A state on the island of the same name and adjacent small islands in the Caribbean Sea, between North and South America. Area - 11,000 km².
Capital - Kingston (over 1 million including suburbs). Administrative-territorial division - 14 parishes. Population - 2.6 million (2004); 90% of African descent, the rest of European and Asian descent. Official language - English. Religion: the majority of believers are Protestants (80%), with Catholicism and African cults also widespread. Currency - Jamaican dollar = 100 cents.
Has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR on March 12, 1975).
National holiday - the first Monday in August - Independence Day (1962).
Jamaica is an independent state within the Commonwealth, headed by Great Britain. According to the constitution of 1962, the head of state is the Queen of Great Britain, represented on the island by a Governor-General (since 1991 - G. Cook). Legislative power belongs to a bicameral parliament, consisting of a Senate (21 appointed members) and a House of Representatives (60 deputies), elected by universal suffrage for a term of 5 years (the last elections were in 2002). The executive power is exercised by the Cabinet of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister (since March 1992 - P. J. Patterson, leader of the PNP).
Main political parties: People's National Party (PNP) - founded in 1938, ruling, uniting representatives of the petty bourgeoisie, intelligentsia, and some industrial and agricultural workers. It is part of the Socialist International. It has 34 seats in the House of Representatives. Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) - founded in 1943, represents the interests of trade and industrial circles, supported by some small and medium entrepreneurs, agricultural workers, and intelligentsia. Leader - B. Golding (26 seats in the House of Representatives). In addition to these, there are several less influential parties in the country.
Main trade unions: National Workers' Union - established in 1952, part of the ICFTU and WFTU (associated with the ruling party); Bustamante Industrial Trade Union - created in 1938, supports the opposition party JLP; Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (independent), part of the ICFTU.
X. Columbus landed in Jamaica in 1494. Until the mid-17th century, it was a possession of Spain, and in 1670 it became a colony of Great Britain. From 1958 to 1962, it was part of the West Indies Federation. On August 6, 1962, Jamaica declared independence.
Jamaica is a member of the UN (since 1962), OAS (since 1969), ALBA (since 1975), Caribbean Community, part of the Non-Aligned Movement, and a member of several other international and regional organizations.
Jamaica is an agrarian-industrial country. The basis of the economy is tourism, bauxite-alumina industry, and agriculture, which provide the country with over 95% of all foreign currency earnings. GDP in 2004 was $11.1 billion. In 2004, the island was visited by about 1.4 million foreign tourists, excluding cruise passengers. Bauxite extraction and alumina production annually amount to about 13-14 million tons and about 3 million tons, respectively.
Refining of imported oil is carried out. In agriculture, crop production predominates (75% of the value of production).
The government’s economic strategy provides for the decentralization of the management of the economic system and the privatization of the economy.
The length of railways is 272 km; however, passenger service has been absent since 1992, while the length of roads is about 19,000 km. Major sea ports -
Kingston and Montego Bay, where there are 2 international airports.
Gold and foreign currency reserves - $1.8 billion (2004). External debt - $6 billion. Exports include bauxite and alumina (40% of export value), sugar, textiles, tobacco, rum, bananas, citrus fruits, coffee, cocoa; imports include fuel and raw materials, industrial equipment, transport vehicles, food, and consumer goods. Main trading partners: USA, Great Britain, Canada.
GDP per capita in 2004 was $4,100 (estimate). 15% of the working-age population is unemployed. Consumer price growth in 2004 was about 13%.
The University of the West Indies is located in Kingston. The largest daily newspapers: "Gleaner," "Star," "Observer," published by private companies. The government information agency is "Jampress." There are commercial radio and television services.
