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, 160 km southwest of Haiti, and 140 km

south of Cuba.

Jamaica is mainly a mountainous island but there are 320 km of fine

sandy beaches, swamps, moist fern- forests, sprawling open plains, plateaus,

rushing rivers, and magnificent waterfalls. The Blue Mountains are the

highest mountains in Jamaica and Blue Mountain Peak which is the highest

peak in Jamaica rises to 2256 m or 7 402 feet. They are made up primarily

of limestone. Farther to the west in the cockpit country the limestone has

eroded over many years to form large depressions, narrow valleys,

underground caverns and rivers. Most of the surface rivers are short, swift

flowing and descend quickly to the coast and consist of a series of rapids

and waterfalls. The island is ringed by plains separated by mountain and

sea.

The country is divided into three counties. They are Cornwall to the

west, Middlesex is central, and Surrey is to the east. Middlesex is the

largest county. Jamaica is also divided into 14 parishes which are

basically like provinces or states. The parishes are Kingston, St. Andrew,

St. Thomas, Portland, St. Mary, St. Ann, Trelawny, St. James, Hanover,

Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon, and St. Catherine.

Jamaica is mainly a tropical climate. During the course of the year,

Jamaica has no real winter whatsoever. The average yearly temperature

ranges from 27 degrees celsius to 32 degrees celsius. It is cooler in

hills, around 20 to 25 degrees and it is known to dip below 10 degrees in

the blue mountains. Although it is hot in the day, light ocean breezes

result in making the island more comfortable in the day and cooler breezes

blow down from the Blue Mountains at night.

Rain falls in Jamaica 12 months of the year because it is a rainy

tropical climate. The average rainfall is 196 cm per annum. The main

months for raining, however, are May to June and September to October. The

major differences in elevation cause the rain to fall almost 600 cm per

annum on the mountains and only 89 cm on the southeast coast. Hurricanes

can strike anytime between June and October. One of the main hurricanes to

hit Jamaica was hurricane Hugo in 1989 which badly damaged the country.

The vegetation in Jamaica is exceptionally varied. This is mainly

because of the islands varied rainfall, soil, elevations, and climate. Many

of the plants which now thrive in Jamaica's rich soil have been introduced

from other countries in colonial times.

There are bamboo forests in the northern and northeastern areas. Also,

rosewood, mahogany, ebony, and other species of wood which live throughout

the island. Drought resistant plants live in the dry southeastern part of

Jamaica. Sections of the plateau are heavily forested savannas or

grasslands. The majority of the palm trees are in the southwest part of

the island. The countryside is often covered by rampant growths of

poinsettia, hibiscus, poinciana, oleander, and bougainvillaea.

There are many products which are grown in Jamaica. Some of the

produce raised are bananas, sugar cane, coffee, tobacco, coconut, pimento,

ackee, nutmeg, & breadfruit.

Jamaica has many animals although it boasts only one native mammal,

the coney, which is a wild rabbit. The mongoose is large rodent

originating from india. It was introduced to Jamaica in 1872 to control

the problem of snakes and rats in the cane fields and has done an adequate

job since then. Most of the snakes have disappeared from Jamaica except for

a few non poisonous ones which look more like worms than snakes. In

Jamaica, as well as many other caribbean islands there are an abundant

population of small harmless lizards. There are over 200 species on the

island. Crocodiles are also numerous on the south coast swamp areas.

In the past, Jamaica's economy was generally based on agriculture. The

dependency was on a few staple crops, primarily sugar and bananas. New

economic development began with earnest in and around the 1950's. Bauxite

mining began in 1952 and the tourist boom around the 1950's and 1960's.

These factors lead to the rapid augmentation of mining and manufacturing

industries. By 1959, the new industries exceeded agriculture in the Gross

Domestic Product.

In 1989, Jamaica's GNP topped $2 361 000 000 U.S. Only 6% of that

figure was agriculture, 41% was in industry and 53% was in services. The

GNP growth in Jamaica is 2.3% each year. When averaged, the GNP per capita

is $939 dollars U.S. The country spends 2% of that for defence.

For the year of 1989 the total bauxite production amounted to 2 535.7

tonnes resulting in $384.74 million U.S. dollars. Other earnings in this

sector such as levies and royalties were US$198.96 million tourism is the

second largest earner of money behind bauxite/alumina production. It

grossed US$340.3 million.

The agricultural sector is Jamaica's largest employer. There are many

types of plants grown in Jamaica. The country has two types of industry.

There are the large plantations for major export and the small domestic

farms used mainly for individual and local use.

Sugarcane and bananas are Jamaica's major crops. Combined, they

account of Jamaica's agricultural export earnings. The sugarcane is used

for sugar, molasses, and Jamaican rum. Most of these plantations are

situated in the southern coastal areas.

The small domestic farms on the island are normally started on soil-

rich hill sides. Crops which are grown include yams, sweet potatoes, corn,

pumpkins, peas, beans, and other vegetables. Tree crops include things

like breadfruits, mangoes, avocado pears, and ackees. It is said that some

of the finest coffee beans in the world are from Jamaica's blue mountains.

Activities being encouraged by the government are fishing, and increased

livestock production. The government funds programs in the instruction of

modern agricultural techniques for farmers and propose a guaranteed markets

in order to stimulate and improve production for both local consumption and

export.

Bauxite is the major mineral mined in Jamaica. The country is the

world leader in bauxite production accounting for 20% of the world's

bauxite. It is also the world leader in alumina exports. Nearly 1/4 of the

earth in Jamaica contains bauxite. It is mined in the central and western

parts of the plateau. Bauxite is used to make alumina which is then used

to make the metal aluminum. The ore was mined since 1952. The main

company in the mining of bauxite in Jamaica is a Canadian company called

Alcan. The rest are other large American and Jamaican companies. By 1972,

there were five alumina plants and two bauxite drying plants on the island

with combined capacities of 15 million tonnes of bauxite per year.

Production levels are currently at 7 million tonnes per year because of

changing trends in the international aluminum market.

Programmes have been instituted to the increased development of

Jamaica's other natural resources, especially limestone which is abundant

throughout the island. The vast reserves of limestone pose a great

potential for foreign export. Deposits of marble, clay, gypsum, & silica

are also found and mined.

Since the 1950's, manufacturing in Jamaica started with the

establishment of the Jamaica Industrial Development Corporation (JIDC).

Implementation of manufacturing incentive laws also helped in speeding up

the slow process.

Jamaica now manufactures many products. The goods manufactured are

food and drinks, clothing, footwear, textiles, paints, building materials,

agricultural machinery, and toilet articles. Most of the processing and

manufacturing plants are located in the vicinity of Kingston and Spanish

Town. Other products produced include sugar, molasses, rum, alumina,

petroleum products, and cigarettes. Building materials including cement,

concrete, pipes, bricks, building blocks, tiles, and gypsum are made from

local raw materials. Goods such as metal products, industrial chemicals,

paint, pharmaceuticals, records, plastic goods, paper bags, cardboard, tin

cans, tires, razor blades, and electrical equipment are made from imported

materials. In fact, most produced goods depend on foreign raw materials,

machinery and technology for their production.

The population of Jamaica as of 1990 was 2 512 000. In 1989 the

population was 2 458 000. This tells us that Jamaica's population is

increasing by 1.09% annually. (see next page for graph) Jamaica is

overpopulated with a density of 224 persons/sq. km. It is estimated that

Jamaica's population will double in 64 years. The life expectancy in

Jamaica is 70 yrs for both males and females. The birth rate is 2.3/1000

and the death rate is 5.5/1000. The infant mortality rate is 20/1000.

The rapid emigration of Jamaicans to England and North America in the

50's and 60's has helped to slow the population growth in the country. But,

the emigration has slowed because of tight restrictions imposed by the

British and United States governments. Many of them are now emigrating to

Canada in hopes for a better life but many Jamaicans realize they would be

better of back home.

58% of the population live in urban areas while the other 42% live in

rural areas because there is a tendency to move to the cities in hopes of

better job opportunities.

95% of the Jamaican population is of African descent. The rest are

mostly East Indians, Syrians, Chinese, and Whites. In religion, 55% of the

people are protestant, 20% are catholic, 25% are classified as other. These

religions include rastafarianism, pocomania, muslim, and judaism.

Rastafarianism, which was started by one of Jamaica's national heroes,

Marcus Garvey, in the 1930's is based on the beliefs and aspirations of

Garvey. He was born on August 17th, 1887. He advocated the "back to

Africa" movement and founded the United Negro Improvement Association. The

rastafarians believe that Ras Tafari or later called Haile Selassie was

the Messiah. They use the bible as a book of reference and smoke marijuana

"The sacred herb", or better known there as ganja for spiritual and

ceremonial purposes.

Pocomania is basically a mixture of christianity and African roots.

The ceremonies are performed by a congregation of people with white turbans

around a white table decorated with candles, dirt, and fruits.

Jamaica has one of the most interesting histories of all of the

caribbean islands. It starts out in about 650 A.D when the first wave of

Arawak Indians arrived over the sea from South America. The second wave

arrived on the island between 850 and 900 A.D.

The Arawaks were a gentle agricultural based society. They first

called Jamaica, Xamayca, meaning "land of wood and water". The Arawaks

grew potatoes, vegetables, cotton and tobacco. They viewed smoking as a

religious rite and taught colonialists how to smoke. They were skilled

artisans and stonemakers. They travelled on the ocean in dugout canoes.

They lived mainly around the coasts because it was the major source of food

although they could be found allot farther inland. A few centuries later

the lives of these peaceful inhabitants was abruptly disturbed by the

savage, war-like carib indians. They began to brutally conquer all of the

natives of the other islands as well. But, one day it got even worse for

the poor Arawaks. Christopher Columbus, under the Spanish flag, landed

there in 1492. This occurrence eventually led to the extinction of the

Arawak people in Jamaica.

Columbus arrived on May 5, 1494 at St. Ann's Bay with his three ships,

the Santa Maria, the Nina and the Pinta. As he landed he remarked "the

fairest island that eyes have beheld .... all full of valleys and fields.

He named the country "St. Jago" or "Santiago" after Spain's patron St. He

named St. Ann's bay Santa Gloria "on account of the extreme beauty"

Nine years later, Columbus returned once again to Jamaica. This time he

and his crew were in not such a good condition as during their first visit.

His ships were battered and worm- eaten and could not sail the Atlantic

without repair. He tried to sail for Hispaniola but they got no farther

than St. Ann when they were stranded close to shore. The ships filled with

water and settled in the soft sand of the bay.

Here he stayed for a duration of 12 months tormented by hardships,

hunger, and sickness. Eventually, two of his men, Diego Mendez and

Bartoleme Fieschi voyaged to Hispaniola where they were able to attain a

new caravel from a Spanish colony there. By June of 1504, the mates

returned with the vessel. On the 29th Columbus left with the rest of his

crew totalling about 100 to Hispaniola and then onward to spain. He died

three years later.

Spanish colonists first arrived in Jamaica in 1510. The first governor

was Juan de Esquivel. The colonists named their settlement at St. Ann's

bay Sevilla la Nueva or "New Seville." It included a fort, a castle, and a

church. But the site was abandoned because of swamps. The colonists then

moved to the south side of the island which is now called Spanish Town.

The new settlement was convenient, healthful, had ample water, fertile

surroundings and good protection from sea attack. It had approximately 400

to 500 houses, 5 or 6 churches and chapels, and one monastery.

The Spaniards enslaved the Arawaks and so overworked them that within

a few decades the 100 000 or so Arawaks had been wiped out. They also had

very little resistance to the European diseases that entered into their

country from the Spanish colonists. Many had been killed by Spanish

christian missionaries who tried forcefully to convert the Arawaks into

christians.

Today the only remains of the Arawaks in Jamaica are artifacts; a

small group of words, like barbecue, hurricane, hammock, tobacco, and canoe.

The Spanish began to snatch people from Africa and enslave them when

there were no more Arawaks to use. They transported the enslaved Africans

in terrible conditions on ships to Jamaica. It is estimated that millions

of the Africans were killed on the trip from Africa to the Caribbean and

North America. The first Africans began arriving in 1517.

The Island was largely un- important to spain and eventually became a

badly governed and largely overlooked outpost. Almost nothing was done to

develop the natural resources.

The colonists devoted themselves to pastoral and agricultural duties.

The Spaniards introduced all the citrus fruits, bananas, and plantain. The

brought on their cargo ships of death and suffering, horses, cattle, and

pigs.

Although the island was officially under the rule of Spain, it was

basically 0xlf governing. The Spanish governor ruled with help from a

council of appointed members. As in the colonies of North America, the

church had a strong influence on the politics in a colony.

End of Spanish Rule

During the last years of Spanish control of the island, internal

political fighting had weakened the colony. The governors were not

supported well by Spain and constant attacks by pirates did not make the

situation any better. On may 10th, 1655, a large English expeditionary

fleet landed at Kingston Harbour. It consisted of 38 ships and 8000 men.

After a short skirmish the British had successfully snatched Jamaica from

Spanish hands.

The spaniards fled from Jamaica leaving the enslaved Africans there

with arms to wage guerilla warfare on the British until the Spanish could

return with a strong fleet to retake Jamaica.

In June of 1658, under Governor Christobal Arnaldo de Ysassi the

Spanish tried to retake Jamaica. A large force of mainly mexicans landed

and dug at Rio Nuevo. As soon as Colonel D'Oyley, the English commander

received the news, he called 750 of his best men to sail around the coast

and attack the Spaniards. The battle took place on June 27th and the

British won a decisive victory killing 300 Spanish men. Ysassi hid in the

mountains awaiting the Spanish relief force which never came. He escaped to

Cuba in a canoe some time later. The island was officially ceded to

British crown in 1670 under the Treaty of Madrid. Thus, the Spanish

influence in Jamaica ended forever as they left very little traces of their

occupation.

Buccaneers and Pirates

During Colonel D'Oyley's term as governor, a few small uprisings

occurred under colonels Raymond and Tyson. But D'Oyley acted quickly and

soon both of the colonels were publicly executed. In 1872 the capital was

moved from Spanish town to Kingston.

The British began to harass the spaniards from Jamaica. They

supported the buccaneers who were a group of runaways, castaways, and

escaped criminals from Spanish colonies. They attacked Spanish ships and

soon became a strong naval power. Soon these men were given regular

commissions from France and Britain and became technically legal. They

were now called privateers.

The buccaneers named Port Royal as their main city for trade of

spanish loot, facilities for repair, and headquarters. Soon the wealth of

this city had increased so much that it had earned the title of the richest

and wickedest city in the world.

In the late 1690's the French engaged in a war with Jamaica. A large

force under the command of Admiral Jean du Casse landed on the eastern part

of the Island. It was successfully defended against the attack but many of

the settlers were killed and many goods were stolen. The war ended in 1697

with the Treaty of Ryswick.

Pirates began to attack Jamaica in growing numbers. Nicholas Brown was

one of the pirates and he once burned down a house in St. Ann with 16

people locked in it. Other pirates included "Blackbeard" or Edward Teach

and Captain Charles Vain.

Maroons and Slaves

When the Spanish evacuated Jamaica during their war with Britain, the

enslaved Africans escaped to the mountains and became known as the maroons.

They developed new culture of their own in the mountains. In 1663, they

ignored an offer of land and full freedom for every maroon if they

surrendered but they decline and for the next 16 years, warfare was fought

between them and the British settlements.

The maroons had developed their own baffling but effective style of

warfare. They preferred to ambush British troops rather than to have the

more orthodox type of fighting. They attacked farms, burned buildings,

and stole cattle mainly by night. They were skilled in woodcraft and were

familiar with the untracked forests. At first, British troops suffered

heavily in early clashes with the Maroons but eventually the British began

to defeat the Maroons. Colonel Guthrie of the British soon made clear a

set of terms for a formal ceasefire. The terms were that they had

guaranteed freedom, and were allowed 1 500 acres of land. They had to

cease hostilities against the British and refuse asylum from any runaway

slaves and capture them instead for a reward. The Treaty was signed on

March 1st, 1739.

In 1664 Governor Modyford was appointed governor of Jamaica. He set

about establishing a strong sugar industry. By 1740 there were 430 sugar

estates around the island. Many of the African descendants were subject to

the harshest and horrific conditions ever conceivable. Many rebelled,

destroying those terrible plantations whenever possible.

In 1670, the most serious slave rebellion broke out. The government

called upon the Maroons assistance as outlined in the 1739 Treaty. It

began in St. Mary and spread through the rest of the country. A man named

Tacky was their leader who was a chief in Africa. Many casualties were

taken by the British side but it was put down by a militia with the help of

the maroons.

But, peace was not long in Jamaica. In 1795 a second maroon war broke

out. The British imported 400 blood hounds from Cuba and before they were

released, the Maroons surrendered. Some 600 maroons were shipped to Nova

Scotia and then onto Sierra Leone despite promises that they could stay in

Jamaica.

These factors, along with changing political tide in Europe caused the

Africans to be emancipated from slavery as it was abolished there in 1838.

Push for Independence

Between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the island began

feverishly pushing for independence from Britain. Soon, political unrest

with the slow reform sparked widespread violence in 1938. This caused the

countries first two parties to be formed. The JLP was headed by Alexander

Bustamante and the PNP by Norman Manley. The rise of power of the JLP or

Jamaican Labour Party ultimately led to independence on August 6th 1962.

CRITIQUE

I think this was an excellent project. The time and effort that went

into the project is evident throughout the written report. I am pleased

with the quality and attractiveness of the final product. I think the

information was well written and organized in a logical fashion. There

were good pictures and graphs which were integrated well with the typed

text. The research was taken from a variety of sources and was compiled,

condensed and re-written in an easy to understand fashion. If I were to do

the project over, the only thing I would do differently is expand more on

the people section of the report. I could also include the dialogue of

both interviews.

Chen, Ray. Jamaica. Montreal:

Ray Chen books, 1988.

Earle, Stafford. Basic Jamaica History. U.S.A:

Earle Publishing, 1978

Egan, Anne. Jamaica in Pictures. Minneapolis:

The Company, 1967 and 1987 versions.

Kaplan, Irving. Area Handbook of Jamaica. U.S.A:

Mitchell Publishing, 1976

Kuper, Adam. Changing Jamaica. Kingston, Jamaica:

Kingston Publishers, 1976

Macpherson, John. Carribean Lands. Spain:

Longman Group Ltd, 1974

Sherlock, Philip. The Land and People of the West Indies. U.S.A:

J.B. Lippincott Company, 1967

Wilkins, Francis. Jamaica. Hong Kong:

Chelsea House Publishers, 1987

Zach, Paul., and Hoefer, Hans Insight Guides: Jamaica. Singapore:

APA Productions, 1987

Jamaica Information Service. Jamaica: An Overview. Kingston:

Jamaica Information Service, 1990

Potter, Mitch. "New Album Kicks off Marley Blitz."

The Toronto Star. 6 February, 1991, Sec. E, p. 4

"Jamaica." Merit Students Encyclopedia. 16th ed., 1980

"Jamaica." The World Book Encyclopedia 14th ed., 1989

APPENDIX

Picture credits:

The Land and People of the West Indies

Insight Guides: Jamaica

Carribean Lands

Merit Students Encyclopedia

Jamaica

For my field trip I went to the Jamaica Information Service at 314 King St.

West, suite 216.

I interviewed two people for my research. They are Avril Mills, and Barbara

Theobolds at the Information Service.

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