With Canada Day on the 1st of July, U.S. Independence Day on the 4th of July, and Bastille Day in France on the 14th of July, the month of July is already jam packed when it comes to patriotic holidays around the world. But just as in the United States, the 4th of July also holds a special place in the history of the Cayman Islands, a British overseas territory made up by three islands in the western Caribbean. In the Cayman Islands, Constitution Day is public holiday celebrated on the first Monday of July, this year on 2 July, 2018.
The first written constitution of the Cayman Islands came into effect on July 4th, 1959. Notably, the constitution granted women the right to vote and removed the Cayman’s political dependence on Jamaica.
The Cayman Islands had been under British rule since 1670 and in 1863, the Cayman Islands officially became a colony of Jamaica, which declared independence from Britain in 1952. The Cayman Islands, however, wanted to remain part of the British Empire and obtain status as a British overseas territory. The new constitution removed the Jamaican legislature’s control over the islands.
The Cayman Islands live up to their reputation of sun, surf, sand, and scuba diving on Constitution Day, as most people spend it at the beach and on the water. Many of the hotels and resorts hold special Constitution Day events, such as barbeques and fireworks. In recent years, Constitution Day celebrations, including fireworks, music, and food, have been centered around Camana Bay, located near Seven Mile Beach.
Constitution Day also provides an opportunity to sample Caymanian food, which is very similar to Jamaican cuisine. Cayman’s dishes often include fish, seafood, vegetables, and spices. Popular fish include tuna, snapper, mackerel, and mahi-mahi. Fish is often grilled. Another popular dish is conch served raw with lime juice or cooked as a stew or chowder.
Most international flights to the Cayman Islands land at Owen Roberts International Airport, which is situated on the largest island, Grand Cayman. Miami is one of the most popular North American cities to offer direct nonstop flights. There are also direct flights from Toronto and London as well as other cities in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Charlotte West is a freelance writer based in Seattle, Washington. She has written about travel, design, and architecture for publications such as Print, Afar, Budget Travel, and dwell.com. She has lived abroad in the Netherlands, Sweden, and Peru.
