Jamaica

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to navigationJump to search
For other uses, see Jamaica (disambiguation).

Jamaica
Jumieka (Jamaican Patois)

Flag

Coat of arms

Motto: "Out of Many, One People"

Anthem: "Jamaica, Land We Love"

1:21

Capital Kingston
17°58′17″N 76°47′35″W
and largest city
 Official languages English

National Jamaican Patois (de facto)

language

92.1% Afro-Jamaicans
Ethnic groups 
(incl. 25% mixed Irish Jamaican)[1][2]
(2011 )[3]
6.1% Mixed
0.8% Indian
0.4% other
0.7% Unspecified

Religion 68.9% Christianity
—64.8% Protestantism
—4.1% other Christian
21.3% No religion
1.1% Rastafarianism
6.5% others
2.3% not stated[4]

Demonym(s) Jamaican

Government Unitary parliamentary constitutional
monarchy

• Monarch Charles III

• Governor-General Patrick Allen
• Prime Minister Andrew Holness
• House Speaker Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert
• Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson
• Chief Justice Bryan Sykes
• Opposition Leader Mark Golding

Legislature Parliament

• Upper house Senate

• Lower house House of Representatives

Independence 
from the United Kingdom
• Granted 6 August 1962

Area
• Total 10,991 km2 (4,244 sq mi) (160th)
• Water (%) 1.5

Population
• 2018 estimate 2,726,667[5] (141st)
 • 2011 census 2,697,983[6]
• Density 266[7]/km2 (688.9/sq mi)

GDP (PPP) 2022 estimate
• Total $32.818 billion[8] (143th)

• Per capita $11,962[8] (134th)

GDP (nominal) 2022 estimate
• Total $16.104 billion[8] (119th)

• Per capita $5,870[8] (101st)

Gini (2016)  35[9]
medium

HDI (2021)  0.734[10]
high · 110st

Currency Jamaican dollar (JMD)

Time zone UTC-5

Driving side left

Calling code +1-876

+1-658 (Overlay of 876; active in November
2018)

ISO 3166 code JM

Internet TLD .jm

Jamaica (/dʒəˈmeɪkə/ ( listen); Jamaican Patois: Jumieka) is an island

country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning 10,990 square kilometres
(4,240 sq mi) in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and
the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola).[11] Jamaica lies about 145 kilometres
(90 mi) south of Cuba, and 191 kilometres (119 mi) west of Hispaniola (the island
containing the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic); the British Overseas
Territory of the Cayman Islands lies some 215 kilometres (134 mi) to the north-west.
[11]

Originally inhabited by the indigenous Taíno peoples, the island came under Spanish

rule following the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1494. Many of the indigenous
people either were killed or died of diseases, after which the Spanish brought large
numbers of African slaves to Jamaica as labourers.[11] The island remained a
possession of Spain until 1655, when England (later Great Britain) conquered it,
renaming it Jamaica. Under British colonial rule Jamaica became a leading sugar
exporter, with a plantation economy dependent on the African slaves and later their
descendants. The British fully emancipated all slaves in 1838, and many freedmen
chose to have subsistence farms rather than to work on plantations. Beginning in the
1840s, the British began using Chinese and Indian indentured labour to work on
plantations. The island achieved independence from the United Kingdom on 6
August 1962.[11]
 With 2.8 million people,[12][13] Jamaica is the third-most populous Anglophone country in
the Americas (after the United States and Canada), and the fourth-most populous
country in the Caribbean. Kingston is the country's capital and largest city. The
majority of Jamaicans are of Sub-Saharan African ancestry, with
significant European, East Asian (primarily Chinese), Indian, Lebanese, and mixed-
race minorities.[11] Due to a high rate of emigration for work since the 1960s, there is a
large Jamaican diaspora, particularly in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United
States. The country has a global influence that belies its small size; it was the
birthplace of the Rastafari religion, reggae music (and associated genres such
as dub, ska and dancehall), and it is internationally prominent in sports, most
notably cricket, sprinting and athletics.[14][15][16][17]
Jamaica is an upper-middle income country [17] with an economy heavily dependent on
tourism; it has an average of 4.3 million tourists a year. [18] Jamaica performs
favourably in measurements of press freedom and democratic governance. It ranked
first in the Caribbean on the World Happiness Report for 2021.[19] Politically it is
a Commonwealth realm, with Charles III as its king.[11] His appointed representative in
the country is the Governor-General of Jamaica, an office held by Patrick Allen since
2009. Andrew Holness has served as Prime Minister of Jamaica since March 2016.
Jamaica is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with legislative power vested in
the bicameral Parliament of Jamaica, consisting of an appointed Senate and a
directly elected House of Representatives.[11]

Contents

 1Etymology
 2History
o 2.1Prehistory
o 2.2Spanish rule (1509–1655)
o 2.3Early British period
o 2.418th–19th centuries
o 2.5Early 20th century
o 2.6Post-independence era
 3Government and politics
o 3.1Political parties and elections
o 3.2Military
o 3.3Administrative divisions
 4Geography and environment
o 4.1Climate
o 4.2Flora and fauna
o 4.3Aquatic life
o 4.4Pollution
o 4.5Environmental policies
 5Demographics
o 5.1Ethnic origins
o 5.2Languages
o 5.3Emigration
o 5.4Crime
o 5.5Major cities
 6Religion
 7Culture
o 7.1Music
o 7.2Literature
o 7.3Film
o 7.4Cuisine
o 7.5National symbols
o 7.6Sport
 8Education
 9Economy
 10Science and technology
 11Infrastructure
o 11.1Transport
 11.1.1Roadways
 11.1.2Railways
 11.1.3Air transport
 11.1.4Ports, shipping and lighthouses
o 11.2Energy
o 11.3Communication
 12See also
 13References
 14Further reading
 15External links

Etymology
The indigenous people, the Taíno, called the island Xaymaca in their language,
[20]
 meaning the "Land of Wood and Water" or the "Land of Springs". [21] Yamaye has
been suggested as an early Taino name for the island as recorded by Christopher
Columbus.[22]
Colloquially, Jamaicans refer to their home island as the "Rock". Slang names such
as "Jamrock", "Jamdown" ("Jamdung" in Jamaican Patois), or briefly "Ja", have
derived from this.[23][24]

History
Main article: History of Jamaica
Prehistory
Main article: Pre-Columbian Jamaica
Humans have inhabited Jamaica from as early as 4000–1000 BC. Little is known of
these early peoples.[25] Another group, known as the "Redware people" after their
pottery, arrived circa 600 AD,[26] followed by the Taíno circa 800 AD, who most likely
came from South America.[26][27] They practised an agrarian and fishing economy, and
at their height are thought to have numbered some 60,000 people, grouped into
around 200 villages headed by caciques (chiefs).[26] The south coast of Jamaica was
the most populated, especially around the area now known as Old Harbour. [25]
Though often thought to have become extinct following contact with Europeans, the
Taíno in fact still inhabited Jamaica when the English took control of the island in
1655.[25] Some fled into interior regions, merging with African Maroon communities.[28][29]
[30]
 The Jamaican National Heritage Trust is attempting to locate and document any
remaining evidence of the Taíno.[31]
Spanish rule (1509–1655)
Main article: Colony of Santiago
Christopher Columbus was the first European to see Jamaica, claiming the island for
Spain after landing there in 1494 on his second voyage to the Americas. [26] His
probable landing point was Dry Harbour, called Discovery Bay,[32] and St. Ann's
Bay was named "Saint Gloria" by Columbus, as the first sighting of the land. He later
returned in 1503; however, he was shipwrecked and he and his crew were forced to
live on Jamaica for a year while waiting to be rescued. [33]
One and a half kilometres west of St. Ann's Bay is the site of the first Spanish
settlement on the island, Sevilla, which was established in 1509 by Juan de
Esquivel but abandoned around 1524 because it was deemed unhealthy. [34] The
capital was moved to Spanish Town, then called St. Jago de la Vega, around 1534
(at present-day St. Catherine).[26][35] Meanwhile, the Taínos began dying in large
numbers, both from introduced diseases and from enslavement by the Spanish. [26] As
a result, the Spanish began importing slaves from Africa to the island. [36]
Many slaves managed to escape, forming autonomous communities in remote and
easily defended areas in the interior of Jamaica, mixing with the remaining Taino;
these communities became known as Maroons.[26] Many Jews fled the Spanish
Inquisition to live on the island.[37] They lived as conversos and were often persecuted
by the Spanish rulers, and some turned to piracy against the Spanish Empire's
shipping.[38]
By the early 17th century it is estimated that no more than 2,500–3,000 people lived
on Jamaica.[26][39][page  needed]
Early British period
Main article: Colony of Jamaica

Henry Morgan was a famous Caribbean pirate, privateer, plantation owner and slaveholder; he had first
come to the West Indies as an indentured servant, like most of the early English colonists. [40]

The English began taking an interest in the island and, following a failed attempt to
conquer Santo Domingo on Hispaniola, Admiral William Penn and General Robert
Venables led an invasion of Jamaica in 1655.[41] Battles at Ocho Rios in 1657 and
the Rio Nuevo in 1658 resulted in Spanish defeats; in 1660 the Maroon community
under the leadership of Juan de Bolas switched sides from the Spanish, and began
supporting the English. With their help, the Spanish defeat was secured. [42]
When the English captured Jamaica, most Spanish colonists fled, with the exception
of Spanish Jews, who chose to remain on the island. Spanish slave holders freed
their slaves before leaving Jamaica. [42] Many slaves dispersed into the mountains,
joining the already established maroon communities.[43] During the centuries of
slavery, Jamaican Maroons established free communities in the mountainous interior
of Jamaica, where they maintained their freedom and independence for generations,
under the leadership of Maroon leaders such as Juan de Serras.[44]
Meanwhile, the Spanish made several attempts to re-capture the island, prompting
the British to support pirates attacking Spanish ships in the Caribbean; as a result
piracy became rampant on Jamaica, with the city of Port Royal becoming notorious
for its lawlessness. Spain later recognised English possession of the island with
the Treaty of Madrid (1670).[45] After that, the English authorities sought to rein in the
worst excesses of the pirates.[26]
In 1660, the population of Jamaica was about 4,500 white and 1,500 black. [46] By the
early 1670s, as the English developed sugar cane plantations worked by large
numbers of slaves, black Africans formed a majority of the population. [47] The Irish in
Jamaica also formed a large part of the island's early population, making up two-
thirds of the white population on the island in the late 17th century, twice that of the
English population. They were brought in as indentured labourers and soldiers after
the conquest of 1655. The majority of Irish were transported by force as political
prisoners of war from Ireland as a result of the ongoing Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
[48]
 Migration of large numbers of Irish to the island continued into the 18th century. [49]
A limited form of local government was introduced with the creation of the House of
Assembly of Jamaica in 1664; however, it represented only a tiny number of rich
plantation owners.[50] In 1692, the colony was rocked by an earthquake that resulted in
several thousand deaths and the almost complete destruction of Port Royal. [51]
18th–19th centuries

A plantation set alight during the Baptist War of 1831–32

During the 1700s the economy boomed, based largely on sugar and other crops for
export such as coffee, cotton and indigo. All these crops were worked by black
slaves, who lived short and often brutal lives with no rights, being the property of a
small planter-class.[26] In the 18th century, slaves ran away and joined the Maroons in
increasing numbers, and resulted in The First Maroon War (1728 – 1739/40), which
ended in stalemate. The British government sued for peace, and signed treaties with
the Leeward Maroons led by Cudjoe and Accompong in 1739, and the Windward
Maroons led by Quao and Queen Nanny in 1740.[52]
A large slave rebellion, known as Tacky's War, broke out in 1760 but was defeated
by the British and their Maroon allies.[53] After the second conflict in 1795–96, many
Maroons from the Maroon town of Cudjoe's Town (Trelawny Town) were expelled
to Nova Scotia and, later, Sierra Leone.[26] Many slaves ran away and formed
independent communities under the leadership of escaped slaves such as Three-
Fingered Jack, Cuffee and at Me-no-Sen-You-no-Come.[54]
By the beginning of the 19th century, Jamaica's dependence on slave labour and a
plantation economy had resulted in black people outnumbering white people by a
ratio of almost 20 to 1. Although the British had outlawed the importation of slaves,
some were still smuggled in from Spanish colonies and directly from Africa. [citation
needed]
 While planning the abolition of slavery, the British Parliament passed laws to
improve conditions for slaves. They banned the use of whips in the field and flogging
of women; informed planters that slaves were to be allowed religious instruction, and
required a free day during each week when slaves could sell their produce,
[55]
 prohibiting Sunday markets to enable slaves to attend church. [citation needed] The House of
Assembly in Jamaica resented and resisted the new laws. Members, with
membership then restricted to European-descended Jamaicans, claimed that the
slaves were content and objected to Parliament's interference in island affairs. Slave
owners feared possible revolts if conditions were lightened.

Harbour Street, Kingston, c. 1820

The British abolished the slave trade in 1807, but not the institution itself. [56] In 1831 a
huge slave rebellion, known as the Baptist War, broke out, led by the Baptist
preacher Samuel Sharpe. The rebellion resulted in hundreds of deaths and the
destruction of many plantations, and led to ferocious reprisals by the plantocracy
class.[57] As a result of rebellions such as these, as well as the efforts of abolitionists,
Britain outlawed slavery in its empire in 1834, with full emancipation from chattel
slavery declared in 1838.[26] The population in 1834 was 371,070, of whom 15,000
were white, 5,000 free black; 40,000 "coloured" or free people of colour (mixed race);
and 311,070 were slaves.[46] The resulting labour shortage prompted the British to
begin to "import" indentured servants to supplement the labour pool, as many
freedmen resisted working on the plantations. [26] Workers recruited from India began
arriving in 1845, Chinese workers in 1854.[58] Many South Asian and Chinese
descendants continue to reside in Jamaica today.[59][60]
Over the next 20 years, several epidemics of cholera, scarlet fever, and smallpox hit
the island, killing almost 60,000 people (about 10 per day). [citation needed] Nevertheless, in
1871 the census recorded a population of 506,154 people, 246,573 of which were
males, and 259,581 females. Their races were recorded as 13,101 white, 100,346
coloured (mixed black and white), and 392,707 black. [61] This period was marked by
an economic slump, with many Jamaicans living in poverty. Dissatisfaction with this,
and continued racial discrimination and marginalisation of the black majority, led to
the outbreak of the Morant Bay rebellion in 1865 led by Paul Bogle, which was put
down by Governor John Eyre with such brutality that he was recalled from his
position.[26] His successor, John Peter Grant, enacted a series of social, financial and
political reforms whilst aiming to uphold firm British rule over the island, which
became a Crown Colony in 1866.[26] In 1872 the capital was transferred from Spanish
Town to Kingston.[26]
Early 20th century

Marcus Garvey, father of the Back to Africa Movement and Jamaica's first National Hero

In 1907 Jamaica was struck by an earthquake—this, and the subsequent fire, caused
immense destruction in Kingston and the deaths of 800–1,000 people. [62][26]
Unemployment and poverty remained a problem for many Jamaicans. Various
movements seeking political change arose as a result, most notably the Universal
Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League founded
by Marcus Garvey in 1917. As well as seeking greater political rights and an
improvement for the condition of workers, Garvey was also a prominent Pan-
Africanist and proponent of the Back-to-Africa movement.[63] He was also one of the
chief inspirations behind Rastafari, a religion founded in Jamaica in the 1930s that
combined Christianity with an Afrocentric theology focused on the figure of Haile
Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia. Despite occasional persecution, Rastafari grew to
become an established faith on the island, later spreading abroad.
The Great Depression of the 1930s hit Jamaica hard. As part of the British West
Indian labour unrest of 1934–39, Jamaica saw numerous strikes, culminating in a
strike in 1938 that turned into a full-blown riot.[64][26][65] As a result, the British government
instituted a commission to look into the causes of the disturbances; their report
recommended political and economic reforms in Britain's Caribbean colonies. [26][66] A
new House of Representatives was established in 1944, elected by universal adult
suffrage.[26] During this period Jamaica's two-party system emerged, with the creation
of the Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) under Alexander Bustamante and the People's
National Party (PNP) under Norman Manley.[26]
Jamaica slowly gained increasing autonomy from the United Kingdom. In 1958 it
became a province in the Federation of the West Indies, a federation of several
of Britain's Caribbean colonies.[26] Membership of the Federation proved to be divisive,
however, and a referendum on the issue saw a slight majority voting to leave. [26] After
leaving the Federation, Jamaica attained full independence on 6 August 1962.[26] The
new state retained, however, its membership in the Commonwealth of Nations (with
the Queen as head of state) and adopted a Westminster-style parliamentary system.
Bustamante, at the age of 78, became the country's first prime minister. [67][68]
Post-independence era
Main article: Independence of Jamaica
Strong economic growth, averaging approximately 6% per annum, marked the first
ten years of independence under conservative JLP governments; these were led by
successive Prime Ministers Alexander Bustamante, Donald Sangster (who died of
natural causes within two months of taking office) and Hugh Shearer.[26] The growth
was fuelled by high levels of private investment in bauxite/alumina, tourism, the
manufacturing industry and, to a lesser extent, the agricultural sector. In the 1967
Jamaican general election, the JLP were victorious again, winning 33 out of 53 seats,
with the PNP taking 20 seats.[69]
In terms of foreign policy Jamaica became a member of the Non-Aligned Movement,
seeking to retain strong ties with Britain and the United States whilst also developing
links with Communist states such as Cuba.[26]

Michael Manley, Prime Minister 1972–1980 and 1989–1992

The optimism of the first decade was accompanied by a growing sense of inequality
among many Afro-Jamaicans, and a concern that the benefits of growth were not
being shared by the urban poor, many of whom ended up living in crime-ridden
shanty towns in Kingston.[26] This, combined with the effects of a slowdown in the
global economy in 1970,[citation needed] led to the voters electing the PNP under Michael
Manley in 1972. The PNP won 37 seats to the JLP's 16. [69]
Manley's government enacted various social reforms, such as a higher minimum
wage, land reform, legislation for women's equality, greater housing construction and
an increase in educational provision.[70][26] Internationally he improved ties with the
Communist bloc and vigorously opposed the apartheid regime in South Africa.[26]
In 1976, the PNP won another landslide, winning 47 seats to the JLP's 13. The
turnout was a very high 85 percent.[71] However, the economy faltered in this period
due to a combination of internal and external factors (such as the oil shocks). [26] The
rivalry between the JLP and PNP became intense, and political and gang-related
violence grew significantly in this period.[26]
By 1980, Jamaica's gross national product had declined to some 25% below its 1972
level.[citation needed] Seeking change, Jamaicans voted the JLP back in in 1980
under Edward Seaga, the JLP winning 51 seats to the PNP's nine seats. [69][26] Firmly
anti-Communist, Seaga cut ties with Cuba and sent troops to support the US
invasion of Grenada in 1983.[26] The economic deterioration, however, continued into
the mid-1980s, exacerbated by a number of factors. The largest and third-largest
alumina producers, Alpart and Alcoa, closed; and there was a significant reduction in
production by the second-largest producer, Alcan.[citation needed] Reynolds Jamaica Mines,
Ltd. left the Jamaican industry. There was also a decline in tourism, which was
important to the economy.[citation needed] Owing to rising foreign and local debt, accompanied
by large fiscal deficits, the government sought International Monetary Fund (IMF)
financing, which was dependent on implementing various austerity measures.
[26]
 These resulted in strikes in 1985 and a decline in support for the Seaga
government, exacerbated by criticism of the government's response to the
devastation caused by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988.[26][72] Having now de-emphasised
socialism and adopting a more centrist position, Michael Manley and the PNP
were re-elected in 1989, winning 45 seats to the JLP's 15.[73][26]
The PNP went on to win a string of elections, under Prime Ministers Michael Manley
(1989–1992), P. J. Patterson (1992–2005) and Portia Simpson-Miller (2005–2007).
In the 1993 Jamaican general election, Patterson led the PNP to victory, winning 52
seats to the JLP's eight seats. Patterson also won the 1997 Jamaican general
election, by another landslide margin of 50 seats to the JLP's 10 seats. [71] Patterson's
third consecutive victory came in the 2002 Jamaican general election, when the PNP
retained power, but with a reduced seat majority of 34 seats to 26. Patterson stepped
down on 26 February 2006, and was replaced by Portia Simpson-Miller, Jamaica's
first female Prime Minister. The turnout slowly declined during this period of time,
from 67.4% in 1993 to 59.1% in 2002.[73]
During this period various economic reforms were introduced, such as deregulating
the finance sector and floating the Jamaican dollar, as well as greater investment in
infrastructure, whilst also retaining a strong social safety net. [26] Political violence, so
prevalent in the previous two decades, declined significantly. [26][74]
In 2007 the PNP was defeated by the JLP by a narrow margin of 32 seats to 28, with
a turnout of 61.46%.[75] This election ended 18 years of PNP rule, and Bruce
Golding became the new prime minister.[76] Golding's tenure (2007–2010) was
dominated by the effects of the global recession, as well as the fallout from an
attempt by Jamaican police and military to arrest drug lord Christopher Coke in 2010
which erupted in violence, resulting in over 70 deaths. [26][77] As a result of this incident
Golding resigned and was replaced by Andrew Holness in 2011.
Independence, however widely celebrated in Jamaica, has been questioned in the
early 21st century. In 2011, a survey showed that approximately 60% of Jamaicans
believe that the country would have been better off had it remained a British colony,
with only 17% believing it would have been worse off, citing as problems years of
social and fiscal mismanagement in the country. [78][79] However, this poll reflected a
greater discontent with the JLP handling of crime and the economy, and as a result,
Holness and the JLP were defeated in the 2011 Jamaican general election, which
saw Portia Simpson-Miller and the PNP return to power. The number of seats had
been increased to 63, and the PNP swept to power with a landslide 42 seats to the
JLP's 21. The voter turnout was 53.17%.[80]
Holness's JLP won the 2016 general election narrowly, defeating Simpson-Miller's
PNP, on 25 February. The PNP won 31 seats to the JLP's 32. As a result, Simpson-
Miller became Opposition Leader for a second time. The voter turnout dipped below
50% for the first time, registering just 48.37%.[81]
In the 2020 general election, Andrew Holness made history for the JLP by
accomplishing a second consecutive win for the Jamaica Labour Party, winning 49
seats to 14 won by the PNP, led this time by Peter Phillips. The last time a
consecutive win occurred for the JLP was in 1980. However, the turnout at this
election was just 37%, probably affected by the coronavirus pandemic. [82]

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Jamaica
Further information: Foreign relations of Jamaica and Republicanism in Jamaica

King Charles III, King of Jamaica

Inside the Jamaican Parliament

Jamaica is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy.[11][83] The head of

state is the King of Jamaica (currently King Charles III),[84] represented locally by
the Governor-General of Jamaica.[85][11][83] The governor-general is nominated by the
Prime Minister of Jamaica and the entire Cabinet and then formally appointed by the
monarch. All the members of the Cabinet are appointed by the governor-general on
the advice of the prime minister. The monarch and the governor-general serve
largely ceremonial roles, apart from their reserve powers for use in certain
constitutional crisis situations. The position of the monarch has been a matter
of continuing debate in Jamaica for many years; currently both major political parties
are committed to transitioning to a republic with a president. [86][87]
Jamaica's current constitution was drafted in 1962 by a bipartisan joint committee of
the Jamaican legislature. It came into force with the Jamaica Independence Act,
1962, which was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which gave
Jamaica independence.[83]
The Parliament of Jamaica is bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives
(Lower House) and the Senate (Upper House). Members of the House (known as
Members of Parliament or MPs) are directly elected, and the member of the House of
Representatives who, in the governor-general's best judgement, is best able to
command the confidence of a majority of the members of that House, is appointed by
the governor-general to be the prime minister. Senators are nominated jointly by the
prime minister and the parliamentary Leader of the Opposition and are then
appointed by the governor-general.[83]
The Judiciary of Jamaica operates on a common law system derived from English
law and Commonwealth of Nations precedents.[83] The court of final appeal is
the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, though during the 2000s Parliament
attempted to replace it with the Caribbean Court of Justice.[citation needed]
Political parties and elections
Jamaica has traditionally had a two-party system, with power often alternating
between the People's National Party (PNP) and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).[83] The
party with current administrative and legislative power is the Jamaica Labour Party,
after its 2020 victory. There are also several minor parties who have yet to gain a
seat in parliament; the largest of these is the National Democratic Movement (NDM).
Military
Main article: Jamaica Defence Force

Jamaican soldiers training to fire the L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle in 2002

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is the small but professional military force of
Jamaica.[11] The JDF is based on the British military model with similar organisation,
training, weapons and traditions. Once chosen, officer candidates are sent to one of
several British or Canadian basic officer courses depending on the arm of service.
Enlisted soldiers are given basic training at Up Park Camp or JDF Training Depot,
Newcastle, both in St. Andrew. As with the British model, NCOs are given several
levels of professional training as they rise up the ranks. Additional military schools
are available for speciality training in Canada, the United States and the United
Kingdom.[citation needed]
The JDF is directly descended from the British Army's West India Regiment, which
was formed during the colonial era. [88] The West India Regiment was used extensively
throughout the British Empire in policing the empire from 1795 to 1926. Other units in
the JDF heritage include the early colonial Jamaica Militia, the Kingston Infantry
Volunteers of WWI and reorganised into the Jamaican Infantry Volunteers in World
War II. The West Indies Regiment was reformed in 1958 as part of the West Indies
Federation, after dissolution of the Federation the JDF was established. [89]
The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) comprises an infantry Regiment and Reserve
Corps, an Air Wing, a Coast Guard fleet and a supporting Engineering Unit. [90] The
infantry regiment contains the 1st, 2nd and 3rd (National Reserve) battalions. The
JDF Air Wing is divided into three flight units, a training unit, a support unit and the
JDF Air Wing (National Reserve). The Coast Guard is divided between seagoing
crews and support crews who conduct maritime safety and maritime law enforcement
as well as defence-related operations.[91]
The role of the support battalion is to provide support to boost numbers in combat
and issue competency training in order to allow for the readiness of the force. [92] The
1st Engineer Regiment was formed due to an increased demand for military
engineers and their role is to provide engineering services whenever and wherever
they are needed.[93] The Headquarters JDF contains the JDF Commander, Command
Staff as well as Intelligence, Judge Advocate office, Administrative and Procurement
sections.[94]
In recent years the JDF has been called on to assist the nation's police, the Jamaica
Constabulary Force (JCF), in fighting drug smuggling and a rising crime rate which
includes one of the highest murder rates in the world. JDF units actively conduct
armed patrols with the JCF in high-crime areas and known gang neighbourhoods.
There has been vocal controversy as well as support of this JDF role. In early 2005,
an Opposition leader, Edward Seaga, called for the merger of the JDF and JCF. This
has not garnered support in either organisation nor among the majority of citizens. [citation
needed]
 In 2017, Jamaica signed the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.[95]
Administrative divisions
Main article: Parishes of Jamaica
Jamaica is divided into 14 parishes, which are grouped into three
historic counties that have no administrative relevance.[83]
In the context of local government the parishes are designated "Local Authorities".
These local authorities are further styled as "Municipal Corporations", which are
either city municipalities or town municipalities.[96] Any new city municipality must have
a population of at least 50,000, and a town municipality a number set by the Minister
of Local Government.[96] There are currently no town municipalities.
The local governments of the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrews are consolidated
as the city municipality of Kingston & St. Andrew Municipal Corporation. The newest
city municipality created is the Municipality of Portmore in 2003. While it is
geographically located within the parish of St. Catherine, it is governed
independently.

Cornwall Middlesex Surrey

Capital km2 Capital km2 Capital km2
County County County

1,19
1 Hanover Lucea   450 6 Clarendon May Pen
6
11 Kingston Kingston 25

Saint Black Mancheste Mandevill    83 Port

2 1,212 7 12 Portland 814
Elizabeth River r e 0 Antonio

Half
Montego St. Ann's 1,21 Saint
3 Saint James   595 8 Saint Ann 13 Way 453
Bay Bay 3 Andrew Tree

Saint Spanish 1,19 Saint Morant

4 Trelawny Falmouth   875 9 14 743
Catherine Town 2 Thomas Bay

Westmorelan Savanna-    61

5   807 10 Saint Mary Port Maria
d la-Mar 1

Geography and environment

Main articles: Geography of Jamaica and Geology of Jamaica

Doctor's Cave Beach Club is a popular destination in Montego Bay.

Blue Mountains

The picturesque Dunn's River Falls in Ocho Ríos

Köppen climate classification of Jamaica.

Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean. [97] It lies between
latitudes 17° and 19°N, and longitudes 76° and 79°W. Mountains dominate the
interior: the Don Figuerero, Santa Cruz, and May Day mountains in the west, the Dry
Harbour Mountains in the centre, and the John Crow Mountains and Blue
Mountains in the east, the latter containing Blue Mountain Peak, Jamaica's tallest
mountain at 2,256 m.[11][83] They are surrounded by a narrow coastal plain.[98][11] Jamaica
only has two cities, the first being Kingston, the capital city and centre of business,
located on the south coast and the second being Montego Bay, one of the best
known cities in the Caribbean for tourism, located on the north coast. Kingston
Harbour is the seventh-largest natural harbour in the world, [99] which contributed to the
city being designated as the capital in 1872. Other towns of note
include Portmore, Spanish Town, Savanna la Mar, Mandeville and the resort towns
of Ocho Ríos, Port Antonio and Negril.[100]
Tourist attractions include Dunn's River Falls in St. Ann, YS Falls in St. Elizabeth, the
Blue Lagoon in Portland, believed to be the crater of an extinct volcano [citation needed],
and Port Royal, site of a major earthquake in 1692 that helped form the
island's Palisadoes tombolo.[101][102][103][104]
Among the variety of terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems are dry and wet
limestone forests, rainforest, riparian woodland, wetlands, caves, rivers, seagrass
beds and coral reefs. The authorities have recognised the tremendous significance
and potential of the environment and have designated some of the more "fertile"
areas as "protected". Among the island's protected areas are the Cockpit
Country, Hellshire Hills, and Litchfield forest reserves. In 1992, Jamaica's first marine
park, covering nearly 15 square kilometres (5.8 sq mi), was established in Montego
Bay. Portland Bight Protected Area was designated in 1999.[105] The following
year Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park was created, covering roughly
300 square miles (780 km2) of a wilderness area which supports thousands of tree
and fern species and rare animals.
There are several small islands off Jamaica's coast, most notably those in Portland
Bight such as Pigeon Island, Salt Island, Dolphin Island, Long Island, Great Goat
Island and Little Goat Island, and also Lime Cay located further east. Much further
out – some 50–80 km off the south coast – lie the very small Morant Cays and Pedro
Cays.
Climate
The climate in Jamaica is tropical, with hot and humid weather, although higher
inland regions are more temperate.[106][83] Some regions on the south coast, such as the
Liguanea Plain and the Pedro Plains, are relatively dry rain-shadow areas.[107]
Jamaica lies in the hurricane belt of the Atlantic Ocean and because of this, the
island sometimes suffers significant storm damage.[108]
[83]
 Hurricanes Charlie and Gilbert hit Jamaica directly in 1951 and 1988, respectively,
causing major damage and many deaths. In the 2000s (decade),
hurricanes Ivan, Dean, and Gustav also brought severe weather to the island.
Flora and fauna
See also: Jamaican moist forests and Jamaican dry forests
It has been suggested that this section be split out into another article.
(Discuss) (December 2020)

Jamaica's national bird, a red-billed streamertail

Jamaican boa
Jamaican parrotfish

Jamaica's climate is tropical, supporting diverse ecosystems with a wealth of plants

and animals. Its plant life has changed considerably over the centuries; when the
Spanish arrived in 1494, except for small agricultural clearings, the country was
deeply forested. The European settlers cut down the great timber trees for building
and ships' supplies, and cleared the plains, savannas, and mountain slopes for
intense agricultural cultivation.[83] Many new plants were introduced including
sugarcane, bananas, and citrus trees.[83]
Jamaica is home to about 3,000 species of native flowering plants (of which over
1,000 are endemic and 200 are species of orchid), thousands of species of non-
flowering flora, and about 20 botanical gardens, some of which are several hundred
years old.[109][110] Areas of heavy rainfall also contain stands of bamboo, ferns, ebony,
mahogany, and rosewood. Cactus and similar dry-area plants are found along the
south and southwest coastal area. Parts of the west and southwest consist of large
grasslands, with scattered stands of trees. Jamaica is home to three
terrestrial ecoregions, the Jamaican moist forests, Jamaican dry forests, and Greater
Antilles mangroves. It had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of
5.01/10, ranking it 110th globally out of 172 countries. [111]
Jamaica's fauna, typical of the Caribbean, includes highly diversified wildlife with
many endemic species. As with other oceanic islands, land mammals are mostly
several species of bats of which at least three endemic species are found only in
Cockpit Country, one of which is at-risk. Other species of bat include the fig-
eating and hairy-tailed bats. The only non-bat native mammal extant in Jamaica is
the Jamaican hutia, locally known as the coney.[83] Introduced mammals such as wild
boar and the small Asian mongoose are also common. Jamaica is also home to
about 50 species of reptiles,[112] the largest of which is the American crocodile;
however, it is only present within the Black River and a few other areas. Lizards such
as anoles, iguanas and snakes such as racers and the Jamaican boa (the largest
snake on the island), are common in areas such as the Cockpit Country. None of
Jamaica's eight species of native snakes is venomous. [113]
Jamaica is home to about 289 species of birds of which 27 are endemic including the
endangered black-Billed parrots and the Jamaican blackbird, both of which are only
found in Cockpit Country. It is also the indigenous home to four species
of hummingbirds (three of which are found nowhere else in the world): the black-
billed streamertail, the Jamaican mango, the Vervain hummingbird, and red-billed
streamertails. The red-billed streamertail, known locally as the "doctor bird", is
Jamaica's National Symbol.[114][83] Other notable species include the Jamaican tody and
the Greater flamingo,[115]
One species of freshwater turtle is native to Jamaica, the Jamaican slider. It is found
only on Jamaica and on a few islands in the Bahamas. In addition, many types of
frogs are common on the island, especially treefrogs.
Jamaican waters contain considerable resources of fresh and saltwater fish. [116] The
chief varieties of saltwater fish are kingfish, jack, mackerel, whiting, bonito, and tuna.
Fish that occasionally enter freshwater and estuarine environments
include snook, jewfish, mangrove snapper, and mullets. Fish that spend the majority
of their lives in Jamaica's fresh waters include many species of livebearers, killifish,
freshwater gobies, the mountain mullet, and the American eel. Tilapia have been
introduced from Africa for aquaculture, and are very common. Also visible in the
waters surrounding Jamaica are dolphins, parrotfish, and the endangered manatee.
[117]

Insects and other invertebrates are abundant, including the world's largest centipede,
the Amazonian giant centipede. Jamaica is the home to about 150 species of
butterflies and moths, including 35 indigenous species and 22 subspecies. It is also
the native home to the Jamaican swallowtail, the western hemisphere's largest
butterfly.[118]
Aquatic life
Coral reef ecosystems are important because they provide people with a source of
livelihood, food, recreation, and medicinal compounds and protect the land on which
they live.[119] Jamaica relies on the ocean and its ecosystem for its development.
However, the marine life in Jamaica is also being affected. There could be many
factors that contribute to marine life not having the best health. Jamaica's geological
origin, topographical features and seasonal high rainfall make it susceptible to a
range of natural hazards that can affect the coastal and oceanic environments.
These include storm surge, slope failures (landslides), earthquakes, floods and
hurricanes.[120] Coral reefs in the Negril Marine Park (NMP), Jamaica, have been
increasingly impacted by nutrient pollution and macroalgal blooms following decades
of intensive development as a major tourist destination. [121] Another one of those
factors could include tourism: being that Jamaica is a very touristy place, the island
draws numerous people traveling here from all over the world. The Jamaican tourism
industry accounts for 32% of total employment and 36% of the country's GDP and is
largely based on the sun, sea and sand, the last two of these attributes being
dependent on healthy coral reef ecosystems.[119] Because of Jamaica's tourism, they
have developed a study to see if the tourist would be willing to help financially to
manage their marine ecosystem because Jamaica alone is unable to. The ocean
connects all the countries all over the world, however, everyone and everything is
affecting the flow and life in the ocean. Jamaica is a very touristy place specifically
because of their beaches. If their oceans are not functioning at their best then the
well-being of Jamaica and the people who live there will start to deteriorate.
According to the OECD, oceans contribute $1.5 trillion annually in value-added to the
overall economy.[122] A developing country on an island will get the majority of their
revenue from their ocean.
Pollution
Pollution comes from run-off, sewage systems, and garbage. However, this typically
all ends up in the ocean after there is rain or floods. Everything that ends up in the
water changes the quality and balance of the ocean. Poor coastal water quality has
adversely affected fisheries, tourism and mariculture, as well as undermining
biological sustainability of the living resources of ocean and coastal habitats.
[120]
 Jamaica imports and exports many goods through their waters. Some of the
imports that go into Jamaica include petroleum and petroleum products. Issues
include accidents at sea; risk of spills through local and international transport of
petroleum and petroleum products.[120] Oil spills can disrupt the marine life with
chemicals that are not normally found in the ocean. Other forms of pollution also
occur in Jamaica. Solid waste disposal mechanisms in Jamaica are currently
inadequate.[120] The solid waste gets into the water through rainfall forces. Solid waste
is also harmful to wildlife, particularly birds, fish and turtles that feed at the surface of
the water and mistake floating debris for food.[120] For example, plastic can be caught
around birds and turtles necks making it difficult to eat and breath as they begin to
grow causing the plastic to get tighter around their necks. Pieces of plastic, metal,
and glass can be mistaken for the food fish eat. Each Jamaican generates 1 kg
(2 lbs) of waste per day; only 70% of this is collected by National Solid Waste
Management Authority (NSWMA)—the remaining 30% is either burnt or disposed of
in gullies/waterways.[123]
Environmental policies
There are policies that are being put into place to help preserve the ocean and the
life below water. The goal of integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) is to
improve the quality of life of human communities who depend on coastal resources
while maintaining the biological diversity and productivity of coastal ecosystems.
[120]
 Developing an underdeveloped country can impact the oceans ecosystem
because of all the construction that would be done to develop the country. Over-
building, driven by powerful market forces as well as poverty among some sectors of
the population, and destructive exploitation contribute to the decline of ocean and
coastal resources.[120] Developing practices that will contribute to the lives of the
people but also to the life of the ocean and its ecosystem. Some of these practices
include: Develop sustainable fisheries practices, ensure sustainable mariculture
techniques and practices, sustainable management of shipping, and
promote sustainable tourism practices.[120] As for tourism, tourism is the number one
source of foreign exchange earnings in Jamaica and, as such is vital to the national
economy.[120] Tourist typically go to countries unaware of issues and how they impact
those issues. Tourist are not going to be used to living in a different style compared
to their own country. Practices such as: provide sewage treatment facilities for all
tourist areas, determine carrying capacity of the environment prior to planning
tourism activities, provide alternative types of tourist activities can help to get desired
results such as the development of alternative tourism which will reduce the current
pressure on resources that support traditional tourism activities. [120] A study was
conducted to see how tourist could help with sustainable financing for ocean
and coastal management in Jamaica. Instead of using tourist fees they would call
them environmental fees. This study aims to inform the relevant stakeholders of the
feasibility of implementing environmental fees as well as the likely impact of such
revenue generating instruments on the current tourist visitation rates to the island.
[119]
 The development of a user fee system would help fund environmental
management and protection. The results show that tourists have a high consumer
surplus associated with a vacation in Jamaica, and have a significantly lower
willingness to pay for a tourism tax when compared to an environmental tax. The
findings of the study show that the "label" of the tax and as well as the respondent's
awareness of the institutional mechanisms for environmental protection and tourism
are important to their decision framework. [119] Tourist are more willing to pay for
environmental fees rather than tourist tax fees. A tax high enough to fund for
environmental management and protection but low enough to continue to bring
tourist to Jamaica. It has been shown that if an environmental tax of $1 per person
were introduced it would not cause a significant decline in visitation rates and would
generate revenues of US$1.7M per year. [119]

Demographics
Further information: Demographics of Jamaica and Jamaican people
Ethnic origins

Jamaica's population, 1961–2003

Montego Bay, Jamaica's second-largest city

C.I.A. World Fact Book 2015

Ethnic group % Population

Black or Black Mixed[3] 92.1% 2,661,965

Mixed non-Black[3] 6.1% 176,308

Asian[3] 0.8% 23,122

Other[3] 0.4% 11,561

 Ethnic group % Population

Unspecified[3] 0.7% 20,232

Jamaica's diverse ethnic roots are reflected in the national motto "Out of Many One
People". Most of the population of 2,812,000 (July 2018 est.) [11] are of African or
partially African descent, with many being able to trace their origins to the West
African countries of Ghana and Nigeria.[83][124] Other major ancestral areas are Europe,
[125]
 South Asia, and East Asia.[126] It is uncommon for Jamaicans to identify themselves
by race as is prominent in other countries such as the United States, with most
Jamaicans seeing Jamaican nationality as an identity in and of itself, identifying as
simply being "Jamaican" regardless of ethnicity. [127][128] A study found that the average
admixture on the island was 78.3% Sub-Saharan African, 16.0% European, and
5.7% East Asian.[129] Another study in 2020 showed that Jamaicans of African descent
represent 76.3% of the population, followed by 15.1% Afro-European, 3.4% East
Indian and Afro-East Indian, 3.2% Caucasian, 1.2% Chinese and 0.8% other. [130]
The Jamaican Maroons of Accompong and other settlements are the descendants of
African slaves who fled the plantations for the interior where they set up their own
autonomous communities.[131][132][133] Many Maroons continue to have their own traditions
and speak their own language, known locally as Kromanti.[134]
Asians form the second-largest group and include Indo-Jamaicans and Chinese
Jamaicans.[135] Most are descended from indentured workers brought by the British
colonial government to fill labour shortages following the abolition of slavery in 1838.
Prominent Indian Jamaicans include jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, who was the first
Jamaican in the Kentucky Derby, NBC Nightly News journalist Lester Holt, and Miss
Jamaica World and Miss Universe winner Yendi Phillips. The southwestern parish
of Westmoreland is famous for its large population of Indo-Jamaicans. [136] Along with
their Indian counterparts, Chinese Jamaicans have also played an integral part in
Jamaica's community and history. Prominent descendants of this group include
Canadian billionaire investor Michael Lee-Chin, supermodels Naomi
Campbell and Tyson Beckford, and VP Records founder Vincent "Randy" Chin.
There are about 20,000 Jamaicans who have Lebanese and Syrian ancestry.[137] Most
were Christian immigrants who fled the Ottoman occupation of Lebanon in the early
19th century. Eventually their descendants became very successful politicians and
businessmen. Notable Jamaicans from this group include former Jamaican Prime
Minister Edward Seaga, Jamaican politician and former Miss World Lisa Hanna,
Jamaican politicians Edward Zacca and Shahine Robinson, and hotelier Abraham
Elias Issa.
In 1835, Charles Ellis, 1st Baron Seaford gave 500 acres of his 10,000 acre estate in
Westmoreland for the Seaford Town German settlement. Today most of the town's
descendants are of full or partial German descent. [136]
The first wave of English immigrants arrived to the island 1655 after conquering the
Spanish, and they have historically been the dominant group. Prominent
descendants from this group include former American Governor of New York David
Paterson, Sandals Hotels owner Gordon Butch Stewart, United States Presidential
Advisor and "mother" of the Pell Grant Lois Rice, and former United States National
Security Advisor and Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice. The first Irish
immigrants came to Jamaica in the 1600s as war prisoners and later, indentured
labour. Their descendants include two of Jamaica's National Heroes: Prime
Ministers Michael Manley and Alexander Bustamante. Along with the English and
the Irish, the Scots are another group that has made a significant impact on the
island. According to the Scotland Herald newspaper, Jamaica has more people using
the Campbell surnames than the population of Scotland itself, and it also has the
highest percentage of Scottish surnames outside of Scotland. Scottish surnames
account to about 60% of the surnames in the Jamaican phone books. [citation needed] The first
Jamaican inhabitants from Scotland were exiled "rebels". Later, they would be
followed by ambitious businessmen who spent time between their great country
estates in Scotland and the island. As a result, many of the slave owning plantations
on the island were owned by Scottish men, and thus a large number of mixed-race
Jamaicans can claim Scottish ancestry. High immigration from Scotland continued
until well after independence.[citation needed] Today, notable Scottish-Jamaicans include the
businessman John Pringle, former American Secretary of State Colin Powell, and
American actress Kerry Washington.[138]

Northern suburbs of Kingston, Jamaica's capital and largest city

There is also a significant Portuguese Jamaican population that is predominantly of

Sephardic Jewish heritage. The first Jews arrived as explorers from Spain in the 15th
century after being forced to convert to Christianity or face death. A small number of
them became slave owners and even famous pirates. [139] Judaism eventually became
very influential in Jamaica and can be seen today with many Jewish cemeteries
around the country. During the Holocaust Jamaica became a refuge for Jews fleeing
persecution in Europe.[citation needed] Famous Jewish descendants include the dancehall
artist Sean Paul, former record producer and founder of Island Records Chris
Blackwell, and Jacob De Cordova who was the founder of the Daily
Gleaner newspaper.[140][141][142]
In recent years immigration has increased, coming mainly from China, Haiti,
Cuba, Colombia, and Latin America; 20,000 Latin Americans reside in Jamaica.[143] In
2016, the Prime Minister Andrew Holness suggested making Spanish Jamaica's
second official language.[144] About 7,000 Americans also reside in Jamaica.[citation
needed]
 Notable American with connection to the island include fashion icon Ralph
Lauren, philanthropist Daisy Soros, Blackstone's Schwarzman family, the family of
the late Lieutenant Governor of Delaware John W. Rollins, fashion designer Vanessa
Noel, investor Guy Stuart, Edward and Patricia Falkenberg, and iHeart Media
CEO Bob Pittman, all of whom hold annual charity events to support the island. [145]
Languages
Main articles: Jamaican Patois and Jamaican English
Jamaica is regarded as a bilingual country, with two major languages in use by the
population.[146][135] The official language is English, which is "used in all domains of
public life", including the government, the legal system, the media, and education.
However, the primary spoken language is an English-based creole called Jamaican
Patois (or Patwa). The two exist in a dialect continuum, with speakers using a
different register of speech depending on context and whom they are speaking to.
"Pure" Patois, though sometimes seen as merely a particularly aberrant dialect of
English, is essentially mutually unintelligible with standard English and is best
thought of a separate language.[83] A 2007 survey by the Jamaican Language Unit
found that 17.1 percent of the population were monolingual in Jamaican Standard
English (JSE), 36.5 percent were monolingual in Patois, and 46.4 percent were
bilingual, although earlier surveys had pointed to a greater degree of bilinguality (up
to 90 percent).[147] The Jamaican education system has only recently begun to offer
formal instruction in Patois, while retaining JSE as the "official language of
instruction".[148]
Additionally, some Jamaicans use one or more of Jamaican Sign
Language (JSL), American Sign Language (ASL) or the declining
indigenous Jamaican Country Sign Language (Konchri Sain).[149] Both JSL and ASL
are rapidly replacing Konchri Sain for a variety of reasons. [149]
Emigration
Main article: Jamaican diaspora
Many Jamaicans have emigrated to other countries, especially to the United
Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. In the case of the United States, about
20,000 Jamaicans per year are granted permanent residence. [150] There has also been
emigration of Jamaicans to other Caribbeans countries such as Cuba, [151] Puerto
Rico, Guyana, and The Bahamas. It was estimated in 2004 that up to 2.5 million
Jamaicans and Jamaican descendants live abroad. [152]
Jamaicans in the United Kingdom number an estimated 800,000 making them by far
the country's largest African-Caribbean group. Large-scale migration from Jamaica to
the UK occurred primarily in the 1950s and 1960s when the country was still under
British rule. Jamaican communities exist in most large UK cities. [153] Concentrations
of expatriate Jamaicans are quite considerable in numerous cities in the United
States, including New York City, Buffalo, the Miami metro
area, Atlanta, Chicago, Orlando, Tampa, Washington,
D.C., Philadelphia, Hartford, Providence and Los Angeles.[154] In Canada, the
Jamaican population is centred in Toronto,[155] with smaller communities in cities such
as Hamilton, Montreal, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Ottawa.[156] Jamaican Canadians
comprise about 30% of the entire Black Canadian population.[157][158]
A notable though much smaller group of emigrants are Jamaicans in Ethiopia. These
are mostly Rastafarians, in whose theological worldview Africa is the promised land,
or "Zion", or more specifically Ethiopia, due to reverence in which former Ethiopian
Emperor Haile Selassie is held.[159] Most live in the small town of Shashamane about
150 miles (240 km) south of the capital Addis Ababa.[160]