Jamaica

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Coordinates: 18°10′48″N 77°24′00″W / 18.18000°N 77.40000°W / 18.18000; -77.40000
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For other uses, see Jamaica (disambiguation).

Jamaica
Jumieka (
Jamaican Patois
)
Motto: "Out of Many, One People"
Anthem: "
Ethnic groups
(2011[3])
  • 0.4% other
  • 0.7% unspecified
    • Religion
    parliamentary constitutional monarchy
    • Monarch
    		Charles III
    Patrick Allen
    Andrew Holness
    LegislatureParliament
    • Upper house
    		Senate
    • Lower house
    		House of Representatives
    Independence 
    from the United Kingdom
    • Granted
    		6 August 1962
    Overlay of 876)
    ISO 3166 codeJM
    Internet TLD.jm

    Jamaica (

    Jamaican Patois: Jumieka [dʒʌˈmie̯ka]) is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At 10,990 square kilometres (4,240 sq mi), it is the third largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean.[11] Jamaica lies about 145 km (90 mi) south of Cuba, 191 km (119 mi) west of Hispaniola (the island containing Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and 215 km (134 mi) south-east of the Cayman Islands (a British Overseas Territory).[11]

    First inhabited by the indigenous Taíno peoples, the island came under Spanish rule after the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1494. Many of the indigenous people either were killed or died of diseases, after which the Spanish brought large numbers of Africans to Jamaica as slaves.[11] The island remained a possession of Spain, under the name Santiago, until 1655, when England (part of what would become the Kingdom of Great Britain) conquered it and named it Jamaica. It became an important part of the colonial British West Indies. Under Britain's colonial rule, Jamaica became a leading sugar exporter, with a plantation economy dependent on continued importation of African slaves and their descendants. The British fully emancipated all slaves in 1838, and many freedmen chose to have subsistence farms rather than to work on plantations. Beginning in the 1840s, the British began using Chinese and Indian indentured labourers for plantation work. Jamaicans achieved independence from the United Kingdom on 6 August 1962.[11]

    With 2.8 million people,

    Lebanese, and mixed-race minorities.[11] Because of a high rate of emigration for work since the 1960s, there is a large Jamaican diaspora, particularly in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The country has a global influence that belies its small size; it was the birthplace of the Rastafari religion, reggae music (and such associated genres as dub, ska and dancehall), and it is internationally prominent in sports, including cricket, sprinting, and athletics.[14][15][16][17] Jamaica has sometimes been considered the world's least populous cultural superpower.[18][19][20][21]

    Jamaica is an upper-middle-income country

    democratic governance and sustainable well-being. Jamaica is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with power vested in the bicameral Parliament of Jamaica, consisting of an appointed Senate and a directly elected House of Representatives.[11] Andrew Holness has served as Prime Minister of Jamaica since March 2016. As a Commonwealth realm, with Charles III as its king, the appointed representative of the Crown is the Governor-General of Jamaica, an office held by Patrick Allen
    since 2009.

    Etymology

    The

    indigenous people, the Taíno, called the island Xaymaca in their language,[a] meaning the "Land of Wood and Water" or the "Land of Springs".[23] Yamaye has been suggested as an early Taino name for the island as recorded by Christopher Columbus.[24]

    Colloquially, Jamaicans refer to their home island as the "Rock". Slang names such as "Jamrock", "Jamdown" ("Jamdung" in Jamaican Patois), or briefly "Ja", have derived from this.[25][26]

    History

    Main article: History of Jamaica

    Prehistory

    Main article: Pre-Columbian Jamaica

    There is no archaeological evidence of any human presence on Jamaica until about 500.[27] A group known as the "Redware people" after their pottery arrived circa 600,[28] followed by the Taíno circa 800, who most likely came from South America.[28][29] They practised an agrarian and fishing economy, and at their height are thought to have numbered some 60,000 people, grouped into around 200 villages headed by caciques (chiefs).[28] The south coast of Jamaica was the most populated, especially around the area now known as Old Harbour.[30]

    Though often thought to have become extinct following contact with Europeans, the Taíno in fact still inhabited Jamaica when the English took control of the island in 1655.[30] Some fled into interior regions, merging with African Maroon communities.[31][32][33] The Jamaican National Heritage Trust is attempting to locate and document any remaining evidence of the Taíno.[34]

    Spanish rule (1509–1655)

    Main article: Colony of Santiago
    St. Ann Parish

    Christopher Columbus was the first European to see Jamaica, claiming the island for Spain after landing there in 1494 on his second voyage to the Americas.[28] His probable landing point was Dry Harbour, called Discovery Bay,[35] and St. Ann's Bay was named "Saint Gloria" by Columbus, as the first sighting of the land. He later returned in 1503; however, he was shipwrecked and he and his crew were forced to live on Jamaica for a year while waiting to be rescued.[36]

    One and a half kilometres west of St. Ann's Bay is the site of the first Spanish settlement on the island, Sevilla, which was established in 1509 by Juan de Esquivel but abandoned around 1524 because it was deemed unhealthy.[37] The capital was moved to Spanish Town, then called St. Jago de la Vega, around 1534.[28][38] Meanwhile, the Taínos began dying in large numbers, both from introduced diseases and from enslavement by the Spanish.[28] As a result, the Spanish began importing slaves from Africa to the island.[39]

    Many slaves managed to escape, forming autonomous communities in remote and easily defended areas in the interior of Jamaica, mixing with the remaining Taino; these communities became known as

    conversos and were often persecuted by the Spanish rulers, and some turned to piracy against the Spanish Empire's shipping.[41]

    By the early 17th century it is estimated that no more than 2,500–3,000 people lived on Jamaica.[28][42][page needed]

    Early British period

    Main article: Colony of Jamaica
    Henry Morgan was a Caribbean pirate, privateer, plantation owner and slaveholder; he had first come to the West Indies as an indentured servant, like most of the early English colonists.[43]

    The English began taking an interest in the island and, following a failed attempt to conquer Santo Domingo on Hispaniola, Admiral William Penn and General Robert Venables led an invasion of Jamaica in 1655.[44] Battles at Ocho Rios in 1657 and the Rio Nuevo in 1658 resulted in Spanish defeats; in 1660 the Maroon community under the leadership of Juan de Bolas switched sides from the Spanish, and began supporting the English. With their help, the Spanish defeat was secured.[45] In 1661 English civil government was formed and Roundhead soldiers turned their attention to governance and agricultural responsibilities.[46]

    When the English captured Jamaica, most Spanish colonists fled, with the exception of Spanish Jews, who chose to remain. Spanish slave holders freed their slaves before leaving.

    maroon communities.[47] During the centuries of slavery, Jamaican Maroons established free communities in the mountainous interior of Jamaica, where they maintained their freedom and independence for generations, under the leadership of Maroon leaders such as Juan de Serras.[48]

    Meanwhile, the Spanish made several attempts to re-capture the island, prompting the British to support pirates attacking Spanish ships in the Caribbean; as a result piracy became rampant on Jamaica, with the city of Port Royal becoming notorious for its lawlessness. Spain later recognised English possession of the island with the Treaty of Madrid (1670).[49] After that, the English authorities sought to rein in the worst excesses of the pirates.[28]

    In 1660, the population of Jamaica was about 4,500 white and 1,500 black.[50] By the early 1670s, as the English developed sugar cane plantations worked by large numbers of slaves, black Africans formed a majority of the population.[51] The Irish in Jamaica also formed a large part of the island's early population, making up two-thirds of the white population on the island in the late 17th century, twice that of the English population. They were brought in as indentured labourers and soldiers after the conquest of 1655. The majority of Irish were transported by force as political prisoners of war from Ireland as a result of the ongoing Wars of the Three Kingdoms.[52] Migration of large numbers of Irish to the island continued into the 18th century.[53]

    A limited form of local government was introduced with the creation of the House of Assembly of Jamaica in 1664; however, it represented only a tiny number of rich plantation owners.[54] In 1692, the colony was rocked by an earthquake that resulted in several thousand deaths and the almost complete destruction of Port Royal.[55]

    18th–19th centuries

    Main article:
    Slavery in colonial British America
    A plantation set alight during the Baptist War of 1831–32

    During the 1700s the economy boomed, based largely on sugar and other crops for export such as

    Queen Nanny in 1740.[56]

    A large slave rebellion, known as

    Tacky's War, broke out in 1760 but was defeated by the British and their Maroon allies.[57] After the second conflict in 1795–96, many Maroons from the Maroon town of Cudjoe's Town (Trelawny Town) were expelled to Nova Scotia and, later, Sierra Leone.[28]

    By the beginning of the 19th century, Jamaica's dependence on slave labour and a plantation economy had resulted in black people outnumbering white people by a ratio of almost 20 to 1. Although the British had outlawed the importation of slaves, some were still smuggled in from Spanish colonies and directly from Africa.[citation needed] While planning the abolition of slavery, the British Parliament passed laws to improve conditions for slaves. They banned the use of whips in the field and flogging of women; informed planters that slaves were to be allowed religious instruction, and required a free day during each week when slaves could sell their produce,[58] prohibiting Sunday markets to enable slaves to attend church.[citation needed] The House of Assembly in Jamaica resented and resisted the new laws. Members, with membership then restricted to European-descended Jamaicans, claimed that the slaves were content and objected to Parliament's interference in island affairs. Slave owners feared possible revolts if conditions were lightened.

    Harbour Street, Kingston, c. 1820

    The British

    indentured servants to supplement the labour pool, as many freedmen resisted working on the plantations.[28] Workers recruited from India began arriving in 1845, Chinese workers in 1854.[61] Many South Asian and Chinese descendants continue to reside in Jamaica today.[62][63]

    Over the next 20 years, several epidemics of cholera, scarlet fever, and smallpox hit the island, killing almost 60,000 people (about 10 per day).[citation needed] Nevertheless, in 1871 the census recorded a population of 506,154 people, 246,573 of which were males, and 259,581 females. Their races were recorded as 13,101 white, 100,346 coloured (mixed black and white), and 392,707 black.[64] This period was marked by an economic slump, with many Jamaicans living in poverty. Dissatisfaction with this, and continued racial discrimination and marginalisation of the black majority, led to the outbreak of the Morant Bay rebellion in 1865 led by Paul Bogle, which was put down by Governor John Eyre with such brutality that he was recalled from his position.[28] His successor, John Peter Grant, enacted a series of social, financial and political reforms whilst aiming to uphold firm British rule over the island, which became a Crown Colony in 1866.[28] In 1872 the capital was transferred from Spanish Town to Kingston.[28]

    Early 20th century

    Marcus Garvey, father of the Back to Africa Movement and Jamaica's first National Hero

    In 1907, Jamaica was struck by an earthquake which, together with the subsequent fire, resulted in considerable destruction in Kingston and caused the deaths of between 800 and 1,000 people.[65][28]

    Unemployment and poverty remained a problem for many Jamaicans. Various movements seeking political change arose as a result, most notably the

    Pan-Africanist and proponent of the Back-to-Africa movement.[66] He was also one of the chief inspirations behind Rastafari, a religion founded in Jamaica in the 1930s that combined Christianity with an Afrocentric theology focused on the figure of Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia
    . Despite occasional persecution, Rastafari grew to become an established faith on the island, later spreading abroad.

    The

    British West Indian labour unrest of 1934–39, Jamaica saw numerous strikes, culminating in a strike in 1938 that turned into a riot.[67][28][68]
    As a result, the British government instituted
    Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) under Alexander Bustamante and the People's National Party (PNP) under Norman Manley.[28]

    Jamaica slowly gained increasing autonomy from the United Kingdom. In 1958 it became a province in the

    Westminster-style parliamentary system. Bustamante, at the age of 78, became the country's first prime minister.[70][71]

    Post-independence era

    Main article: Independence of Jamaica

    Strong economic growth, averaging approximately 6% per year, marked the first ten years of independence under conservative JLP governments; these were led by successive Prime Ministers Alexander Bustamante,

    alumina, tourism, the manufacturing industry and, to a lesser extent, the agricultural sector. In the 1967 Jamaican general election, the JLP were victorious again, winning 33 out of 53 seats, with the PNP taking 20 seats.[72]

    In terms of foreign policy Jamaica became a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, seeking to retain strong ties with Britain and the United States whilst also developing links with Communist states such as Cuba.[28]

    Michael Manley, Prime Minister 1972–1980 and 1989–1992

    The optimism of the first decade was accompanied by a growing sense of inequality among many Afro-Jamaicans, and a concern that the benefits of growth were not being shared by the urban poor, many of whom ended up living in crime-ridden shanty towns in Kingston.[28] This led to the voters electing the PNP under Michael Manley in 1972. The PNP won 37 seats to the JLP's 16.[72]

    Manley's government enacted various social reforms, such as a higher minimum wage, land reform, legislation for women's equality, greater housing construction and an increase in educational provision.[73][28] Internationally he improved ties with the Communist bloc and vigorously opposed the apartheid regime in South Africa.[28]

    In 1976, the PNP won another landslide, winning 47 seats to the JLP's 13. The turnout was a very high 85 percent.[74] However, the economy faltered in this period due to a combination of internal and external factors (such as the oil shocks).[28] The rivalry between the JLP and PNP became intense, and political and gang-related violence grew significantly in this period.[28]

    By 1980, Jamaica's gross national product had declined to some 25% below its 1972 level.[

    US invasion of Grenada in 1983.[28] The economic deterioration, however, continued into the mid-1980s, exacerbated by a number of factors. The largest and third-largest alumina producers, Alpart and Alcoa, closed; and there was a significant reduction in production by the second-largest producer, Alcan.[citation needed] Reynolds Jamaica Mines, Ltd. left the Jamaican industry. There was also a decline in tourism, which was important to the economy.[citation needed] Owing to rising foreign and local debt, accompanied by large fiscal deficits, the government sought International Monetary Fund (IMF) financing, which was dependent on implementing various austerity measures.[28] These resulted in strikes in 1985 and a decline in support for the Seaga government, exacerbated by criticism of the government's response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988.[28][75] Having now de-emphasised socialism and adopting a more centrist position, Michael Manley and the PNP were re-elected in 1989, winning 45 seats to the JLP's 15.[76][28]

    The PNP went on to win a string of elections, under Prime Ministers Michael Manley (1989–1992), P. J. Patterson (1992–2005) and Portia Simpson-Miller (2005–2007). In the 1993 Jamaican general election, Patterson led the PNP to victory, winning 52 seats to the JLP's eight seats. Patterson also won the 1997 Jamaican general election, by another landslide margin of 50 seats to the JLP's 10 seats.[74] Patterson's third consecutive victory came in the 2002 Jamaican general election, when the PNP retained power, but with a reduced seat majority of 34 seats to 26. Patterson stepped down on 26 February 2006, and was replaced by Portia Simpson-Miller, Jamaica's first female Prime Minister. The turnout slowly declined during this period of time, from 67.4% in 1993 to 59.1% in 2002.[76]

    During this period various economic reforms were introduced, such as deregulating the finance sector and floating the Jamaican dollar, as well as greater investment in infrastructure, whilst also retaining a strong social safety net.[28] Political violence, so prevalent in the previous two decades, declined significantly.[28][77]

    In 2007 the PNP was defeated by the JLP by a narrow margin of 32 seats to 28, with a turnout of 61.46%.[78] This election ended 18 years of PNP rule, and Bruce Golding became the new prime minister.[79] Golding's tenure (2007–2010) was dominated by the effects of the global recession, as well as the fallout from an attempt by Jamaican police and military to arrest drug lord Christopher Coke in 2010 which erupted in violence, resulting in over 70 deaths.[28][80] As a result of this incident Golding resigned and was replaced by Andrew Holness in 2011.

    Independence, however widely celebrated in Jamaica, has been questioned in the early 21st century. In 2011, a survey showed that approximately 60% of Jamaicans believe that the country would have been better off had it remained a British colony, with only 17% believing it would have been worse off, citing as problems years of social and fiscal mismanagement in the country.[81][82] Holness and the JLP were defeated in the 2011 Jamaican general election, which saw Portia Simpson-Miller and the PNP return to power. The number of seats had been increased to 63, and the PNP swept to power with a landslide 42 seats to the JLP's 21. The voter turnout was 53.17%.[83]

    Holness's JLP won the 2016 general election narrowly, defeating Simpson-Miller's PNP, on 25 February. The PNP won 31 seats to the JLP's 32. As a result, Simpson-Miller became Opposition Leader for a second time. The voter turnout dipped below 50% for the first time, registering just 48.37%.[84]

    In the 2020 general election, Andrew Holness made history for the JLP by accomplishing a second consecutive win for the Jamaica Labour Party, winning 49 seats to 14 won by the PNP, led this time by Peter Phillips. The last time a consecutive win occurred for the JLP was in 1980. However, the turnout at this election was just 37%, probably affected by the coronavirus pandemic.[85]

    Government and politics

    Main article: Politics of Jamaica
    Further information: Foreign relations of Jamaica and Republicanism in Jamaica
    King Charles III
    Inside the Jamaican Parliament

    Jamaica is a

    King Charles III),[87] represented locally by the Governor-General of Jamaica.[88][11][86] The governor-general is nominated by the Prime Minister of Jamaica and the entire Cabinet and then formally appointed by the monarch. All the members of the Cabinet are appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister. The monarch and the governor-general serve largely ceremonial roles, apart from their reserve powers for use in certain constitutional crisis situations. The position of the monarch has been a matter of continuing debate in Jamaica for many years; currently both major political parties are committed to transitioning to a republic with a president.[89][90]

    Jamaica's current constitution was drafted in 1962 by a bipartisan joint committee of the Jamaican legislature. It came into force with the Jamaica Independence Act, 1962, which was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which gave Jamaica independence.[86]

    The

    Leader of the Opposition and are then appointed by the governor-general.[86]

    The Judiciary of Jamaica operates on a common law system derived from English law and Commonwealth of Nations precedents.[86] The court of final appeal is the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, though during the 2000s Parliament attempted to replace it with the Caribbean Court of Justice.[citation needed]

    Political parties and elections

    Jamaica has traditionally had a two-party system, with power often alternating between the People's National Party (PNP) and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).[86] The party with current administrative and legislative power is the Jamaica Labour Party, after its 2020 victory. There are also several minor parties who have yet to gain a seat in parliament; the largest of these is the National Democratic Movement (NDM).

    Military

    Main article: Jamaica Defence Force
    Jamaican soldiers training to fire the L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle in 2002

    The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is the small but professional military force of Jamaica.[11] The JDF is based on the British military model with similar organisation, training, weapons and traditions. Once chosen, officer candidates are sent to one of several British or Canadian basic officer courses depending on the arm of service. Enlisted soldiers are given basic training at Up Park Camp or JDF Training Depot, Newcastle, both in St. Andrew. As with the British model, NCOs are given several levels of professional training as they rise up the ranks. Additional military schools are available for speciality training in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.[citation needed]

    The JDF is directly descended from the

    West India Regiment, which was formed during the colonial era.[91] The West India Regiment was used extensively throughout 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 reorganised into the Jamaican Infantry Volunteers in World War II. The West Indies Regiment was reformed in 1958 as part of the West Indies Federation, after dissolution of the Federation the JDF was established.[92]

    The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) comprises an infantry Regiment and Reserve Corps, an Air Wing, a Coast Guard fleet and a supporting Engineering Unit.[93] 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 is divided between seagoing crews and support crews who conduct maritime safety and maritime law enforcement as well as defence-related operations.[94]

    The role of the support battalion is to provide support to boost numbers in combat and issue competency training in order to allow for the readiness of the force.[95] The 1st Engineer Regiment was formed due to an increased demand for military engineers and their role is to provide engineering services whenever and wherever they are needed.[96] The Headquarters JDF contains the JDF Commander, Command Staff as well as Intelligence, Judge Advocate office, Administrative and Procurement sections.[97]

    In recent years the JDF has been called on to assist the nation's police, the Jamaica 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 neighbourhoods. 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 has not garnered support in either organisation nor among the majority of citizens.[citation needed] In 2017, Jamaica signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.[98]

    Administrative divisions

    Main article: Parishes of Jamaica

    Jamaica is divided into 14

    counties that have no administrative relevance.[86]

    In the context of local government the parishes are designated "Local Authorities". These local authorities are further styled as "Municipal Corporations", which are either city municipalities or town municipalities.[99] Any new city municipality must have a population of at least 50,000, and a town municipality a number set by the Minister of Local Government.[99] There are currently no town municipalities.

    The local governments of the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrews are consolidated as the city municipality of Kingston & St. Andrew Municipal Corporation. The newest city municipality is the Municipality of Portmore, created 2003. While it is geographically located within the parish of St. Catherine, it is governed independently.

    Cornwall County
         		Capital km2
    Middlesex County
         		Capital km2
    Surrey County
         		Capital km2
    1
    Hanover
    		 Lucea   450 6 Clarendon May Pen 1,196 11
    Kingston
    		 Kingston 25
    2
    Saint Elizabeth
    		 Black River 1,212 7
    Manchester
    		 Mandeville    830 12
    Portland
    		 Port Antonio 814
    3 Saint James Montego Bay   595 8
    Saint Ann
    		 St. Ann's Bay 1,213 13 Saint Andrew Half Way Tree 453
    4
    Trelawny
    		 Falmouth   875 9
    Saint Catherine
    		 Spanish Town 1,192 14 Saint Thomas Morant Bay 743
    5
    Westmoreland
    		 Savanna-la-Mar   807 10 Saint Mary Port Maria    611
    HanoverSaint ElizabethSaint JamesTrelawny ParishWestmorelandClarendonManchesterSaint AnnSaint CatherineSaint MaryKingston ParishPortlandSaint AndrewSaint Thomas

    Geography and environment

    Main articles: Geography of Jamaica and Geology of Jamaica
    Doctor's Cave Beach Club is a popular destination in Montego Bay.
    Blue Mountains

    Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean.

    Ocho Ríos, Port Antonio and Negril.[103]

    Tourist attractions include Dunn's River Falls in St. Ann, YS Falls in St. Elizabeth, the Blue Lagoon in Portland, a dormant volcano's crater,[104] and Port Royal, site of a major earthquake in 1692 that helped form the island's Palisadoes tombolo.[105]

    Among the variety of terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems are dry and wet limestone forests, rainforest, riparian woodland, wetlands, caves, rivers, seagrass beds and coral reefs. The authorities have recognised the tremendous significance and potential of the environment and have designated some of the more "fertile" areas as "protected". Among the island's protected areas are the Cockpit Country, Hellshire Hills, and Litchfield forest reserves. In 1992, Jamaica's first marine park, covering nearly 15 square kilometres (5.8 sq mi), was established in Montego Bay. Portland Bight Protected Area was designated in 1999.[106] The following year Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park was created, covering roughly 300 square miles (780 km2) of a wilderness area which supports thousands of tree and fern species and rare animals.

    There are several small islands off Jamaica's coast, most notably those in

    Pedro Cays
    .

    Climate

    Köppen climate classification of Jamaica.

    The climate in Jamaica is tropical, with hot and humid weather, although higher inland regions are more temperate.[107][86] Some regions on the south coast, such as the Liguanea Plain and the Pedro Plains, are relatively dry rain-shadow areas.[108]

    Jamaica lies in the

    Dean, and Gustav
    also brought severe weather to the island.

    Flora and fauna

    See also: Jamaican moist forests and Jamaican dry forests
    Jamaica's national bird, a red-billed streamertail
    Jamaican boa
    Jamaican parrotfish

    Jamaica's climate is tropical, supporting diverse ecosystems with a wealth of plants and animals. Its plant life has changed considerably over the centuries; when the Spanish arrived in 1494, except for small agricultural clearings, the country was deeply forested. The European settlers cut down the great timber trees for building and ships' supplies, and cleared the plains, savannas, and mountain slopes for intense agricultural cultivation.[86] Many new plants were introduced including sugarcane, bananas, and citrus trees.[86]

    Jamaica is home to about 3,000 species of

    orchid), thousands of species of non-flowering flora, and about 20 botanical gardens, some of which are several hundred years old.[110][111] Areas of heavy rainfall also contain stands of bamboo, ferns, ebony, mahogany, and rosewood. Cactus and similar dry-area plants are found along the south and southwest coastal area. Parts of the west and southwest consist of large grasslands, with scattered stands of trees. Jamaica is home to three terrestrial ecoregions, the Jamaican moist forests, Jamaican dry forests, and Greater Antilles mangroves. It had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 5.01/10, ranking it 110th globally out of 172 countries.[112]

    Jamaica's fauna, typical of the Caribbean, includes highly diversified wildlife with many endemic species. As with other oceanic islands, land mammals are mostly several species of

    anoles, iguanas and snakes such as racers and the Jamaican boa (the largest snake on the island), are common in areas such as the Cockpit Country. None of Jamaica's eight species of native snakes is venomous.[114]

    Jamaica is home to about 289 species of birds of which 27 are endemic including the endangered black-Billed parrots and the Jamaican blackbird, both of which are only found in Cockpit Country. It is also the indigenous home to four species of hummingbirds (three of which are found nowhere else in the world): the black-billed streamertail, the Jamaican mango, the Vervain hummingbird, and red-billed streamertails. The red-billed streamertail, known locally as the "doctor bird", is Jamaica's National Symbol.[115][86] Other notable species include the Jamaican tody and the Greater flamingo,[116]

    One species of freshwater turtle is native to Jamaica, the

    treefrogs
    .

    Jamaican waters contain considerable resources of fresh and saltwater fish.

    livebearers, killifish, freshwater gobies, the mountain mullet, and the American eel. Tilapia have been introduced from Africa for aquaculture, and are very common. Also visible in the waters surrounding Jamaica are dolphins, parrotfish, and the endangered manatee.[118]

    Insects and other invertebrates are abundant, including the world's largest centipede, the

    Jamaican swallowtail, the western hemisphere's largest butterfly.[119]

    Aquatic life

    Coral reef ecosystems are important because they provide people with a source of livelihood, food, recreation, and medicinal compounds and protect the land on which they live.[120] Jamaica relies on the ocean and its ecosystem for its development. However, the marine life in Jamaica is also being affected. There could be many factors that contribute to marine life not having the best health. Jamaica's geological origin, topographical features and seasonal high rainfall make it susceptible to a range of natural hazards that can affect the coastal and oceanic environments. These include storm surge, slope failures (landslides), earthquakes, floods and hurricanes.[121] Coral reefs in the Negril Marine Park (NMP), Jamaica, have been increasingly impacted by nutrient pollution and macroalgal blooms following decades of intensive development as a major tourist destination.[122]

    White River Rafting

    Another one of those factors could include tourism: being that Jamaica is a very touristy place, the island draws numerous people travelling here from all over the world. The Jamaican tourism industry accounts for 32% of total employment and 36% of the country's GDP and is largely based on the sun, sea and sand, the last two of these attributes being dependent on healthy coral reef ecosystems.[120] Because of Jamaica's tourism, they have developed a study to see if the tourist would be willing to help financially to manage their marine ecosystem because Jamaica alone is unable to. The ocean connects all the countries all over the world, however, everyone and everything is affecting the flow and life in the ocean. Jamaica is a very touristy place specifically because of their beaches. If their oceans are not functioning at their best then the well-being of Jamaica and the people who live there will start to deteriorate. According to the OECD, oceans contribute $1.5 trillion annually in value-added to the overall economy.[123] A developing country on an island will get the majority of their revenue from their ocean.

    Pollution

    Pollution comes from run-off, sewage systems, and garbage. However, this typically all ends up in the ocean after there is rain or floods. Everything that ends up in the water changes the quality and balance of the ocean. Poor coastal water quality has adversely affected fisheries, tourism and mariculture, as well as undermining biological sustainability of the living resources of ocean and coastal habitats.[121] Jamaica imports and exports many goods through their waters. Some of the imports that go into Jamaica include petroleum and petroleum products. Issues include accidents at sea; risk of spills through local and international transport of petroleum and petroleum products.[121] Oil spills can disrupt the marine life with chemicals that are not normally found in the ocean. Other forms of pollution also occur in Jamaica. Solid waste disposal mechanisms in Jamaica are currently inadequate.[121] The solid waste gets into the water through rainfall forces. Solid waste is also harmful to wildlife, particularly birds, fish and turtles that feed at the surface of the water and mistake floating debris for food.[121] For example, plastic can be caught around birds' and turtles' necks, making it difficult to eat and breath as they begin to grow, causing the plastic to get tighter around their necks. Pieces of plastic, metal, and glass can be mistaken for the food fish eat. Each Jamaican generates 1 kg (2 lbs) of waste per day; only 70% of this is collected by National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA)—the remaining 30% is either burnt or disposed of in gullies/waterways.[124]

    Environmental policies

    There are policies that are being put into place to help preserve the ocean and the life below water. The goal of integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) is to improve the quality of life of human communities who depend on coastal resources while maintaining the biological diversity and productivity of coastal ecosystems.[121] Developing an underdeveloped country can impact the oceans ecosystem because of all the construction that would be done to develop the country. Over-building, driven by powerful market forces as well as poverty among some sectors of the population, and destructive exploitation contribute to the decline of ocean and coastal resources.[121] Developing practices that will contribute to the lives of the people but also to the life of the ocean and its ecosystem. Some of these practices include: Develop sustainable fisheries practices, ensure sustainable mariculture techniques and practices, sustainable management of shipping, and promote sustainable tourism practices.[121]

    Demographics

    Further information:
    Jamaican people

    Ethnic origins

    Jamaica's population, 1800–2019
    Montego Bay, Jamaica's second-largest city

    C.I.A. World Fact Book 2015

    Ethnic group % Population
    Black or Black Mixed[3]
    		 92.1% 2,661,965
    Mixed non-Black[3] 6.1% 176,308
    Asian[3] 0.8% 23,122
    Other[3] 0.4% 11,561
    Unspecified[3] 0.7% 20,232

    Jamaica's diverse ethnic roots are reflected in the national motto

    East Asian.[129] Another study in 2020 showed that Jamaicans of African descent represent 76.3% of the population, followed by 15.1% Afro-European, 3.4% East Indian and Afro-East Indian, 3.2% Caucasian, 1.2% Chinese and 0.8% other.[130]

    The

    Kromanti.[134]

    Asians form the second-largest group and include Indo-Jamaicans and Chinese Jamaicans.

    Vincent "Randy" Chin
    .

    There are about 20,000 Jamaicans who have

    Syrian ancestry.[137] Most were Christian immigrants who fled the Ottoman occupation of Lebanon in the early 19th century. Eventually their descendants became very successful politicians and businessmen. Notable Jamaicans from this group include former Jamaican Prime Minister Edward Seaga, Jamaican politician and former Miss World Lisa Hanna, Jamaican politicians Edward Zacca and Shahine Robinson, and hotelier Abraham Elias Issa
    .

    The first wave of

    Jamaica's National Heroes: Prime Ministers Michael Manley and Alexander Bustamante. Along with the English and the Irish, the Scots are another group that has made a significant impact on the island. According to the Scotland Herald newspaper, Jamaica has more people using the Campbell surnames than the population of Scotland itself, and it also has the highest percentage of Scottish surnames outside of Scotland. Scottish surnames account to about 60% of the surnames in the Jamaican phone books.[citation needed] The first Jamaican inhabitants from Scotland were exiled "rebels". Later, they would be followed by ambitious businessmen who spent time between their great country estates in Scotland and the island. As a result, many of the slave owning plantations on the island were owned by Scottish men, and thus a large number of mixed-race Jamaicans can claim Scottish ancestry. High immigration from Scotland continued until well after independence.[citation needed] Today, notable Scottish-Jamaicans include the businessman John Pringle, former American Secretary of State Colin Powell, and American actress Kerry Washington.[138]

    Northern suburbs of Kingston, Jamaica's capital and largest city

    There is also a significant

    Daily Gleaner newspaper.[145][146][147]

    In recent years immigration has increased, coming mainly from China, Haiti, Cuba, Colombia, and Latin America; 20,000 Latin Americans reside in Jamaica.[148] In 2016, the Prime Minister Andrew Holness suggested making Spanish Jamaica's second official language.[149] About 7,000 Americans also reside in Jamaica.[citation needed] Notable American with connection to the island include fashion icon Ralph Lauren, philanthropist Daisy Soros, Blackstone's Schwarzman family, the family of the late Lieutenant Governor of Delaware John W. Rollins, fashion designer Vanessa Noel, investor Guy Stuart, Edward and Patricia Falkenberg, and iHeart Media CEO Bob Pittman, all of whom hold annual charity events to support the island.[150]

    Languages

    Main articles: Jamaican Patois and Jamaican English

    Jamaica is regarded as a

    bilingual country, with two major languages in use by the population.[151][135] The official language is English, which is "used in all domains of public life", including the government, the legal system, the media, and education. However, the primary spoken language is an English-based creole called Jamaican Patois (or Patwa). The two exist in a dialect continuum, with speakers using a different register of speech depending on context and whom they are speaking to. "Pure" Patois, though sometimes seen as merely a particularly aberrant dialect of English, is essentially mutually unintelligible with standard English and is best thought of as a separate language.[86] A 2007 survey by the Jamaican Language Unit found that 17.1 percent of the population were monolingual in Jamaican Standard English (JSE), 36.5 percent were monolingual in Patois, and 46.4 percent were bilingual, although earlier surveys had pointed to a greater degree of bilinguality (up to 90 percent).[152] The Jamaican education system has only recently begun to offer formal instruction in Patois, while retaining JSE as the "official language of instruction".[153]

    Additionally, some Jamaicans use one or more of

    Jamaican Sign Language (JSL), American Sign Language (ASL) or the declining indigenous Jamaican Country Sign Language (Konchri Sain).[154] Both JSL and ASL are rapidly replacing Konchri Sain for a variety of reasons.[154]

    Emigration

    Main article: Jamaican diaspora

    Many Jamaicans have

    emigrated to other countries, especially to the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. In the case of the United States, about 20,000 Jamaicans per year are granted permanent residence.[155] There has also been emigration of Jamaicans to other Caribbeans countries such as Cuba,[156] Puerto Rico, Guyana, and The Bahamas. It was estimated in 2004 that up to 2.5 million Jamaicans and Jamaican descendants live abroad.[157]

    Los Angeles.[159] In Canada, the Jamaican population is centred in Toronto,[160] with smaller communities in cities such as Hamilton, Montreal, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Ottawa.[161] Jamaican Canadians comprise about 30% of the entire Black Canadian population.[162][163]

    A notable though much smaller group of emigrants are Jamaicans in Ethiopia. These are mostly Rastafarians, in whose theological worldview Africa is the promised land, or "Zion", or more specifically Ethiopia, due to reverence in which former Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie is held.[164] Most live in the small town of Shashamane about 150 miles (240 km) south of the capital Addis Ababa.[165]

    Crime

    Main article: Crime in Jamaica
    See also:
    Prisons in Jamaica and LGBT rights in Jamaica

    When Jamaica gained independence in 1962, the murder rate was 3.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the lowest in the world.

    Yardies". Jamaica has had one of the highest murder rates in the world for many years, according to UN estimates.[168][169] Some areas of Jamaica, particularly poor areas in Kingston, Montego Bay and elsewhere experience high levels of crime and violence.[170]

    However, there were 1,683 reported murders in 2009 and 1,447 in 2010.[171] After 2011 the murder rate continued to fall, following the downward trend in 2010, after a strategic programme was launched.[172] In 2012, the Ministry of National Security reported a 30 percent decrease in murders.[173] Nevertheless, in 2017 murders rose by 22% over the previous year.[174]

    Many Jamaicans are hostile towards LGBT and intersex people,[175][176][177] and mob attacks against gay people have been reported.[178][179][180] Numerous high-profile dancehall and ragga artists have produced songs featuring explicitly homophobic lyrics.[181] This has prompted the formations of LGBT rights organisations such as Stop Murder Music.[182] Male homosexuality is illegal and punishable by imprisonment.[183][184]

    Major cities

    See also: List of cities and towns in Jamaica
     
     
    Largest cities or towns in Jamaica
    Demographic Statistics 2016, pp. 15–16 (2011 Census)
    Rank
    Name
    		 Parish Pop.
    Kingston
    Kingston     		1 Kingston Kingston 661,862 Montego Bay
    Montego Bay
    2
    Portmore
    		 Saint Catherine 182,153
    3 Spanish Town Saint Catherine 147,152
    4 Montego Bay Saint James 110,115
    5 May Pen Clarendon 61,548
    6 Mandeville Manchester 49,695
    7 Old Harbour Saint Catherine 28,912
    8 Savanna-la-Mar Westmoreland 22,633
    9 Ocho Rios Saint Ann 16,671
    10 Linstead Saint Catherine 15,231

    Religion

    Main article: Religion in Jamaica
    Anglican church in Manchester Parish
    . Christianity is the largest religion in Jamaica.

    Methodist (2%), Moravian (1%) and Plymouth Brethren (1%).[16] Bedwardism is a form of Christianity native to the island, sometimes viewed as a separate faith.[185][186] The Christian faith gained acceptance as British Christian abolitionists and Baptist missionaries joined educated former slaves in the struggle against slavery.[187]

    The Rastafari movement has 29,026 adherents, according to the 2011 census, with 25,325 Rastafarian males and 3,701 Rastafarian females.[16] The faith originated in Jamaica in the 1930s and though rooted in Christianity it is heavily Afrocentric in its focus, revering figures such as the Jamaican black nationalist Marcus Garvey and Haile Selassie, the former Emperor of Ethiopia.[188][86] Rastafari has since spread across the globe, especially to areas with large black or African diasporas.[189][190]

    Various faiths and traditional religious practices derived from Africa are practised on the island, notably Kumina, Convince, Myal and Obeah.[191][192][193]

    Other religions in Jamaica include

    Indo-Jamaican community.[199][200]

    There is also a small population of about 200 Jews, who describe themselves as Liberal-Conservative.[201] The first Jews in Jamaica trace their roots back to early 15th-century Spain and Portugal.[202] Kahal Kadosh Shaare Shalom, also known as the United Congregation of Israelites, is a historic synagogue located in the city of Kingston. Originally built in 1912, it is the official and only Jewish place of worship left on the island. The once abundant Jewish population has voluntarily converted to Christianity over time.[citation needed] Shaare Shalom is one of the few synagogues in the world that contains sand covered floors and is a popular tourist destination.[203][204]

    A historic Ashura celebration in Jamaica, which is known locally as Hussay or Hosay

    Other small groups include

    Eid have been celebrated throughout the island for hundreds of years. In the past, every plantation in each parish celebrated Hosay. Today it has been called an Indian carnival and is perhaps most well known in Clarendon where it is celebrated each August. People of all religions attend the event, showing mutual respect.[205][200]

    Culture

    Main article: Culture of Jamaica
    Bob Marley, one of the most famous reggae artists from Jamaica

    Music

    Main article: Music of Jamaica

    Jamaican culture has a strong global presence. The musical genres

    grime and American rap music. Some rappers, such as The Notorious B.I.G., Busta Rhymes, and Heavy D
    , are of Jamaican descent.

    Chalice Reggae Band, Culture, Fab Five and Morgan Heritage
    .

    Literature

    Main article: Jamaican literature

    The journalist and author

    Planters' Punch
    . The White Witch of Rosehall is one of his better-known novels. He was named Honorary President of the Jamaican Press Association; he worked throughout his professional career to promote the Jamaican sugar industry.

    Roger Mais, a journalist, poet, and playwright wrote many short stories, plays, and novels, including The Hills Were Joyful Together (1953), Brother Man (1954), and Black Lightning (1955).[210]

    For Your Eyes Only", The Man with the Golden Gun, and Octopussy and The Living Daylights.[211]

    Man Booker Prize.[212]

    Film

    See also: List of Jamaican films

    Jamaica has a history in the film industry dating from the early 1960s. A look at delinquent youth in Jamaica is presented in the 1970s musical crime film

    psychopathic) reggae musician who descends into a murderous crime spree.[213] Other notable Jamaican films include Countryman, Rockers, Dancehall Queen, One Love, Shottas, Out the Gate, Third World Cop and Kingston Paradise. Jamaica is also often used as a filming location, such as the James Bond film Dr. No (1962), Papillon (1973) starring Steve McQueen, Cocktail (1988) starring Tom Cruise, and the 1993 Disney comedy Cool Runnings
    , which is loosely based on the true story of Jamaica's first bobsled team trying to make it in the Winter Olympics.

    Cuisine

    Main article: Jamaican cuisine
    curry goat with rice and peas

    The island is famous for its

    Jamaican jerk spice, curries and rice and peas which is integral to Jamaican cuisine. Jamaica is also home to Red Stripe beer and Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
    .

    National symbols

    (From the Jamaica Information Service)[214]

    Jamaica motto on a building at Papine High School in Kingston, Jamaica

    Sport

    Main article: Sport in Jamaica

    Sport is an integral part of national life in Jamaica and the island's athletes tend to perform to a standard well above what might ordinarily be expected of such a small country.

    track and field athletics.[14][215]

    The country was one of the venues of

    Greenfield Stadium is also used for cricket.[217][218]

    Usain Bolt is one of the most prominent sprinters in the world.

    Since independence Jamaica has consistently produced world class athletes in track and field.

    Veronica Campbell-Brown; Sherone Simpson; Brigitte Foster-Hylton; Yohan Blake; Herb McKenley; George Rhoden, Olympic gold medalist; Deon Hemmings, Olympic gold medalist; as well as Asafa Powell, former 100m world record holder and two-time 100m Olympic finalist and gold medal winner in the men's 2008 Olympic 4 × 100 m. American Olympic winner Sanya Richards-Ross
    was also born in Jamaica.

    national football team qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Horse racing was Jamaica's first sport. Today, horse racing provides jobs for about 20,000 people including horse breeders, groomers, and trainers. Also, several Jamaicans are known internationally for their success in horse racing including Richard DePass, who once held the Guinness Book of World Records for the most wins in a day, Canadian awards winner George HoSang, and American award winners Charlie Hussey, Andrew Ramgeet, and Barrington Harvey.[219]

    Race car driving is also a popular sport in Jamaica with several car racing tracks and racing associations across the country.[220]

    The

    Winter Olympics, beating many well-established teams. Chess and basketball are widely played in Jamaica and are supported by the Jamaica Chess Federation (JCF) and the Jamaica Basketball Federation (JBF), respectively. Netball is also very popular on the island, with the Jamaica national netball team called The Sunshine Girls consistently ranking in the top five in the world.[221]

    Rugby league has been played in Jamaica since 2006.[222] The

    USA & Canada. Jamaica will play in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England.[223]

    According to

    Cleveland Indians in the United States.[224]

    Education

    Main article: Education in Jamaica

    The emancipation of the slaves heralded the establishment of an education system for the masses. Prior to emancipation there were few schools for educating locals and many sent their children off to England to access quality education.[citation needed] After emancipation the West Indian Commission granted a sum of money to establish Elementary Schools, now known as All Age Schools. Most of these schools were established by the churches.[225] This was the genesis of the modern Jamaican school system.

    Presently the following categories of schools exist:

    • Early childhood – Basic, infant and privately operated pre-school. Age cohort: 2 – 5 years.
    • Primary – Publicly and privately owned (privately owned being called preparatory schools). Ages 3 – 12 years.
    • Secondary – Publicly and privately owned. Ages 10 – 19 years. The high schools in Jamaica may be either single-sex or co-educational institutions, and many schools follow the traditional English grammar school model used throughout the British West Indies.
    • Tertiary – Community colleges; teachers' colleges, with the Mico Teachers' College (now The MICO University College) being the oldest, founded in 1836; the Shortwood Teachers' College (which was once an all-female teacher training institution); vocational training centres, colleges and universities, publicly and privately owned. There are five local universities: the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus); the University of Technology, Jamaica, formerly The College of Art Science and Technology (CAST); the Northern Caribbean University, formerly West Indies College; the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, formerly the University College of The Caribbean; and the International University of the Caribbean.

    Additionally, there are many community and teacher training colleges.

    Education is free from the early childhood to secondary levels. There are also opportunities for those who cannot afford further education in the vocational arena, through the Human Employment and Resource Training-National Training Agency (HEART Trust-NTA) programme,[226] which is opened to all working age national population[227] and through an extensive scholarship network for the various universities.

    Economy

    Main article: Economy of Jamaica
    A beach in Negril with a hotel and restaurant
    James Bond Beach in Oracabessa

    Jamaica is a

    G7 annual meetings.[228] In 2019 Jamaica reported its lowest unemployment rate in 50 years.[229]

    Supported by multilateral financial institutions, Jamaica has, since the early 1980s, sought to implement structural reforms aimed at fostering private sector activity and increasing the role of market forces in resource allocation[230][231][232] Since 1991, the government has followed a programme of economic liberalisation and stabilisation by removing exchange controls,[233][234] floating the exchange rate,[235][236] cutting tariffs,[237] stabilising the Jamaican dollar, reducing inflation[238] and removing restrictions on foreign investment.[236][239] Emphasis has been placed on maintaining strict fiscal discipline, greater openness to trade and financial flows, market liberalisation 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 privatisation programmes.[230][231][232] The free-trade zones at Kingston, Montego Bay and Spanish Town allow duty-free importation, tax-free profits, and free repatriation of export earnings.[240]

    Jamaica's economy grew strongly after the years of independence,

    Government of Jamaica remains committed to lowering inflation, with a long-term objective of bringing it in line with that of its major trading partners.[238]

    In 1996 and 1997 there was a decrease in GDP largely due to significant problems in the financial sector and, in 1997, a severe island-wide drought (the worst in 70 years) and hurricane that drastically reduced agricultural production.[241] In 1997 and 1998, nominal GDP was approximately a high of about 8 percent of GDP and then lowered to 4½ percent of GDP in 1999 and 2000.[242] 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.[243]

    Recent economic performance shows the Jamaican economy is recovering.

    dasheen, 24.9% increase in coconuts, and a 10.6% increase in whole milk production.[245] 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 and continued expansion of alumina production through 2009 is planned by Alcoa.[246] Jamaica is the fifth-largest exporter of bauxite in the world, after Australia, China, Brazil and Guinea. The country also exports limestone, of which it holds large deposits. The government is currently implementing plans to increase its extraction.[247]

    A Canadian company, Carube Copper Corp, has found and confirmed, "...the existence of at least seven significant Cu/Au porphyry systems (in St. Catherine)." They have estimated that, "The porphyry distribution found at Bellas Gate is similar to that found in the Northparkes mining district of New South Wales, Australia (which was) sold to China in 2013 for US$820 million." Carube noted that Jamaica's geology, "... is similar to that of Chile, Argentina and the Dominican Republic – all productive mining jurisdictions." Mining on the sites began in 2017.[248]

    Tourism, which is the largest foreign exchange earner, showed improvement as well. In 1999 the total visitor arrivals was 2 million, an increase of 100,000 from the previous year.[249] Since 2017, Jamaica's tourism has risen exponentially, rising to 4.3 million average tourists per year. Jamaica's largest tourist markets are from North America, South America, and Europe. In 2017, Jamaica recorded a 91.3% increase in stopover visitors from Southern and Western Europe (and a 41% increase in stopover arrivals from January to September 2017 over the same period from the previous year) with Germany, Portugal and Spain registering the highest percentage gains.[250] In 2018, Jamaica won several World Travel Awards in Portugal winning the "Chairman's Award for Global Tourism Innovation", "Best Tourist Board in the Caribbean" "Best Honeymoon Destination", "Best Culinary Destination", "World's Leading Beach Destination" and "World's Leading Cruise Destination".[251][252] Two months later, the Travvy Tourism Awards held in New York City, awarded Jamaica's Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, with the inaugural Chairman's Award for, "Global Tourism Innovation for the Development of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCM)". Bartlett has also won the Pacific Travel Writer's Association's award in Germany for the, "2018 Best Tourism Minister of the Year".[251][252][253]

    Petrojam, Jamaica's national and only petroleum refinery, is co-owned by the Government of Venezuela. Petrojam, "..operates a 35,000 barrel per day hydro-skimming refinery, to produce Automotive Diesel Oil; Heavy Fuel Oil; Kerosene/Jet Fuel, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), Asphalt and Gasoline." Customers include the Power industry, Aircraft refuellers, and Local Marketing companies.[254] On 20 February 2019, the Jamaican Government voted to retake ownership of Venezuela's 49% share.[255]

    Jamaica's agricultural exports are

    Blue Mountain Coffee which is considered a world renowned gourmet brand.[28]

    Jamaica has a wide variety of industrial and commercial activities. The

    construction industry is entirely self-sufficient, with professional technical standards and guidance.[260]

    Since the first quarter of 2006, the economy of Jamaica has undergone a period of staunch growth. With inflation for the 2006 calendar year down to 6.0% and unemployment down to 8.9%, the nominal GDP grew by an unprecedented 2.9%.[261] An investment programme in island transportation and utility infrastructure and gains in the tourism, mining, and service sectors all contributed this figure. All projections for 2007 show an even higher potential for economic growth with all estimates over 3.0% and hampered only by urban crime and public policies.[citation needed] Jamaica was ranked 78th in the Global Innovation Index in 2023. [262][263]

    In 2006, Jamaica became part of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) as one of the pioneering members.[264]

    The global economic downturn had a significant impact on the Jamaican economy for the years 2007 to 2009, resulting in negative economic growth. The government implemented a new Debt Management Initiative, the Jamaica Debt Exchange (JDX) on 14 January 2010. The initiative would see holders of Government of Jamaica (GOJ) bonds returning the high interest earning instruments for bonds with lower yields and longer maturities. The offer was taken up by over 95% of local financial institutions and was deemed a success by the government.[265]

    Owing to the success of the JDX program, the Bruce Golding-led government was successful in entering into a borrowing arrangement with the IMF on 4 February 2010 for the amount of US$1.27b. The loan agreement is for a period of three years.[266]

    In April 2014, the Governments of Jamaica and China signed the preliminary agreements for the first phase of the Jamaican Logistics Hub (JLH) – the initiative that aims to position Kingston as the fourth node in the global logistics chain, joining Rotterdam, Dubai and Singapore, and serving the Americas.[267] The Project, when completed, is expected to provide many jobs for Jamaicans, Economic Zones for multinational companies[268] and much needed economic growth to alleviate the country's heavy debt-to-GDP ratio. Strict adherence to the IMF's refinancing programme and preparations for the JLH has favourably affected Jamaica's credit rating and outlook from the three biggest rating agencies. In 2018, both Moody's and Standard and Poor Credit ratings upgraded Jamaica's ratings to both "stable and positive" respectively.[269][270]

    Science and technology

    Main articles: Science and technology in Jamaica and List of Jamaican inventions and discoveries

    The Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) sector is guided by the National Commission on Science and Technology (NCST) and the Scientific Research Council (SRC). Both are under the direction of the Ministry of Science, Energy, and Technology.

    Since the 1990s, the government has set an agenda to push the development of science and technology in Jamaica. Despite some successes, such as the growth of the nutraceutical industry, it has been difficult to translate the results into domestic technologies, products and services - largely because of national budgetary constraints. However, with Jamaica's improved fiscal space, coming out of its recent IMF programme, the government has pledged to increase expenditure on research and development.[271][272]

    Jamaicans have made some noteworthy scientific and medical contributions. Amongst these include the discovery of kwashiorkor, the pioneer of treatments for pediatric sickle cell anemia and the invention of various spacecraft support systems.

    Infrastructure

    Transport

    Further information: Transport in Jamaica
    Halfway Tree Transport Centre, Kingston

    The

    railways and air transport, with roadways forming the backbone of the island's internal transport system.[86]

    Roadways

    Main article: Roads in Jamaica

    The Jamaican road network consists of almost 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi) of roads, of which over 15,000 kilometres (9,300 mi) is paved.

    freeways, the first such access-controlled roadways of their kind on the island, connecting the main population centres of the island. This project has so far seen the completion of 33 kilometres (21 mi) of freeway.[citation needed
    ]

    Railways

    Main article:
    Railways of Jamaica

    Railways in Jamaica no longer enjoy the prominent position they once did, having been largely replaced by roadways as the primary means of transport. Of the 272 kilometres (169 mi) of railway found in Jamaica, only 57 kilometres (35 mi) remain in operation, currently used to transport bauxite.[3] On 13 April 2011, a limited passenger service was resumed between May Pen, Spanish Town and Linstead.[273]

    Air transport

    A US Airways aircraft landing at Montego Bay (2013)
    Norman Manley International Airport

    There are three international airports in Jamaica with modern

    Sir Donald Sangster International Airport in the resort city of Montego Bay. Manley and Sangster International airports are home to the country's national airline, Air Jamaica. In addition there are local commuter airports at Tinson Pen (Kingston), Port Antonio, and Negril, which cater to internal flights only. Many other small, rural centres are served by private airstrips on sugar estates or bauxite mines.[86]

    Ports, shipping and lighthouses

    See also:
    Lighthouses in Jamaica

    Owing to its location in the Caribbean Sea in the

    container terminal at the Port of Kingston has undergone large expansion in capacity in recent years to handle growth both already realised as well as that which is projected in coming years.[274] Montego Freeport in Montego Bay
    also handles a variety of cargo like (though more limited than) the Port of Kingston, mainly agricultural products.

    There are several other ports positioned around the island, including Port Esquivel in

    St. Elizabeth, Port Rhoades in Discovery Bay, Reynolds Pier in Ocho Rios, and Boundbrook Port in Port Antonio
    .

    To aid the navigation of shipping, Jamaica operates nine lighthouses.[275] They are maintained by the <Port Authority of Jamaica,[276] an agency of the Ministry of Transport and Works.[277][275]

    Energy

    See also: Solar power in Jamaica
    Jamaica electricity production by source
    Jamaica renewable electricity production by source

    Jamaica depends on petroleum imports to satisfy its national energy needs.[3] Many test sites have been explored for oil, but no commercially viable quantities have been found.[278] The most convenient sources of imported oil and motor fuels (diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel) are from Mexico and Venezuela.

    Jamaica's electrical power is produced by diesel (

    bunker oil) generators located in Old Harbour. This facility has been further equipped with liquid natural gas capability and storage. Other smaller power stations (most owned by the Jamaica Public Service Company,[279] the island's electricity provider) support the island's electrical grid including the Hunts Bay Power Station, the Bogue Power Station Saint James, the Rockfort Power Station Saint Andrew and small hydroelectric plants on the White River, Rio Bueno, Morant River, Black River (Maggotty) and Roaring River.[280] A wind farm, owned by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, was established at Wigton, Manchester.[281]

    Jamaica has successfully operated a SLOWPOKE-2 nuclear reactor of 20 kW capacity since the early 1980s, but there are no plans to expand nuclear power at present.[282]

    Jamaica imports approximately 80,000 barrels (13,000 m3) of oil energy products per day,[278] including asphalt and lubrication products. Just 20% of imported fuels are used for road transportation, the rest being used by the bauxite industry, electricity generation, and aviation. 30,000 barrels/day of crude imports are processed into various motor fuels and asphalt by the Petrojam Refinery in Kingston.[283]

    Jamaica produces enormous quantities of

    anhydrous ethanol (0% water content), but as of 2007, the process appeared to be uneconomic and the production plant was idle.[284]
    The facility has since been purchased by West Indies Petroleum Ltd. and repurposed for petroleum distillates.

    Communication

    Main article: Telecommunications in Jamaica

    Jamaica has a fully

    digital telephone communication system with a mobile penetration of over 95%.[285]

    The country's two mobile operators –

    CDMA standard. FLOW (formerly "LIME" – pre-Columbus Communications merger) which had begun with TDMA standard, subsequently upgraded to GSM in 2002, decommissioned TDMA in 2006 and only utilised that standard until 2009 when LIME launched its 3G network.[286] Both operators currently provide islandwide coverage with HSPA+ (3G) technology. Currently, only Digicel offers LTE to its customers[287]
    whereas FLOW Jamaica has committed to launching LTE in the cities of Kingston and Montego Bay, places where Digicel's LTE network is currently only found in, in short order.

    A new entrant to the Jamaican communications market, Flow Jamaica, laid a new submarine cable connecting Jamaica to the United States. This new cable increases the total number of submarine cables connecting Jamaica to the rest of the world to four. Cable and Wireless Communications (parent company of LIME) acquired the company in late 2014 and replaced their brand LIME with FLOW.[288] FLOW Jamaica currently has the most broadband and cable subscribers on the island and also has 1 million mobile subscribers,[289] second to Digicel (which had, at its peak, over 2 million mobile subscriptions on its network).

    Digicel entered the broadband market in 2010 by offering WiMAX broadband,

    FTTH offering (after LIME's deployment in selected communities in 2011[292]). It is currently only available in the parishes of Kingston, Portmore and St. Andrew. It offers speeds of up to 200 Mbit/s down, 100 Mbit/s up via a pure fibre optic network. Digicel's competitor, FLOW Jamaica, has a network consisting of ADSL
    , Coaxial and Fibre to the Home (inherited from LIME) and only offers speeds up to 100 Mbit/s. FLOW has committed to expanding its Fibre offering to more areas in order to combat Digicel's entrance into the market.

    It was announced that the Office and Utilities Regulations (OUR), Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (MSTEM) and the Spectrum Management Authority (SMA) have given approval for another mobile operator licence in January 2016.[293] The identity of this entrant was ascertained on 20 May 2016, when the Jamaican Government named the new carrier as Symbiote Investments Limited operating under the name Caricel.[294] The company will focus on 4G LTE data offerings and will first go live in the Kingston Metropolitan Area and will expand to the rest of Jamaica thereafter.[citation needed]

    See also

    Notes

    1. sh
      " sound.

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