Jamaica

(Please note that I have been trying to profile one country per day in an effort to better educate myself about the world we live in. I am sharing the facts I find most interesting because like all bloggers I just assume that what interests me also interests you.)



- From the CIA World Handbook - "Jamaica gained full independence within the British Commonwealth in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence and a dropoff in tourism. Elections in 1980 saw the democratic socialists voted out of office. Subsequent governments have been open market oriented. Political violence marred elections during the 1990s."

- Jamaica is about 10,991 sq km (which is slightly smaller than Connecticut) with a population of about 2,700,000 (compare that to Connecticut which has a population of about 3,400,000).

- Jamaica is actually rather mountainous. The peak of Blue Mountain is the highest elevation at 2,256 meters (compare that to the highest point on Grand Cayman - which is only 43 meters). Mount Washington in New Hampshire is the highest elevation East of the Mississippi and it stands at an elevation of 6,288 feet (sorry - didn't have a chance to do a meters to feet conversion for you but in case you haven't figured it out - Blue Mountain is higher).

- The chief of state is Queen Elizabeth II who is represented by a Governor General (same as Canada or Bermuda). The head of the government is the Prime Minister who heads a bicameral Parliament consisting of a Senate (21 appointed members) and a House of Representatives (60 directly elected members)

- The economy of Jamaica is very dependent upon tourism. The per capita GDP of the island-nation is about $3,800 and about 34% of the population lives below the poverty line.

- It's beer! Hooray beer! A history of Red Stripe Beer - my favorite line, "1962 - Jamaica gains independence from Britain. Many Red Stripe beers are consumed"

- For many people thoughts of Jamaica revolve around thoughts of Rastafarians, Bob Marley, reggae and ganja (also known as wisdom weed to the Rastafarians)

- Bartering - if you do visit Jamaica you should be aware that bartering is a national preoccupation. At first bartering can be fun but it does become very tiresome very fast.