Kingston, Lucea, Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios

CAPITAL CITY OF Jamaica: Kingston
LANGUAGE OF Jamaica: English
CURRENCY OF Jamaica: Jamaican dollar (JMD)
COMMENTS ABOUT Jamaica:
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, 234 kilometres (146 mi) in length and as much as 80 kilometres (50 mi) in width situated in the Caribbean Sea.

Ahh, Jamaica! Whether you snorkel in the tepid waters or ride horseback through the forest and into the sunset - you'll never want to leave this lovely lady named Jamaica. Buy Caribbean timeshares and maybe you'll be able to live with yourself - knowing you only have a few short months to withstand before you'll be with her again. Many hotel companies, like Wyndham, are now offering timeshares for clients who've decided to take the plunge.

Cities : Kingston (capital), Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio
Best Places : Black River, Blue Mountains, Cave Valley, Nassau Valley
Electricity : 110 volt / 50 Hz (USA Plug)
Calling Code : +1-876
Time Zone : UTC-5
Jamaica gained full independence within the British Commonwealth in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence and a drop off in tourism. Elections in 1980 saw the democratic socialists voted out of office. Political violence marred elections during the 1990s.
CLIMATE OF Jamaica: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
RELIGION OF Jamaica: Protestant 61.3% (Church of God 21.2%, Baptist 8.8%, Anglican 5.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 9%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Methodist 2.7%, United Church 2.7%, Brethren 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%, Moravian 1.1%), Roman Catholic 4%, other including some spiritual cults 34.7%
POPULATION OF Jamaica: 2,713,130 (July 2004 est.)>>>>
ECONOMY OVERVIEW OF Jamaica: The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which now account for 70% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. The global economic slowdown, particularly after the terrorist attacks in the US on 11 September 2001, stunted economic growth; the economy rebounded moderately in 2003, with one of the best tourist seasons on record. But the economy faces serious long-term problems: high interest rates; increased foreign competition; a pressured, sometimes sliding, exchange rate; a sizable merchandise trade deficit; large-scale unemployment; and a growing internal debt, the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy. The ratio of debt to GDP is close to 150%. Inflation, previously a bright spot, is expected to remain in the double digits. Depressed economic conditions have led to increased civil unrest, including gang violence fueled by the drug trade. In 2004, the government faces the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline in order to maintain debt payments while simultaneously attacking a serious and growing crime problem that is hampering economic growth.