Prayer for Jamaica
Lord, let us pray
For all of the violence and despair within this beautiful nation
For all of those who live in danger on a daily basis
For all of those affected by the immense drug trafficking
And for anyone else seeming to struggle within the Jamaican Island
Amen.
For all of the violence and despair within this beautiful nation
For all of those who live in danger on a daily basis
For all of those affected by the immense drug trafficking
And for anyone else seeming to struggle within the Jamaican Island
Amen.
Map of Jamaica
Jamaican Flag
The Jamaican flag has many different meanings mainly based off of color. Gold recalls the shining sun, black reflects hardships, and green represents the land.
Physical Geography
The blue mountain range is the largest throughout all of Jamaica. With the many mountains within Jamaica, there are also a number of active volcanoes.
The great river is one of the major rivers in Jamaica. Each river leads to the oceans which surround the country.
Jamaica's coastline is a very beautiful site and it is probably the most important geographical feature in the country. These beaches span around the entire country and they are a primary reason for tourism.
Cays are little islands located just off of the coast of bigger islands. Jamaica has a number of different cays which are private and public which can be accessed by boat or plane. Many cruise ships use these as destinations in the Caribbean. Very rarely do people live on these islands.
Demographics
English is the official language spoken in Jamaica. Many others might speak Portuguese, Spanish, or mandarin but the majority speak English.
Most of the country follows the Christian religion but in many different variations. Over 60% of the country is protestant. some other notable variations are Seventh Day Adventist, Pentecostal, and Other Church of God.
The population of Jamaica is nearly 3,000,000 with the main ethnicity being African American or Jamaican.
Average life expectancy: 73
Historical Timeline
1492 The island was not discovered by Europeans until Christopher Columbus first landed in the New World
1509 The Spanish claim the Island. Many of the indigenous Arawak community dies off from exposure to European diseases
African slaves shipped from Africa to work on the sugar plantations.
1500's1500-1600's: The Spanish were harassed by the native Caribe and by pirates and buccaneers who attacked the Spanish galleons which were carrying riches back to Spain. The pirates who operated in the Islands included Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, Henry Morgan, Sir John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake
1655 Jamaica is seized by the British.
1670 Treaty of Madrid: Jamaica formally cedes to the British. Jamaica became the world's largest sugar exporting nation with the massive use of imported African slave labor. The sugar plantations, worked by African slaves, lead to a slave trading and slave auctions.
1692 The Jamaican capital Port Royal destroyed by an earthquake. Spanish Town becomes the new capital. Kingston was founded.
1838 Slavery abolished.
1865 Morant Bay rebellion: Freed slaves are quelled in their rebellion against the British. Jamaica becomes a crown colony.
1870 Banana plantations set up as the sugar cane industry declines .
1884 New constitution adopted.
1938 Serious riots and People's National Party (PNP) founded by Norman Manley.
1939-1945 WW2
August 1945 The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
1958 - Jamaica becomes a member of the Federation of the West Indies.
1961 Jamaican withdrawal from the Federation of the West Indies.
1962 Jamaican Independence: Jamaica becomes independent within the British Commonwealth. Alexander Bustamante elected prime minister.
1972 Michael Manley becomes prime minister for the PNP
1980 Edward Seaga becomes prime minister and the US grants the government substantial aid as the country distances itself from Cuba
1988 Hurricane Gilbert
1989 Michael Manley returns as prime minister.
1992 Manley retires and is succeeded as Prime Minister by Percival J Patterson.
1999July: The army patrols Kingston following a massive increase in crime.
2004September: Hurricane Ivan
2006February: Portia Simpson Miller is elected head of PNP
March: Portia Simpson Miller becomes Jamaica's first female PM in March.
1509 The Spanish claim the Island. Many of the indigenous Arawak community dies off from exposure to European diseases
African slaves shipped from Africa to work on the sugar plantations.
1500's1500-1600's: The Spanish were harassed by the native Caribe and by pirates and buccaneers who attacked the Spanish galleons which were carrying riches back to Spain. The pirates who operated in the Islands included Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, Henry Morgan, Sir John Hawkins and Sir Francis Drake
1655 Jamaica is seized by the British.
1670 Treaty of Madrid: Jamaica formally cedes to the British. Jamaica became the world's largest sugar exporting nation with the massive use of imported African slave labor. The sugar plantations, worked by African slaves, lead to a slave trading and slave auctions.
1692 The Jamaican capital Port Royal destroyed by an earthquake. Spanish Town becomes the new capital. Kingston was founded.
1838 Slavery abolished.
1865 Morant Bay rebellion: Freed slaves are quelled in their rebellion against the British. Jamaica becomes a crown colony.
1870 Banana plantations set up as the sugar cane industry declines .
1884 New constitution adopted.
1938 Serious riots and People's National Party (PNP) founded by Norman Manley.
1939-1945 WW2
August 1945 The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
1958 - Jamaica becomes a member of the Federation of the West Indies.
1961 Jamaican withdrawal from the Federation of the West Indies.
1962 Jamaican Independence: Jamaica becomes independent within the British Commonwealth. Alexander Bustamante elected prime minister.
1972 Michael Manley becomes prime minister for the PNP
1980 Edward Seaga becomes prime minister and the US grants the government substantial aid as the country distances itself from Cuba
1988 Hurricane Gilbert
1989 Michael Manley returns as prime minister.
1992 Manley retires and is succeeded as Prime Minister by Percival J Patterson.
1999July: The army patrols Kingston following a massive increase in crime.
2004September: Hurricane Ivan
2006February: Portia Simpson Miller is elected head of PNP
March: Portia Simpson Miller becomes Jamaica's first female PM in March.
Type of Government
Parlimentary Democracy
Collaborate
Jamaica has quality relations with all of its surrounding islands and Mexico. It has an embassy in Cuba, Barbados, Mexico, and Haiti and likewise, they have embassy's in Kingston, Jamaica's capital.
Cultural Features
Family is the most important group any one person belongs to. Aside from immediate family, other members of you're family will be there for you both emotionally and economically.
Jamaicans have a healthy distrust of those in authority and prefer to put their faith in those they know well, such as their extended family and close friends who are treated as if they were family.
Rastafarians believe they are one of the lost tribes of Israel who were sold into slavery and taken to Babylon and that they must return to Zion, which they hold to be Ethiopia.
The movement does not have organized congregations, it does not have a paid clergy, and it doesn't have a written doctrine.
Jamaicans have a healthy distrust of those in authority and prefer to put their faith in those they know well, such as their extended family and close friends who are treated as if they were family.
Rastafarians believe they are one of the lost tribes of Israel who were sold into slavery and taken to Babylon and that they must return to Zion, which they hold to be Ethiopia.
The movement does not have organized congregations, it does not have a paid clergy, and it doesn't have a written doctrine.