Jamaica Newspapers | News websites Online.
Geography and Population
- Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean, covering 10,991 square kilometers.
- It is the third-largest island in the Greater Antilles.
- Kingston is the capital, with a population of 2.8 million people.
History
- Indigenous Ciboney people fell under Spanish rule after Columbus's arrival in 1494.
- Spain lost Jamaica to England in 1655, becoming crucial for sugar exports.
- Slavery was abolished in 1838; many freedmen opted for subsistence farming.
- Jamaica gained independence from the UK on August 6, 1962.
Political System and Economy
- Jamaica is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a bicameral Parliament.
- Andrew Holness has been Prime Minister since March 2016.
- The economy relies heavily on tourism, attracting 4.3 million tourists annually.
Cultural Impact
- Jamaica is known for reggae music, Rastafari, and various sports.
- It has a significant diaspora in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.