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An Introduction to Jamaica
With its unparalleled beauty and year-round vacation
opportunities, Jamaica is an ideal tourist destination. Each year
over one million visitors flock to our island to experience the
delights of our exciting resort centres -- Kingston, Montego Bay,
Ocho Rios, Negril, Port Antonio and the South Coast. Jamaica is the
largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean and the third
largest in the region. With a total land area of 4442 square miles
(10991 sq. km.), the island is 146 miles long with widths varying
between 22 and 51 miles (35 and 82 km). It is just a bit smaller
than the state of Connecticut.
Truly a nation “out of many, one people” Jamaica
is a multifaceted mosaic of international customs and
traditions. Our ancestors, from Africa, Asia, Europe and the
Middle East, have helped to shape our culture, creating one that
is uniquely Jamaican. Experiencing the culture of Jamaica is
what sets us apart from other Caribbean destinations. Jamaicans
define enthusiasm. Whether the topic is ackee or dominoes,
politics or carnival, the spirit of the island comes out in
every interaction. Although Jamaica is well-known for its
tropical beauty, reggae music, and cuisine, you may find that
your interactions with local residents are what you truly
remember.
GEOGRAPHY
Located in the western Caribbean islands, ninety miles south of
Cuba and six hundred miles south of Miami, Jamaica is 18 degrees
north of the equator. The terrain is very mountainous with much of
the land rising above 1,000 feet (305 km). The highest point, Blue
Mountain Peak, is 7402 feet (2256m) above sea level. Complementing
our mountains, Jamaica also brims with valleys and plains. The five
major plains - Vere, St. Jago, George’s, Liguanea and Pedro -
provide the backbone for our largely agricultural economy. Jamaica
is divided into 3 counties and 14 parishes. Over 120 rivers flow
through the island from the mountain region to the coasts. The fast
flowing rivers are used for transport and the production of
electricity as well as to provide for agricultural purposes.
CLIMATE
The island has seasonal rainfall, the annual average temperature
is 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees F.). The hottest months are in the
summer, from May to September. The “winter” season (December to
March) is appreciably cooler. The annual average rainfall is 78
inches (198cm). Mountainous areas receive almost 300 inches (762cm)
of rainfall each year while sections of the island’s western region
get as little as 30 inches (76.2cm).
POPULATION
Jamaica’s population stood at 2.641 million people in 2003. The
annual population growth rate is currently .6%. Population density:
216 persons per square kilometer. Adult Literacy: 87.9%. Labour
force: 1,193 million; Ethnic divisions: African descent (90.9%),
White (.2%), Chinese (.2%), East Indian (1.3%), Mixed (7.3%) and
Other (.1%).
HISTORY
Christopher Columbus discovered Jamaica in 1492. He found the
Taino Indians inhabiting the island. The Spanish colonized the
island, but in 1657 a British expedition under Admirals Penn &
Venables captured the island. The island became a major base for
pirates, especially at Port Royal before it was destroyed in an
earthquake in 1692. After the disaster, Kingston was founded across
the harbor, one of the largest natural harbors in the world, and it
rapidly became the major commercial centre of the island. The
cultivation of sugar cane and coffee were the main exports for
Jamaica under colonial rule, however in the 1940’s bauxite was
discovered and was a major export of the island for many years. On
August 6th 1962 Jamaica gained its independence from Great Britain.
Queen Elisabeth II as the head of the British Commonwealth, is
represented in Jamaica by a governor general who acts on the advice
of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
GOVERNMENT
The government of Jamaica is patterned on the British
Westminster model of government. The Parliament, or the central
government, is charged with the responsibility of running the
nation’s business, specifically in the creation of laws, the
maintenance of law and order as well as the allocation of finances
to run the various social services provided for the citizens. The
Parliament of Jamaica is bicameral, consisting of the House of
Representatives and the Senate. Members of the House (known as
'Members of Parliament' or MPs) are directly elected, and the leader
of the majority party in the House becomes the Prime Minister.
Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister, and the parliamentary
Leader of the Opposition. Within the Parliament, the Cabinet, an
executive body, which includes the Prime Minister and a select group
of Members of Parliament, holds the responsibility for the bulk of
government policy making and policy execution through the various
ministries that make up the Civil Service. The twelve Cabinet
members each hold a Ministerial portfolio, and the Governor General,
on the recommendation of the Prime Minister appoints each Minister.
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