July 4th isn’t just a big date for our friends in the United States, it also marks Constitution Day here, a day where all of Grand Cayman celebrates our rich culture, history, and heritage.
The first written constitution in the history of the Cayman Islands was approved by London in 1958, and came into operation on July 4th, 1959. With this constitution, Cayman was no longer a dependency of Jamaica. Grand Cayman’s relationship with Jamaica changed again when that country achieved independence in 1962. Then, in 1972 a newer, revised constitution came into effect, having a profound impact on everyone here.
More changes occurred over the years, but none caught worldwide attention like the inclusion of a Bill of Rights in 2012. After a public meeting of some 500 people, a Caymanian Compass editorial stated, “Just as the debate between the government and the Human Rights Committee on the bill of rights has been spirited, so is the debate on the bill of rights among the public.”
We invite you to come down and celebrate with us at Aqua Bay, as we always look forward to Constitution Day!