Short summary...
Jamaica is a small island in the Caribbean sea (even though it is one of the largest in the Caribbean). Jamaica is divided into 14 parishes and the capital of Jamaica is Kingston. Jamaica has people of many different origins (because of our history) and thus has a diverse cultural background, Our motto is out of many, one people. Jamaicans listen to a wide variety of music from all over the world but the music that is unique to us is reggae. We have a thriving tourist industry and tourism is one of our most important industries. I am from one of the resort areas in Jamaica (Ocho Rios) which is on Jamaica's north coast.
Christopher Columbus discovered Jamaica for the Spanish on May 4, 1494 and from 1509 to 1655 it was a Spanish colony. The British then captured the island from the Spanish. The original inhabitants (the Arawaks or Tainos as they are now called) were killed out by overwork and new diseases brought by the colonisers. This prompted the Spanish to bring in slaves from Africa. Under British rule Jamaica became famous for its wealthy sugar planters and the buccaneer headquarters in Port Royal. Slaves in Jamaica emancipated in 1838 and Jamaica became fully independent in 1962 thanks to the struggles of our national heros.
The People
The Amerindians were the first people to populate Jamaica and after they died out
Radio Jamaica
The Jamaica Observer
Homeview Jamaica
Whaddat
