Portal:Jamaica

Introduction Jamaica (/dʒəˈmeɪkə/ ( listen)) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning 10,990 square kilometres (4,240 sq mi) in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the fourth-largest island country in the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about 145 kilometres (90 mi) south of Cuba, and 191 kilometres (119 mi) west of Hispaniola (the island containing the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Previously inhabited by the indigenous Arawak and Taíno peoples, the island came under Spanish rule following the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1494. Many of the indigenous people died of disease, and the Spanish transplanted African slaves to Jamaica as labourers. The island remained a possession of Spain until 1655, when England (later Great Britain) conquered it and renamed it Jamaica. Under British colonial rule Jamaica became a leading sugar exporter, with its plantation economy highly dependent on African slaves. The British fully emancipated all slaves in 1838, and many freedmen chose to have subsistence farms rather than to work on plantations. Beginning in the 1840s, the British utilized Chinese and Indian indentured labour to work on plantations. The island achieved independence from the United Kingdom on 6 August 1962. Selected article The Honourable Bruce Golding 8th Prime Minister of Jamaica In office 11 September 2007 – 23 October 2011 Monarch Elizabeth II Governor General Kenneth Hall Patrick Allen Deputy Kenneth Baugh Preceded by Portia Simpson-Miller Succeeded by Andrew Holness Leader of the Labour Party In office 24 January 2005 – 20 November 2011 Preceded by Edward Seaga Succeeded by Andrew Holness Leader of the Opposition In office 24 January 2005 – 11 September 2007 Prime Minister Percival Patterson Portia Simpson-Miller Preceded by Edward Seaga Succeeded by Portia Simpson-Miller Member of Parliament for Kingston West In office 24 January 2005 – 29 December 2011 Preceded by Edward Seaga Succeeded by Desmond McKenzie Personal details Born (1947-12-05) 5 December 1947 Chapelton, Jamaica Political party Labour Party Spouse(s) Lorna Golding Alma mater University of the West Indies (B.A) Orette Bruce Golding (born 5 December 1947) is a former Jamaican politician who served as eighth Prime Minister of Jamaica from 11 September 2007 to 23 October 2011. He is a member of the Jamaica Labour Party which he led from 2005 to his resignation in 2011. WikiProjects Geographical: Caribbean: Cuba • Dominican Republic • Puerto Rico Latin America countries: Argentina • Brazil • Colombia • Ecuador • Peru • Uruguay • Venezuela Central America: El Salvador • Mexico North America: Canada • United States History and Society: African diaspora • Mesoamerica Selected image Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley live in concert in Zurich, Switzerland, on May 30, 1980. In the news Jamaican Asafa Powell ran the year's fastest 100 meters when he clocked 9.84 seconds at the Jamaica International Invitational in Kingston, beating American Ryan Bailey (9.93) and Jamaican Nesta Carter (9.98) (JAMAICAN GLEANER) Things you can do Edit existing articles about Jamaica Create new articles about Jamaica Discuss how to improve this portal. Did you know... 100px ...that Alexander Bustamante (pictured), the prominent Jamaican politician, was born William Alexander Clarke but took the name Bustamante to honour an Iberian sea captain who befriended him in his youth? ...that Spanish Town is the former Spanish and English capital of Jamaica. It held the status of capital city from the 16th to the 19th century, and is now a World Heritage Site? ...that Madge Sinclair, born in Kingston, received an Emmy Award nomination for her role as Belle in the miniseries Roots, and voiced Sarabi, Simba’s mother, in the blockbuster Disney animated film The Lion King. ...that Trenchtown, a neighbourhood in Kingston, Jamaica, gets its name from a large open-trenched sewer that ran through the neighbourhood? that the song Israelites was written by Jamaican musician Desmond Dekker after he heard a couple arguing about money? Archive • Nominate New articles... Categories ▼ Jamaica ► Jamaica-related lists ► Buildings and structures in Jamaica ► Jamaican culture ► Economy of Jamaica ► Education in Jamaica ► Environment of Jamaica ► Geography of Jamaica ► Government of Jamaica ► Health in Jamaica ► History of Jamaica ► Jamaican people ► Politics of Jamaica ► Jamaican society ► Jamaica stubs Topics History First Maroon War | Second Maroon War | Baptist War Geography Cities Government Foreign relations | Elections Politics Political parties Economy Communications | Transport Culture Music Related portals Related portals and portals of neighbouring countries: Caribbean Cuba Haiti Mexico United States Bahamas Puerto Rico Associated Wikimedia