Jamaica

Government
Constitutional parliamentary democracy.

Geography
Jamaica is an island in the West Indies, 145 km south of Cuba and 161 km west of Haiti. The island is made up of coastal lowlands, a limestone plateau, and the Blue Mountains, a group of volcanic hills, in the east.

Historical Background
The island - settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino Indians, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually exterminated, replaced by African slaves. England siezed the island in 1655 and a plantation economy - based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee - was established. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter million slaves, many of which became small farmers. Jamaica gradually obtained increasing independence from Britain, and in 1958 it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from the federation in 1962.

Name

Jamaica

Capital

Kingston

Government

Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy-Monarch Elizabeth II -Governor-General Patrick Allen -Prime Minister Bruce Golding

Language

Jamaican Patois

Area

Total 10,991 km2 (166th) 4,244 sq mi

Population

July 2010 estimate 2,847,232[2] (133rd)

GDP (PPP)

2009 estimate - Total $23.797 billion[3]

GDP (nominal)

2010 estimate -Total $13.74 billion[4]

Currency

Jamaican dollar (JMD)

Time zone 

(UTC-5)