Jamaica is one of the three islands in the Northern Caribbean forming the Greater Antilles. It's the largest English-speaking country in the Caribbean Sea, and stretches 146 miles from east to west. The country's name is derived from an Aarawak word “Xaymaca", meaning "land of wood and water". Jamaica has one of the richest and most varied landscapes in the region. The center of the island is mostly mountainous and heavily wooded, spotted occasionally with small mining towns and villages, while the
known to its natives as “Xaymeca”, has come a long way in becoming the independent nation known today as Jamaica. In the Sea of many islands known as the West Indies, Jamaica stands peaceful, welcoming tourist and expanding rapidly. From an early age my passion for the island and its culture has grown strong. From a brief history, through a look into the present day culture and society of Jamaica, my fascination with the island will bares true meaning. Between the broken land barrier of the Atlantic
Jamaica Jamaica, located in the Caribbean and south of Cuba, has a population of 2,706,500 according to the 2011 census and the area of 4,243 square miles, their capital is Kingston which has about a quarter of their population . They are the 49th most densely populated country on the earth with 656 people per square mile and the life expectancy of 71. For currency one USD (US Dollar) would equal 107.95 JMD (Jamaican Dollar) but a dozen eggs would cost 253.78JMD which would equal to about $3 for
arrived in Jamaica, a group of Indians called the Arawak Indians lived on the island. Columbus made landfall on Jamaica in 1494, and with his arrival the existence of the Arawak Indians was erased and the Spanish took control of the island for roughly 150 years. With the Spanish in control of the land, they brought in slaves from Africa. The Spanish ruled the country until 1655 when Britain attacked the Spanish and took control and made Jamaica a colony of Britain until 1962 (Jamaica – History
I had never considered Jamaica in the way they did in the movie, Life and Debt. Whenever I thought about the country, which would have been rarely, I always only considered it as a tourist destination. I never took the time and considered what life could be like for those living there yearlong, and particularly those who were not involved in the tourism industry. I mean, if you ask almost any American how they would describe Jamaica, they would describe it’s tropical, beach-like atmosphere, but
Jamaica, is an island in the West Indies, 90 miles South of Cuba, and it is divided into fourteen parishes. The population is over 2.75 million which 53% of the population lives in the urban surrounding areas. Their national flag has two black triangles that represent historical struggles and hardship with a green triangle which represent agricultural wealth and hope, and yellow cross stripes represent sunshine and minerals resources. The language that they speak is English which reflects the
Neocolonialism in Jamaica: History, practices, and resistance “The imposition of structural adjustment programs in the Third World since the 1970s has been characterized as a war against the poor, a process of [neo] recolonization” (Turner, 1994: 37). This statement is particularly applicable to the country of Jamaica. The island has been susceptible to a variety of neocolonial acts including the presence of multinational corporations, structural adjustment programs, and loan organizations
differences between cultures. One culture that was examined was the Jamaican culture. Jamaica is a rich strong and vibrant culture that is very diverse. Jamaica is in a process of rapid social change. The culture heritage and the cultural expression of people is indicated by ethnicity, social class, religion, education, and language. Jamaica social class is largely determined by the color or shade of a person. The white Jamaica and near whites are at the top of the social hierarchy, they dominate business
I. Introduction Often misconstrued as an idealistic destination, Jamaica is a very stratified entity when it comes to the have and have not’s. The institution of slavery has shaped the physical landform of the country and inadvertently created fragmented and informal communities. This is further reiterated by the continuous division of garrisons “shantytowns” and gated communities prevalent within the urban fabric. The structural readjustment of the government in efforts
The Island of Jamaica The island of Jamaica is the third largest Caribbean island. It is in a group of islands called the greater antilles. It has an area of 10 991 km squared or 4 244 sq. miles. Jamaica spans 230 km east to west and from 80-36 from north to south. It is third only to Cuba, which is the largest, and Hispaniola which is the second largest island. Jamaica lies in the Caribbean sea which is a part of the much larger Atlantic ocean. The island is 960 km south of Florida
Jamaica Jamaica would be in better condition if they were still under the British Empire today. Throughout time Jamaica has undergone tragedy after tragedy. From the natives being forced off of the land, from being one of the biggest homes for slave trade, having the capital attacked and now being one of the worst drug and gang violence filled countries out there, Jamaica has not had an easy uprise. Although they had their fair share of hardships while under British rule as well, they were in overall
May 1844, Samuel Morse sent his first public message over a telegraph line between Washington and Baltimore, and through that simple act, ushered in the telecommunication age. By 1868 Jamaica began to use the telegram. The West India and Panama Telegraph Company was the major provider of telecom services in Jamaica and the Anglophone Caribbean in the mid 19th century. West India and Panama Telegraph Company is now Cable & Wireless today. However there was limitation to the telegraph you need to put
Geography of Jamaica Christopher Columbus came upon Jamaica as his fleet sailed into St. Ann’s Bay on his second voyage of discovery to the New World in 1494. He described Jamaica as, “the fairest island eyes have beheld; mountainous and the land seems to touch the sky....and full of valleys and fields and plains” (Roberts, 141). Although founded by a Spaniard, Jamaica was eventually sold to England. Today, Jamaica is the largest of the English speaking West Indian islands. The tropical
JAMAICA history: The history of Jamaica is a rich and vibrant that inspire them to move forward as a nation. The original inhabitants of Jamaica are believed to be the Arawaks , also called Tainos. Arawaks came from South America 2,500 years ago and named its island Xaymaca which meant “land of wood and water”. The Arawaks are simple people by nature. Arawaks were light brown in colour, short and well-shaped with coarse, black hair. Their faces were broad and their noses flat. They would grow cassava
Jamaica has been a land exploited and oppressed by white nations for much of its history. First colonized by the Spanish and then the British, it seems hard to imagine a time when it was just the native people living in peace and harmony with the land. Many years after the white man first jammed himself onto the beaches of Jamaica, reggae music was born. A continuing tradition, this easy-to-groove-to music style originated as a voice against this oppression; it was the peaceful islanders way of finally
tricked by an appearance. Jamaica definitely won’t fool you. Jamaica to tourists, is like a paradise. In the end, every place is unique in its own way and Jamaica is no exception. In this essay you will read about the following topics: Jamaica’s Geography, Jamaica’s History, The Lifestyle of Jamaicans, The Different Jamaican Cuisines , Music of Jamaica, and finally The Festivals of Jamaica. Jamaica’s Geography Jamaica is a small island but it is very beautiful. Jamaica is located approximately
located south of Cuba. Jamaica is an island full of history and people from all parts of the world. Jamaican cuisine has influence from all over the world, such as: Spanish, British, East Indian, West African, Portuguese, Chinese, French, and Dutch. The history of Jamaican cuisine came about in 1506 when the Spanish arrived forcing out the Arawak Indians. In 1872 Kingston was named the capital. In 1998 the population was estimated to be 2.75 million (every culture). In Jamaica 90 percent of the island
The tropical island of Jamaica has a mixed, free market economy. The country has state-run as well as privately-run businesses. According to executiveplanet.com, the Jamaican government has pursued “a program of economic liberalization and stabilization through the removal of exchange controls, reduction of tariffs, stabilization of local currency, and by reducing inflation and removing restrictions on foreign investment.” In short, Jamaica wants to become more involved in the world market. This
Jamaica is one of the larger islands within the Greater Antilles known for its sandy beaches, turquoise waters and an abundance of marijuana. The role of marijuana in Jamaican culture is multifaceted from its economic standpoint to the ties within the Rastafarian movement. Cannabis, the plant, has over sixty chemicals that can be used for medicinal purposes; these chemicals can be extracted into food or beverage, even some lotions for treatments. Even though marijuana is an illegal drug, marijuana
authors have taken the leap to regain and teach the world of their cultural identity. Two well-known authors, Jamaica Kincaid and Anthony Winkler, are of the many Caribbean authors that voice the continual effects of colonialism in their novels. Jamaica Kincaid’s novel is surprisingly short to go head on with issues such as western societal influence/oppression, colonialism, and capitalism. Jamaica Kincaid’s short, blunt, and sarcastic text along with Anthony Winkler’s novel, The Duppy, which is on a lighter