Jamaica Political Parties & Government Institutions
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JAMAICA
Arawaks lived peacefully for over 2,000 years until Christopher Columbus arrived in 1494. The Spanish were attacked by the British on May 10, 1655 and fled to Cuba. Slaves freed by the British conquerors became known as the Maroons, and they waged several battles against the British - in 1739  and 1740 . In the treaty of 1740, the Maroons were given land and rights as free men. After a failed attempt at a West Indies Federation in 1958, on August 6, 1962, Jamaica was granted its independence from England.
Economic notes:  Caribbean's only producer of bauxite. Economy also depends heavily on tourism, and to a lesser extent on cement, rum, light manufacturing, and food processing.
Sq. km: 10,991
Population: 2,695,867
Ethnic Groups: black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, mixed 7.3%, other  0.1%
Capital: Kingston
Governor General:  Sir Howard Felix Cooke (since 1 August 1991)
Prime Minister: Percival James Patterson (1992/2001) PNP   The government is formed by the PNP.
Opposition Leader:  Edward Seaga

Political Parties with web sites

Last Elections Held
16 October 2002 - PNP 52%, JLP 47.3%; seats by party -  PNP 34, JLP 26

Jamaica Government Media
Jamaica Information Service

Jamaica Political Newspapers
(Not yet available)

Jamaica Government Institutions
Bank of Jamaica
Jamaica Bureau of Standards
Jamaica Cabinet
Jamaica Constitution
Jamaica - Consular Information Sheet
Jamaica Defense Force
Jamaicans Overseas Department
Jamaica Promotions Corporation
Jamaica Tourist Board
Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management
Parliament of Jamaica
   Parliament has two chambers. The House of Representatives has 60 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat
constituencies. The Senate has 21 appointed members, 13 chosen by the Prime Minister and 8 by the Leader of the
Opposition..
Prime Minister's Office
Supreme Court of Jamaica

Education
University of the West Indies

Websites with information about Jamaica Elections
(Not yet available)

Jamaica Newspapers
Jamaica Gleaner
Jamaica Observer

Broadcast Media
Irie FM
Radio Jamaica

Chief Ministers
William Alexander Bustamante  5 May 1953 -  2 Feb 1955    JLP
Norman Washington Manley      2 Feb 1955 -  4 Jul 1959    PNP

Prime Ministers
Norman Washington Manley      4 Jul 1959 - 29 Apr 1962    PNP
William Alexander Bustamante 29 Apr 1962 - 22 Feb 1967    JLP
Donald Burns Sangster        22 Feb 1967 - 11 Apr 1967      JLP
Hugh Lawson Shearer          11 Apr 1967 -  2 Mar 1972         JLP
Michael Norman Manley         2 Mar 1972 -  1 Nov 1980   PNP
Edward Philip George Seaga    1 Nov 1980 - 10 Feb 1989         JLP
Michael Norman Manley        10 Feb 1989 - 30 Mar 1992     PNP
Percival James Patterson     30 Mar 1992- present                   PNP
 
 

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