Jamaica

Jamaica is a country in the Caribbean Sea, located south of Cuba and to the west of Hispaniola, on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic are situated. {| border=1 align=right cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=300 style="margin: 0 0 1em 1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" |+Jamaica |- | style="background:#efefef;" align="center" colspan=2 | {| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" | align="center" width="140px" | | align="center" width="140px" rowspan="2" height="135px" | |- | align="center" width="140px" | (Flag of Jamaica) |} |- | align="center" colspan=2 | ''National motto: Out of Many One People'' |- | align=center colspan=2 style="background: #ffffff;" | |- | Official language | English language |- | Capital and largest city | Kingston, Jamaica |- | Monarch | Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom |- | Governor-General | Sir Howard Cooke |- | Prime Minister of Jamaica | P. J. Patterson |- | Area
- Total
- % water | List of countries by area
1 E10 m�
1.5 |- | Population
- Total
- Population density | List of countries by population
2,695,867 (July 2003)
245/km² |- | Independence
- Date | From West Indies Federation and United Kingdom
August 6, 1962 |- | Currency | Jamaican dollar |- | Time zone | Coordinated Universal Time -5 |- | National anthem | Jamaica, Land We Love | |- | Top-level domain | .jm |- | List_of_country_calling_codes | 1-876 |} ==History== ''Main article: History of Jamaica'' The name of the country derives from the name Xaymaca, meaning land of wood and water, given to it by the original Arawak or Taino people from South America, who first settled there around the year 1000 - 400 BC. Jamaica was claimed for Spain after Christopher Columbus first landed there in 1494. Columbus used it as his family's private estate. The England Admiral William_Penn_(admiral) (father of William Penn of Pennsylvania) and General Venables seized the island in 1655. During its first 200 years of British rule, Jamaica became the world's largest sugar exporting nation and produced over 77,000 tons of sugar annually between 1820 - 1824, which was achieved through the massive use of imported African slavery labor. By the beginning of the 19th century, Britain's heavy reliance on slavery resulted in blacks outnumbering whites by a ratio of almost 20 to one, leading to constant threat of revolt. Following a series of rebellions, slavery was formally abolished in 1838. Jamaica slowly gained increasing independence from the United Kingdom, and in 1958 Jamaica became a province in the Federation of the West Indies, a federation between all the British West Indies. Jamaica attained full independence by leaving the federation in 1962 and is now a completely sovereign nation. Jamaica celebrated the tricentennial of British rule in 1955. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence and a drop-off in tourism. Former capitals of Jamaica include Port Royal, where the pirate Henry_Morgan held sway, and which was destroyed by a storm and earthquake, and Spanish Town, in St. Catherine parish, the site of the old Spanish colonial capital and the English capital during the 18th and 19th century. ==Politics== ''Main article: Politics of Jamaica'' Jamaica is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. The head of state is Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. The monarch's representative in Jamaica is the Governor-General, who is chosen by the prime minister and fills the role of approving bills, and other state functions. For the most part, the monarch (through her representative, the Governor-General) is a figurehead, and what little real power she has is reserved for times of crisis. The present government favours turning Jamaica into a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations, in which the Queen and Governor-General would be replaced by a President. The Jamaica Constitution, 1962 was drafted by a bipartisan joint committee of the Jamaican legislature in 1961-62, approved in the United Kingdom and included as the Second Schedule of the Jamaica (Constitution) Order in Council, 1962 under the West Indies Act, 1962. It came into force with the Jamaica Independence Act, 1962 of the United Kingdom Parliament, which gave Jamaica political independence. The Jamaican Parliament 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 of Jamaica. Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister, and the parliamentary Leader of the Opposition. The current Prime Minister of Jamaica is P. J. Patterson who has held office since the 1992 resignation of Michael Manley. He has been since re-elected three times, the last being in 2002. Jamaica's constitution requires the Prime Minister to call the next general election by October 2007. Jamaica has traditionally had a two party system, with power often alternating between the People's National Party and Jamaican Labour Party. Jamaica is a full and participating member of the Caribbean_Community. == Defense == The Jamaican Defence Force (JDF) is the small, but professional military force of Jamaica. The JDF is based upon the British military model with organization, training, weapons and traditions closely aligned with Commonwealth Realm Countries. Once chosen officer candidates are sent to one of several British or Canadian basic officer courses depending upon which arm of service they are slated for. Enlisted soldiers are given basic training at JDF Training Depot Newcastle. As on the British model NCOs are given several levels of professional training as they rise up the ranks. Additional military schools are available for specialty training in Canada, the U.S. and Britain. The JDF is directly descended from the British West Indies Regiment formed during the colonial era. The West Indies Regiment was used extensively by the British empire in policing the empire from 1795 to 1926. Other units in the JDF heritage include the early colonial Jamaica Militia, the Kingston Infantry Volunteers of WWI and reorganized into the Jamaican Infantry Volunteers in WWII. The West Indies Regiment was reformed in 1958 as part of the West Indies Federation. The dissolution of the Federation resulted in the establishment of the JDF. The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) comprises an infantry Regiment and Reserve Corps, an Air Wing, a Coast Guard fleet and a supporting Engineering Unit. The infantry regiment contains the 1st, 2nd and 3rd (National Reserve) battalions. The JDF Air Wing is divided into three flight units, a training unit, a support unit and the JDF Air Wing (National Reserve). The Coast Guard element is divided between sea-going crews and support crews. It conducts maritime safety and maritime law enforcement as well as defense related operations. The support battalion contains a Military Police platoon as well as vehicle, armorers and supply units. The 1st Engineer Regiment provides military engineering support to the JDF. The Headquarters JDF contains the JDF commander, command staff as well as intelligence, judge advocate office, administrative and procurement sections. In recent years the JDF has been called upon to assist the nation's police, the Jamaican Constabulary Force (JCF) in fighting drug smuggling and a rising crime rate which includes one of the highest murder rates in the world. JDF units actively conduct armed patrols with the JCF in high-crime areas and known gang neighborhoods. There has been vocal controversy as well as support of this JDF role. In early 2005 an opposition leader, Edward Seaga, called for the merger of the JDF and JCF. This move has not garnered support in either organization nor among the majority of citizens. == Parishes == ''Main article: Parishes of Jamaica'' Jamaica is divided into 14 parishes: *Clarendon, Jamaica *Hanover, Jamaica *Kingston, Jamaica *Manchester, Jamaica *Portland, Jamaica *Saint Andrew, Jamaica *Saint Ann, Jamaica *Saint Catherine, Jamaica *Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica *Saint James, Jamaica *Saint Mary, Jamaica *Saint Thomas, Jamaica *Trelawny, Jamaica *Westmoreland, Jamaica ==Geography== ''Main article: Geography of Jamaica'' The island of Jamaica has mountainous inlands surrounded by a narrow coastal plain. For this reason, all major cities are located on the coast. Chief towns include the capital Kingston, Jamaica and Montego Bay. The climate in Jamaica is tropical, with hot and humid weather, although inland regions have a more temperate climate. ==Economy== ''Main article: Economy of Jamaica'' Jamaica operates as a mixed, free market economy with state enterprises as well as private sector businesses. Major sectors of the Jamaican economy include agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism and financial and insurance services. Tourism and mining are the leading foreign exchange earners. Supported by multilateral financial institutions, Jamaica has, since the early 1980's, sought to implement structural reforms aimed at fostering private sector activity and increasing the role of market forces in resource allocation. Since 1991, the Government has followed a program of economic liberalization and stabilization by removing exchange controls, floating the exchange rate, cutting tariffs, stabilizing the Jamaican currency, reducing inflation and removing restrictions on foreign investment. Emphasis has been placed on maintaining strict fiscal discipline, greater openness to trade and financial flows, market liberalization and reduction in the size of government. During this period, a large share of the economy was returned to private sector ownership through divestment and privatization programs. The macroeconomic stabilization program introduced in 1991, which focused on tight fiscal and monetary policies, has contributed to a controlled reduction in the rate of inflation. The annual inflation rate has decreased from a high of 80.2% in 1991 to 7.9% in 1998. inflation for FY1998/99 was 6.2% compared to 7.2% in the corresponding period in FY1997/98. The Government remains committed to lowering inflation, with a long-term objective of bringing it in line with that of its major trading partners. After a period of steady growth from 1985 to 1995, real Gross domestic product decreased by 1.8% and 2.4% in 1996 and 1997, respectively. The decrease in GDP in 1996 and 1997 was largely due to significant problems in the financial sector and, in 1997, a severe island-wide drought (the worst in 70 years) that drastically reduced agricultural production. In 1997, nominal GDP was approximately J$220,556.2 million (US$6,198.9 million based on the average annual exchange rate of the period). The economy in 1997 was marked by low levels of import growth, high levels of private capital inflows and relative stability in the foreign exchange market. Recent economic performance shows the Jamaican economy is recovering. Agricultural production, an important engine of growth increased 15.3% in third quarter of 1998 compared to the corresponding period in 1997, signaling the first positive growth rate in the sector since January 1997. Bauxite and alumina production increased 5.5% from January to December, 1998 compared to the corresponding period in 1997. January's bauxite production recorded a 7.1% increase relative to January 1998. Tourism, which is the largest foreign exchange earner, showed improvement as well. Growth in tourist arrivals accelerated in the third quarter of 1998 and tourism earnings, increased 8.5% from January to December 31, 1998 compared to the corresponding period in 1997. ==Demographics== ''Main article: Demographics of Jamaica'' Jamaica is mainly a blend of African and Anglo-Irish cultures, with influences from the Spain and Taino cultures, although the Tainos as a people were completely wiped out by the Spanish soon after their arrival in 1494. These Tainos (sub-Arawaks) were known for archery and have left many remnants of their culture in artifacts and in at least one popular food (bammy- a small flat cake made of grated cassava).The majority of the population is of mixed race, of Black, Indian, China and British, Irish and other European heritage. People of single race compose a tiny minority, although many members of minority groups (particularly Hindustani and Chinese) have managed to remain unmixed. Unmixed Indians comprise 1.7% of the population and unmixed Chinese are 1.3%. Mixed Indians are about 0.6%. This ethnic diversity is what led to the composition of Jamaica's motto: "Out of Many One People". The official language is Jamaican English, although the patois form Jamaican Creole is widely spoken. There are also small amounts of people that speak Hindustani, Chinese, Hebrew, and Arabic. About three-quarter of the Jamaicans practice Christianity, spread over a large number of denominations. The remaining quarter adheres to various other religions, including local faiths such as the Rastafari movement. Other religions include Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. Over the past several decades, hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans have emigration, especially to the United States but also to Canada and the United Kingdom. This emigration appears to have been tapering off somewhat in recent years. ==Culture== ''Main articles: Culture of Jamaica, Music of Jamaica'' Though a small nation, Jamaica is rich in culture, and has a strong global presence. The musical genres reggae, ska, and, more recently, dancehall originated in Jamaica. Bob Marley, perhaps the best known reggae musician, was born in Jamaica, and is very respected. The Rastafarian New religious movement was founded in, and is associated with, Jamaica. This Afrocentrism movement believes that Haile Selassie of Ethiopia is God incarnate, the returned black messiah, come to take the lost Israelite back to live with him in Holy Mount Zion in a world of perfect peace, love and harmony. Bob Marley, a convert to the faith, spread the message of Rastafari to the world. There are now estimated to be more than a million Rastafarians throughout the world. *National Bird - Doctor bird (Green-and-black Streamertail, ''Trochilus polytmus'') *National Flower - Lignum vitae (''Guaiacum officinale'') *National Tree - Blue Mahoe (''Hibiscus elatus'') ==Miscellaneous topics== * Geography of Jamaica * Communications in Jamaica * Transportation in Jamaica * Military of Jamaica * Foreign relations of Jamaica * Technology in Jamaica * Public Holidays in Jamaica * Marcus Garvey * List of Jamaicans ==External links == * [http://www.cabinet.gov.jm/ Cabinet Official Website] * [http://www.jis.gov.jm/special_sections/Independence/symbols.html Jamaica national symbols] * [http://www.visitjamaica.com/ Jamaica Tourist Board Official Website] * [http://www.yard-links.com Yard-links: Travel guide with island photography and information about the cities] *[http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=18.138428,-77.266846&spn=1.304626,2.026978&t=k&hl=en google maps] Caribbean countries Caribbean islands Jamaica CARICOM_member_states Monarchies Island nations bn:জামাইকা ks:जमैका lv:Jamaika ms:Jamaika zh-min-nan:Jamaica nds:Jamaika

Jamaica

''An event mentioned in this article is a Template:August 6 selected anniversaries''' ----- Uh, the Info Box on Jamaica is pretty shaky. Someone seems to have mixed it pretty thoroughly with Barbados. Which makes me wonder about the rest of the page... 11/8/03 It seems like a lot of this content, and certainly the image, is directly copied from the [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/jm.html CIA World Factbook - Jamaica] site. I am planning on contacting the CIA to see if this was used with permission. - Shadowe - 05/23/04 All information from the CIA World Factbook is allowed. - Shadowe - 05/23/04 [http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1263245,00.html Police seek Jamaican singer after armed attack on gay men] == Hurricanes == Hurricane Ivan is close to here. It is now 60 miles South of Montego Bay, Jamaica. --User:Patricknoddy 13:18, 11 Sep 2004 (UTC)User:Patricknoddy --User:Patricknoddy 13:18, 11 Sep 2004 (UTC)User:Patricknoddy 9:18 September 11, 2004 (EDT) ==Copyvio== Special:Contributions/User:69.141.70.196, who thinks Rastafarians are stupid, added material straight from [http://www.caribbeandiscover.com/info/history_jamaica.htm] which is a copyvio, and therefore must be reverted on sight. Her also removed stuff he considers stupid, --User:SqueakBox 00:12, Apr 7, 2005 (UTC) :It looks like the added text contains material from multiple sources. For instance, "By the end of the 16th century the Arawak population had been entirely wiped out, suffering from hard labor, ill-treatment and European diseases to which they had no resistance" appears to be copied from "http://www.pilotguides.com/destination_guide/central_america_and_caribbean/jamaica/sugar_plantations.php", and "Vast numbers died as a result of forced labor and thousands more committed suicide by hanging themselves or drinking poisonous cassava juice to escape from their bondage. Mothers are said to have murdered their children rather then let them grow up and suffer the slavery they had known under Spanish rule" quoted in [http://debate.uvm.edu/dreadlibrary/flanagan.html], among other places. In my opinion the number of copyright violations justifies reversion of the page. User:Xero, please feel free to continue to edit it but write in your own words, please. — User:Knowledge Seeker User talk:Knowledge Seeker 00:35, 7 Apr 2005 (UTC) ::The recent edits [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jamaica&diff=11978419&oldid=11978214] continue to contain copyright violations (for example, "Jamaica is an independent country, completely self-governed since 1962 when the island ceased to be a British colony. Jamaica is governed by a parliamentary democracy, After Independence, Jamaica chose to be a part of the British Commonwealth, and to keep the Queen of the United Kingdom as the constitutional monarch, the titular head of the country. The Government of Jamaica was patterned on the Westminster model of government, and is composed of the Queen as head of state, and a bicameral Parliament. In Jamaica, the Governor General, who is appointed by Her Majesty upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Jamaica, represents the Queen" from [http://www.tuttinsieme.it/tutti/tut/caribbean/jamaica/jamdir.htm] and "Jamaican Jews have contributed much to the island's rich history and cuture. Poet Daniel Lopez Laguna, 1635-1730, a survivor of the Spanish Inquisition who converted biblical Psalms into poems. A book of these poems, "Espejo Fiel de Vidas," The True Mirror of Life, was published in 1720 and holds the distinction of being the first book to be published in Jamaica under British rule" from [http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/pages/history/story0054.htm]. I'll revert these changes. — User:Knowledge Seeker User talk:Knowledge Seeker 01:14, 7 Apr 2005 (UTC) ==Rastafari== I have asked Xero to source his claim that only outsiders believe they think Haile selassie is God. According to him no self-respecting rasta would believe such a thing, --User:SqueakBox 01:39, Apr 7, 2005 (UTC) == National bird == The "Doctor Bird" is listed as: Swallow-Tail Hummingbird ''Trochilus ploytmus'' at [http://www.mfaft.gov.jm/Symbols/national_bird.htm], the "Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade" website. Elsewhere (including in Wikipedia) ''Trochilus ploytmus'' is called the "Green-and-black Streamertail" and the Swallow-tail Hummingbird is listed as (e.g., Hummingbird) is said to be ''Eupetomena macrourus''. I've stuck with the latin name, but not really sure what the best option is. User:Guettarda 20:21, 21 Apr 2005 (UTC) ==Slavery, etc.== This article is very sparse. The island's history of slavery should be fleshed out, and mention should be made of its role in the triangular trade. Some further reference to African/New World African, East Indian and Rastafari cultures are warranted, as well. User:Deeceevoice 17:31, 4 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Jamaica

Caribbean countries Members of the Commonwealth of Nations

Jamaica

{| id="toc" style="margin: 0 2em 0 2em;" ! style="background:#ccccff" align="center" width="100%" |

Parishes of Jamaica of the Jamaica || |- | align="center" style="font-size: 90%;" colspan="2" | Clarendon, Jamaica | Hanover, Jamaica | Kingston, Jamaica | Manchester, Jamaica | Portland, Jamaica | Saint Andrew, Jamaica | Saint Ann, Jamaica |
Saint Catherine, Jamaica | Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica | Saint James, Jamaica | Saint Mary, Jamaica | Saint Thomas, Jamaica | Trelawny, Jamaica | Westmoreland, Jamaica |}

See other meanings of words starting from letter:

J

JA | JB | JC | JD | JE | JF | JG | JH | JI | JK | JL | JM | JN | JO | JP | JR | JS | JT | JU | JW | JX | JY | JZ |

Words begining with Jamaica:

Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica,_IA
Jamaica,_Iowa
Jamaica,_Land_We_Love
Jamaica,_New_York
Jamaica,_Queens
Jamaica,_Queens,_New_York
Jamaica,_Vermont
Jamaica,_VT
Jamaica/Communications
Jamaica/Economy
Jamaica/Geography
Jamaica/Government
Jamaica/History
Jamaica/jalug
Jamaica/Military
Jamaica/People
Jamaica/Technology
Jamaica/Transnational_issues
Jamaica/Transportation
JamaicaBay.jpeg
JamaicaJan
JamaicaJan
Jamaicajan
Jamaican
Jamaican-American_music
Jamaicanmusic
Jamaicans
Jamaican_albums
Jamaican_athletes
Jamaican_Boa
Jamaican_boxers
Jamaican_Canadian
Jamaican_Creole
Jamaican_Crow
Jamaican_cuisine
Jamaican_culture
Jamaican_Defence_Forces
Jamaican_dollar
Jamaican_English
Jamaican_English
Jamaican_English_language
Jamaican_food
Jamaican_football
Jamaican_footballers
Jamaican_football_clubs
Jamaican_Free_Zones
Jamaican_gooseberry
Jamaican_gooseberry_tree
Jamaican_history
Jamaican_House_of_Representatives
Jamaican_jazz_musicians
Jamaican_jerk_spice
Jamaican_Labour_Party
Jamaican_literature
Jamaican_music
Jamaican_music
Jamaican_musical_groups
Jamaican_musicians
Jamaican_music_in_the_United_Kingdom
Jamaican_music_in_the_United_Kingom
Jamaican_National_Democratic_Movement
Jamaican_National_Premier_League
Jamaican_opera_singers
Jamaican_Patois
Jamaican_patois
Jamaican_people
Jamaican_people
Jamaican_People's_National_Party
Jamaican_political_parties
Jamaican_politicians
Jamaican_Premier_League
Jamaican_Soccer
Jamaican_songwriters
Jamaican_sound_system
Jamaican_sport
Jamaican_sportspeople
Jamaican_styles_of_music
Jamaican_towns
Jamaican_writers
Jamaica_(disambiguation)
Jamaica_(drink)
Jamaica_(LIRR_station)
Jamaica_(NY)
Jamaica_(Queens)
Jamaica_at_the_2000_Summer_Olympics
Jamaica_at_the_2004_Summer_Olympics
Jamaica_Avenue_Line
Jamaica_Bay
Jamaica_Bay
Jamaica_bay_riding_academy
Jamaica_Bay_Wildlife_Refuge
Jamaica_Beach
Jamaica_Beach,_Texas
Jamaica_Beach,_TX
Jamaica_Bus_Depot
Jamaica_cricketers
Jamaica_Estates
Jamaica_Farewell
Jamaica_Farewell
Jamaica_Football_Federation
Jamaica_Hills
Jamaica_Inn
Jamaica_Kincaid
Jamaica_Kingston
Jamaica_Labour_Party
Jamaica_Line
Jamaica_Linux_User_Group
Jamaica_national_football_team
Jamaica_national_football_team
Jamaica_pepper
Jamaica_Petrel
Jamaica_petrel
Jamaica_Plain
Jamaica_Plain,_Boston,_MA
Jamaica_Plain,_Boston,_Massachusetts
Jamaica_Plain,_Boston,_Massachusetts
Jamaica_Plain,_MA
Jamaica_Plain,_Massachusetts
Jamaica_Plain,_Massachusetts
Jamaica_Plain_(MA)
Jamaica_Regiment
Jamaica_Station