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An Introduction to Jamaica
With its unparalleled beauty and year-round holiday opportunities, Jamaica is an ideal tourist destination. Each year over one million visitors flock to the 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 4,442 square miles (10,991 square kilometres), the island is 146 miles long with widths varying between 22 and 51 miles (35 to 82 kilometres).
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, 90 miles south of Cuba and 600 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 metres). The highest point, Blue Mountain Peak, is 7,402 feet (2,256 metres) 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 three counties and 14 parishes. Over 120 fast flowing rivers flow through the island from the mountain region to the coasts. The rivers are used for transport and the production of electricity as well as to provide for agricultural purposes.
CLIMATE
The island has seasonal rainfall, and an annual average temperature of 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit). The hottest months are in the summer, from May to September, while 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 2.6 million people in 2003 and the annual population growth rate is currently 0.6%, with a population density of 216 persons per square kilometre. Adult Literacy: 87.9%. Labour force: 1.193 million. Ethnicity: African descent (90.9%), White (0.2%), Chinese (0.2%), East Indian (1.3%), Mixed (7.3%) and Other (0.1%).
HISTORY
Christopher Columbus discovered Jamaica in 1492 and found the Taino Indians inhabiting the island. The Spanish subsequently colonised 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 harbour, one of the largest natural harbours 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 1940s 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 Elizabeth 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 based on the British Westminster system. 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 12 Cabinet members each hold a Ministerial portfolio, and the Governor General, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, appoints each Minister. The current party in power for their fourth term is the People's National Party (PNP). Portia Simpson-Miller was sworn in as Prime Minister in March 2006 to replace the retiring Prime Minister, Mr Percival J Patterson. The current opposition party is called the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) led by Mr Bruce Golding