Jamaica

2. Jamaica • An island nation of the Greater Antilles, 3rd largest in the chain • Located in the Caribbean Sea, South of Cuba • Jamaica means “Land of Springs” or “Land of Wood and Water”

3. Elevation extremes: Lowest point Caribbean Sea 0 miles Highest point Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 miles Geographic area: Land 10,831 sq. km. Water 160 sq. km. Total 10,991 sq. km. Slightly smaller than Connecticut by comparison Coastline: 1,022 km Geographic

4. Jamaica is divided into 14 parishes These are grouped into 3 historic counties Cornwall (green) Middlesex (pink) Surrey (yellow) #11 is Kingston, is the capital of Jamaica The island has had parishes since it’s capture by the English in 1655 At the most, Jamaica had 22 parishes, some of which have been divided or absorbed by other parishes The current parishes have been established since 1867 Parishes

5. Population: 2,731,832 (July 2005 est.) Life expectancy: Male – 74 Female – 78 Languages: English patois English (pronounced patwah) is Jamaican slang Ethnic Groups: Black 90.9% East Indian 1.3% White 0.2% Chinese 0.2% Mixed 7.3% other 0.1% Religions: Protestant 61.3% Roman Catholic 4% Other (including some spiritual cults) 34.7% Interesting Facts

6. Christian holidays Ash Wednesday February 21 Good Friday April 6 Easter Monday April 9 Christmas Day December 25 Secular holidays Leap year Labor Day May 23 Emancipation Day August 1 Independence Day August 6 National Heroes Day October 20 Boxing Day December26 Holidays

7. Bob Marley Captain Morgan Grace Jones Jamaican bob sled team Famous People

8. History • I. Pre-Colombian Jamaica • Jamaica was inhabited by Arawak Indians • living in simple communities based on fishing, hunting, and small scale cultivation of cassava • contact with the Spanish was traumatic, and these communities disappeared in 70-80 years • there is no Arawak influence on the subsequent development of life on the island • II. The Spanish Occupation, 1494-1655 • arrival of Columbus in 1494 • Spanish used Jamaica as a base for supporting the conquest of the Americas • In 1655, it was captured by the British expedition led by Admirals Penn and Venables, following their unsuccessful invasion of Hispaniola • there is very little visible evidence of the Spanish occupation

9. History • III. The Slave Economy, 1655-1838 • the British turned to large scale importation of Africans to be used as slaves on the sugar plantations • Plantation slavery was based on the Triangular trade among England (manufactured goods), Africa (slaves), and the Caribbean (sugar) • International trade was so important to the Jamaican economy that when the American war of independence disrupted trade between what was then the "North American colonies" and the Caribbean, 15,000 thousands of slaves died of starvation in Jamaica alone • Some slaves inevitably ran away from the estates to live in small bands in the mountains known as Maroons. • In 1838, the slaves were Emancipated and the plantations had to begin paying wages to its workers

10. History • IV. The Development of the Peasantry. 1838-1938 • many of the ex-slaves settled down as small farmers in the mountains • others settled on marginal lands in the plains • the economy began to be diversified away from its traditional dependence on sugar alone • exports of logwood, coffee, and eventually bananas grew steadily • V. The National Movement and Decolonization, 1938-1962 • The national movement emerged as a political force in the context of the rebellion in 1938 • Alexander Bustamante and Norman Manley have been declared national heroes for their individual and combined efforts in securing political independence from England • The USA displaced the UK as Jamaica's principal trading partner • Political independence was granted in 1962

11. After the 9/11 attacks, the Jamaican economy’s growth was stunted but rebounded moderately in 2003-04 with improving tourist seasons Long-term economic problems include: high interest rates increased foreign competition large-scale unemployment growing internal debt. Services account for 60% of Jamaica’s economy 1.00 USD = 70.7500 JMD U.S. Dollars   Jamaica Dollars Economy

12. North Coast consisting of Montego Bay, Runaway Bay, Falmouth, Ocho Rios and Port Antonio They offer excellent shopping, sightseeing and lodging Rafting on the Rio Grande Climb Dunn’s River Falls Montego Bay Yacht Club Rick’s Cafe Places to visit

13. On the South Coast are such wonderful places as Black River, Spanish Town, Kingston and Morant Bay Enjoy a cup of Blue Mountain coffee Be relaxed with a trip to Milk River Bath in St. Elizabeth Places to Visit

14. Travel advisement • ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: U.S. citizens must present a valid passport when entering or re-entering the United States • SAFETY AND SECURITY: The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas.  For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet “A Safe Trip Abroad”. • HEALTH INFORMATION:Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s Internet site athttp://www.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx.

15. Travel advisement • MEDICAL INSURANCE:  The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. • SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against taking any type of firearm or ammunition into Jamaica without authorization from the Ministry of National Security.  Entering Jamaica with a firearm or even a single round of ammunition is a serious crime that can result in a long prison sentence.It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington or one of the Jamaican consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements.

16. Crime • A darker side of Jamaican culture is endemic, high levels of violent crime • Jamaica has one of the highest murder rates in the world for many years ranking 3rd after South Africa and Brazil according to UN estimates • Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson described the situation as “a national challenge of unprecedented proportions” • In recent years, murder rates have reached in excess of 575% of those in the United States on a per capita basis

17. Crime

18. Jamaica basically invented the “all-inclusive” vacation. This includes: Round-trip airfare Airport transportation Hotel accommodations Entertainment Meals and beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) Gratuities and taxes Activities (including non-motorized water sports) Many resorts offer hurricane protection for your vacation Expedia.com: Offers a Sunset Beach Resort and Spa “all-inclusive” package for $3010.52. This is a 5-night air/hotel package with the trip starting in Tulsa going to Montego Bay for 2 adults. This includes an ocean view from the hotel. Travelocity.com: Offers the Grand Lido Negril Resort and Spa “all-inclusive” package for $4370.92. This is the same 5-night air/hotel package as above. Cost of Travel

19. Weather • Average winter temperature is 75 degrees • Average summer temperature is 80 degrees • Temperatures can be 10 degrees cooler in the mountains and boat trips can be breezy • Vacationers should pack a jacket • It is generally sunny but Jamaica receives about 78 inches of rain every year • Hurricane season is June 1 – Nov. 30

20. Tourism Bauxite Textiles Agro processing Wearing apparel Light manufacturers Rum Cement Metal Paper Chemical products Telecommunications Industries

21. Natural Resources: Bauxite Gypsum Limestone Agricultural products: Sugarcane, coffee, citrus, yams, milk, vegetables, poultry, crustaceans, bananas, and mollusks Interesting Facts

22. With a diagonal cross, the background of the flag is black and green. Each color is symbolic. Black - hardship Green - hope and fertile land Gold - wealth and sunshine The flag’s symbolism is “Hardships there are, but the Land is green and the Sun shineth.” Miss Jamaica, Rahra Redwood, in Mexico City May 20, 2007 at the Miss Universe pageant National Flag

23. The island’s coat of arms is an Arawak couple beside a shield displaying pineapples and the crest of a Jamaican crocodile The motto “Out of Many, One People,” is a reference to the many cultures that came together to produce the nation Coat of Arms

24. National Tree: Blue Mahoe - It’s wood is used to make small pieces of furniture. National Flower: Lignum Vitae The flowers are produced by a tree that contains some of the world’s hardest wood. It was used in early times to build ships. Now the “wood of life” is used to make beautiful carvings. National Tree & Flower

25. Streamer-tailed hummingbird Also called the “Doctor bird” < male female > In most rural parts of Jamaica, it’s considered to bring bad fortune on one’s self to kill one of these birds They have been well-represented in Jamaican folk-lore Aside from the coloring, looks very similar to our Scissor-tailed flycatcher National Bird

26. The ackee (Blighia sapinda) is an import. First brought from Ghana, it is a reminder that Captain Bligh (of Mutiny on the Bounty fame) brought many tropical fruits to England for the first time. This innocent-looking red fruit grows on a large evergreen tree. The fruit is very poisonous until the fruit ripens. National Fruit

27. Ackee and Saltfish This is the national breakfast dish. Ackee cooks, looks and tastes much like scrambled eggs. You won’t find ackee in the United States because of it’s poisonous nature until it ripens. Christmas cake This confection includes raisins, cinnamon, cherries and sometimes prunes. It’s very similar to the fruitcake we know here in the U.S. Island Cuisine

28. Curried Goat You don’t get more Jamaican than this dish. It’s a traditional dish especially popular at festivals and parties. Jerk Chicken The ultimate Jamaican dish is jerk. The main ingredient is pork, chicken or fish. It’s marinated with a fiery mixture of spices including Scotch bonnet and a pepper that makes a jalapeno taste like a marshmallow. It’s served with even more hot sauce, rice, peas and festival bread. Island Cuisine

29. Brought to you by the talents of: Sarah Rivers Michelle Arras Sarah Neel