page 39 mentions the warning sign, “two red flags with black
centres” whereas the all clear sign “one green
flag” is mentioned on page 40. (The form of the flags –
pennants – is not stated or prescribed)
At www.gov.ky, there are
photos of green pennant,
and red pennant with black
square (which does not contradict the term “centre”
in the official text).
Judging from the context, the photos are placed on the internet
as the need arises, so they may disappear, or be replaced, in
future.
Jan Mertens, 13 January 2008
image by Eugene Ipavec, 3 July 2009
James B.Minahan, in his "Encyclopedia of the Stateless
Nations" presents two flag of these non-sovereign
territories as a proposed symbols after both of them attain the
eventual independence.
Mr. Minahan presents "the flag proposed for an independent
Cayman Islands is a field of wavy blue and white stripes charged
with three green five-pointed stars." He doesn't elaborate
who might be behind such a project and the search of Google
doesn't return any independence oriented organization there.
The image of that flag
shown in Minahan's book is black and white.
Among the richest people in the world, Caymanians display no
hurry to achieve full independence, according to the poll judging
public opinion there.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 2 July 2009
