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Prior to the adoption of the current flag of
the Cayman Islands in 1959, the islands were represented by the
British Union Jack. The current official design consists of a Blue
ensign featuring the coat of arms with a Union flag in the top left
canton. There is also a red version of this same design that is
considered the civil flag. The badge includes several symbolic
images that are unique to the islands. The shield features three
green stars amongst a blue and white wavy field, signifying the
islands and the sea. The lion above this image represents the
Cayman’s ties to Britain. The top of the shield has a pineapple,
over a turtle that is resting on a piece of rope. The pineapple
represents ties to Jamaica, and the rope is in response to the
island’s traditional thatch-rope industry. There are some
conflicting interpretations of the turtle. Some experts claim it is
due to the sheer abundance of turtles in the area, but most others
agree that it is used as a symbol of the Cayman’s ‘seafaring
history.’ |