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The name Jamaica was
derived from the country's Arawak name "Xaymaca", which means "the land
of wood and water".*
1.
Area: 10,991 Square Kilometers*
2.
Population: 2.6 million*
3.
Capital: Kingston*
4.
Population of the Capital: 710,000*
5. Language: English
is the official language, however there is a dialect/slang call Patois
which is widely used by most Jamaicans.*
6.
National Heroes:
Rt. Excellent Marcus Garvey, Rt. Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante, Rt.
Excellent Norman Washington Manley, Rt. Excellent Paul Bogle, Rt.
Excellent Nanny of the Maroons, Rt. Excellent George William Gordon, Rt.
Excellent Samuel Sharpe.*
7.
Date of OAS membership: August 20, 1969*
8.
Description of Jamaica*:
Jamaica is the third largest of the
Caribbean islands and the largest English-speaking.
Jamaica’s multi-racial
population of approximately 2.6 million primarily comprises people of African, European,
East Indian and Chinese origin. Although English is the official language, most people speak an
English-based creole– patois.
Jamaica is a constitutional monarchy and as a member of the British
Commonwealth, the Queen of England, Elizabeth II is the titular head of the country. She is represented in Jamaica by a Governor General.
The Jamaican Parliament is bicameral, that is, it consists of two
Houses, the Senate, also called the Upper House and the House of Representatives, also
known as the Lower House. *
9.
Historical Dates
10. History
11.
Government
12. Economy
13.
Photographs
* Source:
Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the OAS.
*
Source:
www.jamaicans.com .Information
provided by the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the OAS.
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Updated: 30 April
2008
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