Jamaica Essays (956 words) - Island Countries, British West Indies

Jamaica Close your eyes and picture a beautiful sunset meeting far away on the shimmering clear blue water in front of you. You feel a cool breeze and a hot sun against your skin and the feeling of the warm sand beneath your feet. You walk forward and feel the refreshing water wet your legs and you are tickled as a school of tropical fish passes you by. You spot the palm trees and wild plants off the shore. Are you in an unreal paradise? Yes I have. It is Jamaica. Geographical Location Jamaica is blessed with superb geographical location and resources that makes it a great vacation spot. It is an island country south of Cuba and north of South America. So you must fly or sail there. Its short distance from the United States makes it a short distance from here and that is great for fliers. It is probably a four -hour flight. Jamaica is only about 17 degrees above the equator so it is very warm all year round. (Grab your sunglasses and tanning oil!) Land and Resources Everyone sees the commercials for the white-sanded beaches and the clear blue water but Jamaica's terrain is mountainous except for those several tracts of lowlands that you see on TV. In fact Blue Mountain's, that is the highest mountain in Jamaica, is 7402 ft. There are many smaller mountains with many traverse spurs that extend west to the extremity of the island making a gigantic plateau. So if you plan on going to Jamaica you had better think of bringing your hiking boots. Lead and Salt deposits can be found on the island and rich soils can be found on the coastal plains. The island is also equipped with excellent natural harbors, including those at Kingston, Saint Ann's Bay, Montego Bay, and Port Maria. There is no volcanic activity in Jamaica but it is subject to severe earthquakes. Plants and Animals Jamaica is filled with luxurious and diverse vegetation. More than 200 species have been identified. The indigenous tree include such as the cedar, mahogany, rosewood, ebony, coconut palm, and pimento. Introduced varieties such as the mango, breadfruit, banana, and plantain also flourish the island. Jamaican animal life generally includes highly diverse bird life. This group includes Parrots, hummingbirds, cuckoos, and green todies. No large four-legged animals or venomous reptiles exist there. Culture Jamaica is not only blessed with great plenty of natural wonders but it's people and their culture are probably it's greatest resource, and that is what draws the people to the island. Jamaica's great dependency on Great Britain form the past 300 years shows in the language they speak and in their customs, which are combined with African influences. Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, made Reggae, a distinctively syncopated style of Jamaican music popular in the 20th century. It was a great influence on rock in the middle of the 80's, especially in Britain. Government The Jamaica constitution, promulgated in 1962, established a parliamentary system of government patterned after that of Great Britain. The Prime Minister is the head of the government. The British monarch is the head of the state and is represented by a governor general, who is appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister. There is an Executive branch, a Legislative branch, and a Judiciary branch. Their government is quite like ours. The Prime Minister has a lot of power, kind of like our president. Jamaica has two political parties. The People's National Party (PNP) is one. It is socialist in orientation. The other is the Jamaica Labour Group (JLP) which supports free enterprise in a mixed economy. A minor party is the Jamaica American Party, which favors U.S. statehood for Jamaica. Language and Religion In Jamaica, the principle language spoken by the people is English. It is spoken with a local dialect that includes African, Spanish, and French elements. Christianity is the main religion practiced in Jamaica. Other religious groups are Baptists, Anglicans, Seventh-day Adventists, Pentecostalists, and Roman Catholic. In addition several Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu communities exist. A number of popular groups, such as Pocomania and Rastafarianism, are significant and famous in the Jamaican religious life. History Members of the Arawak tribe were the aboriginal inhabitants of the island. They named it Xaymaca. Christopher Columbus sighted the island during his second voyage, and Xaymaca became a Spanish Colony in 1509. The Arawak quickly died out due to disease and harsh treatment. African slaves were imported to overcome the resultant labor shortage. An English naval force under Sir William Penn captured Jamaica