Background Note: Jamaica
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Geography
Area: 10,991 sq. km. (4,244 sq. mi.).
Cities: Capital--Kingston metro area and St. Andrew (pop. 650,000). Other cities--Montego Bay (96,000), Spanish Town (131,515).
Terrain: Mountainous, coastal plains.
Climate: Tropical.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Jamaican(s).
Population (2006 est.): 2,673,800.
Annual growth rate (2006): 1.5%.
Ethnic groups: African 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, Chinese 0.2%, White 0.2%, mixed 7.3%, other 0.1%.
Religious affiliation: Anglican, Baptist and other Protestant, Roman Catholic, Rastafarian, Jewish.
Languages: English, Patois.
Education: Years compulsory--to age 14. Literacy (age 15 and over)--79.9%.
Health (2005): Infant mortality rate--19.2/1,000. Life expectancy--female 75 yrs., male 73 yrs.
Work force (2006, 1.25 million): Industry--17.1%; agriculture--17.9%; services--64.9%.
Government
Type: Constitutional parliamentary democracy.
Independence: August 6, 1962.
Constitution: August 6, 1962.
Branches: Executive--Governor General (chief of state, representing British monarch), prime minister, cabinet. Legislative--bicameral Parliament (21 appointed senators, 60 elected representatives). Judicial--Court of Appeal and courts of original jurisdiction.
Subdivisions: 14 parishes, 60 electoral constituencies.
Political parties: People's National Party (PNP), Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), National Democratic Movement (NDM), United
Peoples Party (UPP).
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Economy
GDP (2005): $9.7 billion.
Real growth rate (2006): 2.5%.
Per capita GDP (2005): $3,640.
Natural resources: Bauxite, gypsum, limestone, marble, sand, silica.
Agriculture: Products--sugar, bananas, coffee, citrus fruits, condiments and spices.
Industry: Types--tourism, bauxite and alumina, processed foods, sugar, rum, cement, metal, chemical products.
Trade (2005): Exports--$1.5 billion: alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, chemicals, citrus fruits and products, rum,
coffee. Major markets (2005)--U.S. 26.3%, U.K. 10.8%, Canada 19.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 0.6%, Japan 1.0%. Imports
(2005)--$4.7 billion: machinery, transportation and electrical equipment, food, fuels, fertilizer. Major suppliers
(2000)--U.S. 40.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 9.0%, Japan 4.5%, U.K. 2.4%, Canada 2.3%.
PEOPLE AND HISTORY
Arawaks from South America had settled in Jamaica prior to Christopher Columbus' first arrival at the island in 1494.
During Spain's occupation of the island, starting in 1510, the Arawaks were exterminated by disease, slavery, and war.
Spain brought the first African slaves to Jamaica in 1517. In 1655, British forces seized the island, and in 1670, Great
Britain gained formal possession.
Sugar made Jamaica one of the most valuable possessions in the world for more than 150 years. The British Parliament
abolished slavery as of August 1, 1834. After a long period of direct British colonial rule, Jamaica gained a degree of
local political control in the late 1930s, and held its first election under full universal adult suffrage in 1944.
Jamaica joined nine other U.K. territories in the West Indies Federation in 1958 but withdrew after Jamaican voters
rejected membership in 1961. Jamaica gained independence in 1962, remaining a member of the Commonwealth.
Historically, Jamaican emigration has been heavy Since the United Kingdom restricted emigration in 1967, the major flow
has been to the United States and Canada. About 20,000 Jamaicans emigrate to the United States each year; another
200,000 visit annually. New York, Miami, Chicago, and Hartford are among the U.S. cities with a significant Jamaican
population. Remittances from the expatriate communities in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, estimated at
up to $1.6 billion per year, make increasingly significant contributions to Jamaica's economy.
GOVERNMENT
The 1962 constitution established a parliamentary system based on the U.K. model. As chief of state, Queen Elizabeth II
appoints a governor general, on the advice of the prime minister, as her representative in Jamaica. The governor
general's role is largely ceremonial. Executive power is vested in the cabinet, led by the prime minister.
Parliament is composed of an appointed Senate and an elected House of Representatives. Thirteen Senators are nominated
on the advice of the prime minister and eight on the advice of the leader of the opposition. General elections must be
held within 5 years of the forming of a new government. The prime minister may ask the governor general to call
elections sooner, however. The Senate may submit bills, and it also reviews legislation submitted by the House.
It may not delay budget bills for more than 1 month or other bills for more than 7 months. The prime minister and the
cabinet are selected from the Parliament. No fewer than two or more than four members of the cabinet must be selected
from the Senate.
The judiciary also is modeled on the U.K. system. The Court of Appeals is the highest appellate court in Jamaica. Under
certain circumstances, cases may be appealed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. Jamaica's parishes have elected
councils that exercise limited powers of local government.
Principal Government Officials
Governor General--Kenneth O. Hall
Prime Minister and Minister of Defense--Bruce Golding
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade--Kenneth Baugh
Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States (OAS)--Anthony Johnson
Ambassador to the United Nations--Raymond Wolfe
Jamaica maintains an embassy in the United States at 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 (tel. 202-452-0660). It also has consulates
in New York at 767 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10017 (tel. 212-935-9000); and in Miami in the Ingraham Building, Suite 842,
25 SE 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33131 (tel. 305-374-8431/2).
POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Jamaica's political system is stable. However, the country's serious economic problems have exacerbated social problems
and have become the subject of political debate. High unemployment--averaging 12.5%--rampant underemployment, growing
debt, and high interest rates are the most serious economic problems. Violent crime is a serious problem, particularly
in Kingston.
The two major political parties have historical links with the two largest trade unions--the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)
with the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), and the People's National Party (PNP) with the National Workers Union
(NWU). The center-right National Democratic Movement (NDM) was established in 1995, and the populist United Peoples
Party (UPP) in 2001; neither has links with any particular trade union, and both are marginal movements.
For health reasons, Michael Manley stepped down as Prime Minister in March 1992 and was replaced by P.J. Patterson.
Patterson subsequently led the PNP to victory in general elections in 1993, 1997, and in October of 2002. The 2002
victory marked the first time any Jamaican political party has won four consecutive general elections since the
introduction of universal suffrage in 1944.
Upon Patterson's retirement on March 30, 2006, Portia Simpson Miller became the first female prime minister in Jamaica's
history. She left office after her party (PNP) lost to now-Prime Minister Bruce Golding's JLP in general elections held
in September 2007. The current composition of the lower house of Jamaica's Parliament is 32 JLP and 28 PNP.
Since the 1993 elections, the Jamaican Government, political parties, and Electoral Advisory Committee have worked to
enact electoral reform. In the 2002 general elections, grassroots Jamaican efforts from groups like CAFFE (Citizens
Action for Free and Fair Elections), supplemented by international observers and organizations such as The Carter
Center, helped reduce the violence that has tended to mar Jamaican elections. Former President Carter also observed the
2002 elections and declared them free and fair.
ECONOMY
Jamaica has natural resources, primarily bauxite, adequate water supplies, and climate conducive to agriculture and
tourism. The discovery of bauxite in the 1940s and the subsequent establishment of the bauxite-alumina industry shifted
Jamaica's economy from sugar and bananas. By the 1970s, Jamaica had emerged as a world leader in export of these
minerals as foreign investment increased.
The country faces some serious problems but has the potential for growth and modernization. Currency reserves,
remittances, tourism, agriculture, mining, construction, and shipping all remain strong, and Jamaica has attracted over
U.S. $4.4 billion in foreign direct investment over the past decade. However, high unemployment, burdensome debt, an
alarming crime rate, and anemic growth continue to darken the country’s prospects. After 4 years of negative economic
growth, Jamaica's GDP grew by 0.8% in 2000, and has grown in the 0.5% to 2.5% range, year-on-year, since then. Inflation
fell from 25% in 1995 to 6.1% in 2000 and registered single digits for a few years, until returning to double digits in
2007 and 2008 with the spike in world commodity prices which was soon followed by the global economic downturn.
Through periodic intervention in the market, the central bank prevents any abrupt drop in the exchange rate.
Nevertheless, the Jamaican dollar continues to slip despite intervention. The average exchange rate was J$76.20 to the
U.S. $1.00 by December 2008
Weakness in the financial sector, speculation, and low levels of government investment erode confidence in the
production sector. The government is unable to channel funds into social and physical infrastructure because of an
overwhelming debt-to-GDP ratio, which currently stands at approximately 130%. Almost 55 cents on every dollar earned by
the Jamaican Government goes to debt servicing and recurrent expenditure. Tax compliance rates also contribute to the
problem, hovering at approximately 45%. On the other hand, net internal reserves were just over $1.7 billion at the end
of 2008.
Jamaican Government economic policies encourage foreign investment in areas that earn or save foreign exchange, generate
employment, and use local raw materials. The government provides a wide range of incentives to investors, including
remittance facilities to assist them in repatriating funds to the country of origin; tax holidays which defer taxes for
a period of years; and duty-free access for machinery and raw materials imported for approved enterprises.
Free trade zones have stimulated investment in garment assembly, light manufacturing, and data entry by foreign firms.
However, over the last 5 years, the garment industry has suffered from reduced export earnings, continued factory
closures, and rising unemployment. This can be attributed to intense international and regional competition, exacerbated
by the high costs of operations in Jamaica, including security costs to deter drug activity, as well as the relatively
high cost of labor. The Government of Jamaica hopes to encourage economic activity through a combination of
privatization, financial sector restructuring, falling interest rates, and by boosting tourism and related production
activities.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Jamaica has diplomatic relations with most nations and is a member of the United Nations and the Organization of
American States. It was an active participant in the April 2001 Quebec Summit of the Americas. Jamaica is an active
member of the British Commonwealth, the Non-Aligned Movement, the G-15, and the G-77. Jamaica is a beneficiary of the
Cotonou Conventions, through which the European Union (EU) grants trade preferences to selected states in Asia, the
Caribbean, and the Pacific.
Historically, Jamaica has had close ties with the U.K., but trade, financial, and cultural relations with the United
States are now predominant. Jamaica is linked with the other countries of the English-speaking Caribbean through the
Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and more broadly through the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). In December 2001,
Jamaica completed its 2-year term on the United Nations Security Council.
U.S.-JAMAICAN RELATIONS
The United States maintains close and productive relations with the Government of Jamaica. Former Prime Minister
Patterson visited Washington, DC, several times after assuming office in 1992. In April 2001, Prime Minister Patterson
and other Caribbean leaders met with President Bush during the Summit of the Americas in Quebec, Canada, at which a
"Third Border Initiative" was launched to deepen U.S. cooperation with Caribbean nations and enhance economic
development and integration of the Caribbean nations. Then-Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller attended the "Conference
on the Caribbean--A 20/20 Vision" in Washington in June 2007.
The United States is Jamaica's most important trading partner: bilateral trade in goods in 2007 was over $2 billion.
Jamaica is a popular destination for American tourists; more than 1.2 million Americans visited in 2006. In addition,
some 10,000 American citizens, including many dual-nationals born on the island, permanently reside in Jamaica.
The Government of Jamaica also seeks to attract U.S. investment and supports efforts to create a Free Trade Area of the
Americans (FTAA). More than 80 U.S. firms have operations in Jamaica, and total U.S. investment is estimated at more
than $3 billion. The Political/Economic section assists American businesses seeking trade opportunities in Jamaica. The
country is a beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partner Act (CBTPA). The American Chamber of Commerce, which also
is available to assist U.S. business in Jamaica, has offices in Kingston.
U.S. Agency for International Development ( USAID) assistance to Jamaica since its independence in 1962 has contributed to reducing the population growth rate, the
attainment of higher standards in a number of critical health indicators, and the diversification and expansion of
Jamaica's export base. USAID's primary objective is promoting sustainable economic growth. Other key objectives are
improved environmental quality and natural resource protection, strengthening democratic institutions and respect for
the rule of law, as well as family planning. In fiscal year 2006, the USAID mission in Jamaica operated a program
totaling more than $21 million in development assistance.
The Peace Corps has been in Jamaica continuously since 1962. Since then, more than 3,300 volunteers have served in the
country. Today, the Peace Corps works in the following projects: Youth-at-Risk, which includes adolescent reproductive
health, HIV/AIDS education, and the needs of marginalized males; water sanitation, which includes rural waste water
solutions and municipal waste water treatment; and environmental education, which helps address low levels of awareness
and strengthens environmental nongovernmental organizations. The Peace Corps in Jamaica fields about 70 volunteers who
work in every parish on the island, including some inner-city communities in Kingston.
Jamaica is a major transit point for cocaine en route to the United States and is also a key source of marijuana and
marijuana derivative products for the Americas. During 2006, the Government of Jamaica seized narcotics destined for the
United States, arrested key traffickers and criminal gang leaders, and dismantled their organizations. Jamaica remains
the Caribbean's largest producer and exporter of marijuana. The efforts of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and
Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) enabled cannabis seizures to increase by over 200% in 2006. In 2006, the JCF arrested 5,409
persons on drug related charges, including 269 foreigners. Additionally, more than 20,000 kilograms of marijuana were
seized, and 6,300,000 marijuana plants eradicated in 2006. In August 2006, two priority targets associated with major
cocaine trafficking organizations were arrested in Jamaica and await extradition to the United States where they are
charged with conspiracy to import illegal drugs. Jeffrey and Gareth Lewis (father and son) allegedly transported cocaine
shipments from Colombia to the United States. Operation Kingfish is a multinational task force (Jamaica, U.S., United
Kingdom, and Canada) for coordinating investigations leading to the arrest of major criminals. From its October 2004
inception through December 2006, Operation Kingfish launched 1,378 operations resulting in the seizure of 56 vehicles,
57 boats, one aircraft, 206 firearms, and two containers conveying drugs. Kingfish was also responsible for the seizure
of over 13 metric tons of cocaine (mostly outside of Jamaica) and over 27,390 pounds of compressed marijuana. In 2006
Operation Kingfish mounted 870 operations, compared to 607 in 2005. In 2006, through cargo scanning, the Jamaican
Customs Contraband Enforcement Team seized over 3,000 pounds of marijuana, ten kg of cocaine, and approximately $500,000
at Jamaican air and seaports.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Brenda LaGrange Johnson
Deputy Chief of Mission--James T. Heg
Economic/Political Section Chief--Lloyd W. Moss
USAID Mission Director--Karen Hilliard
Defense Attaché--CDR Randall Ramel
Chief, Military Liaison Office--LTC Matthew Faddis
Consul General--Edward Wehrli
Public Affairs Officer--Pat Attkisson
Peace Corps Director--Bruce Cohen
The U.S. Embassy in Jamaica is at 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6; tel: (876) 702-6000; fax: (876) 702-6001.
The USAID Mission is at 2 Haining Road, Kingston (tel. 876-926-3645). The Peace Corps is at 8 Worthington Avenue,
Kingston 5 (tel. 876-929-0495). Log onto the Internet at http://kingston.usembassy.gov/ for more information about Jamaica, the U.S. Embassy and its activities, and current contact information.
Other Contact Information
U.S. Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
Trade Information Center
14th and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20230
Tel: 800-USA-TRADE or 800-872-8723
Web site: http://trade.gov/
American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica
The Jamaica Pegasus
81 Knutsford Blvd
Kingston 5, Jamaica
Tel: (876) 929-7866/67
Fax: (876) 929-8597
Web site: http://www.amchamjamaicaorg/
E-mail: amcham@cwjamaica.com
Caribbean-Central American Action
1818 N Street, NW
Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 466-7464
Fax: (202) 822-0075
Web site: http://www.c-caa.org
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