Jamaica
ALSO KNOW AS
Land of Wood and Water (Root: Xaymaca (Arawak))
LOCATION
In the Caribbean Sea, 145 km (90 miles) south of Cuba and 160 km (100 miles) west of Haiti.
STATUS
Independent – 6 August 1962
HISTORY
Jamaica was first settled by Amerindians. Columbus visited the island in 1494, and it fell under Spanish possession from 1509-1655, before becoming a British sugar colony. During the social unrest of the 1930s, two major political parties were formed – the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) by Alexander Bustamante, and the People’s National Party (PNP) by Norman Manley. Jamaica joined the West Indies Federation in 1958, but withdrew following a referendum in 1961. The country gained independence in 1962. The PNP instituted a democratic socialist government from 1974-80, and the JLP established free-enterprise government from 1980.
MOTTO
Out of Many One People
CAPITAL
Kingston
CURRENCY
Jamaica Dollar
AIRPORT
Norman Manley International; Donald Sangster International
