Jamaica Essay, Research Paper
Close your eyes and picture a beautiful sunset meeting far
away on the shimmering clear blue water in front of you. You feel
a cool breeze and a hot sun against your skin and the feeling of
the warm sand beneath your feet. You walk forward and feel the
refreshing water wet your legs and you are tickled as a school of
tropical fish passes you by. You spot the palm trees and wild
plants off the shore. Are you in an unreal paradise? Yes I have.
It is Jamaica. Geographical Location Jamaica is blessed with
superb geographical location and resources that makes it a great
vacation spot. It is an island country south of Cuba and north of
South America. So you must fly or sail there. Its short distance
from the United States makes it a short distance from here and
that is great for fliers. It is probably a four -hour flight.
Jamaica is only about 17 degrees above the equator so it is very
warm all year round. (Grab your sunglasses and tanning oil!) Land
and Resources Everyone sees the commercials for the white-sanded
beaches and the clear blue water but Jamaica’s terrain is
mountainous except for those several tracts of lowlands that you
see on TV. In fact Blue Mountain’s, which is the highest mountain
in Jamaica, is 7402 ft. There are many smaller mountains with
many traverse spurs that extend west to the extremity of the
island making a gigantic plateau. So if you plan on going to
Jamaica you had better think of bringing your hiking boots. Lead
and Salt deposits can be found on the island and rich soils can
be found on the coastal plains. The island is also equipped with
excellent natural harbors, including those at Kingston, Saint
Ann’s Bay, Montego Bay, and Port Maria. There is no volcanic
activity in Jamaica but it is subject to severe earthquakes.
Plants and Animals Jamaica are filled with luxurious and diverse
vegetation. More than 200 species have been identified. The
indigenous trees include the cedar, mahogany, rosewood, ebony,
coconut palm, and pimento. Introduced varieties such as the
mango, breadfruit, banana, and plantain also flourish the island.
Jamaican animal life generally includes highly diverse bird life.
This group includes Parrots, hummingbirds, cuckoos, and green
todies. No large four-legged animals or venomous reptiles exist
there. Culture Jamaica is not only blessed with great plenty of
natural wonders but it’s people and their cultures are probably
it’s greatest resource, and that is what draw the people to the
island. Jamaica’s great dependency on Great Britain form the past
300 years shows in the language they speak and in their customs,
which are combined with African influences. Bob Marley, Jimmy
Cliff, made Reggae, a distinctively syncopated style of Jamaican
music popular in the 20th century. It was a great influence on
rock in the middle of the 80’s, especially in Britain. Government
the Jamaica constitution, promulgated in 1962, established a
parliamentary system of government patterned after that of Great
Britain. The Prime Minister is the head of the government. The
British monarch is the head of the state and is represented by a
governor general, who is appointed on the advice of the Prime
Minister. There are an Executive branch, a Legislative branch,
and a Judiciary branch. Their government is quite like ours. The
Prime Minister has a lot of power, kind of like our president.
Jamaica has two political parties. The People’s National Party
(PNP) is one. It is socialist in orientation. The other is the
Jamaica Labor Group (JLP) which supports free enterprise in a
mixed economy. A number of popular groups, such as Pocomania and
Rastafarianism, are significant and famous in the Jamaican
religious life. History Members of the Arawak tribe were the
aboriginal inhabitants of the island. They named it Xaymaca.
Christopher Columbus sighted the island during his second voyage,
and Xaymaca became a Spanish Colony in 1509. The Arawak quickly
died out due to disease and harsh treatment. African slaves were
imported to overcome the resultant labor shortage. An English
naval force under Sir William Penn captured Jamaica in 1655. The
island was formally transferred to England in 1670 after the
Treaty of Madrid. During the final decades of the 17th century,
great numbers of English immigrants arrived; the sugar, cacao,
and other agricultural and forest industries were rapidly
expanded, and the great demand for plantation labor led to an
enormous amount of slaves to be brought in. In 1682 Port Royal,
the chief Jamaican slave market, was destroyed by and the
earthquake. Kingston was soon established and Parliament
abolished slavery on August 1, 1838. Large numbers of freed
blacks abandoned the plantations following emancipation and took
possession of occupied lands, gravely disrupting the economy.
Labor shortages bankrupt plantations, and declining trade
resulted in a delayed economic crisis. Jamaica was made a crown
colony thus losing the large degree of self-government it had
since the late 17th century. Representative government was partly
restored in 1884. Jamaica gained Independence when it united with
the Federation of the West Indies. The P.P. won large
parliamentary majority in 1989, returning Manley to power. He
introduced moderate free-market policies before resigning in
March 1992 because of poor health. Percival J. Patterson, his
successor as Prime Minister and PNP leader, easily won reelection
a year later. Jamaica is a jewel. It is a great place with great
people, and you can go there and see the beautiful beaches and
swim in the beautiful clear blue water, or go hiking in the
mountains, or listen to a band play on the street, or go
sightseeing in the beautiful cities. They have great culture, and
a unique style of living. I believe I have given you many
exciting reasons why I am nominating this my favorite place.
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