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1  Jamaicas name is derived from the Arawak word Xaymaca which roughlytranslates as Land of Wood and Water. http://www.jamaicans.com/
"Hardships there are, but the land is green and the sun shineth."
The three colors of the Jamaican Flag are Gold, Green and Black:
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Gold represents the natural wealth of this of this island nation, and natural beauty bestowed on Jamaica by the golden sunlight.
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Green is for Jamaica's agricultural resources and also represents hope.
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Black represents the many hardships endured and yet to come.
 History of Jamaica
Jamaica has a rich and vibrant history, which inspires us to move forward as a nation. Our history speaks to experiences of hardships and prosperity; and the growth and determination of a people. Jamaicas history has been poetically composed by Howard Pyle, who states:
Jamaica, like many other West Indian Islands, is like a woman with a history. She has had her experiences and has lived her life rapidly. She has enjoyed a fever of prosperity founded upon those incalculable treasures poured into her lap by the old time buccaneer pirates. She has suffered earthquake, famine, pestilence, fire and death: and she has been the home of cruel merciless slavery, hardly second to that practised by the Spaniards themselves. Other countries have taken centuries to grow from their primitive life through the flower and fruit of prosperity into the seed time of picturesque decrepitude. Jamaica has lived through it all in a few years.
- Howard Pyle, Jamaica New and Old in Harpers New Monthly Magazine, January 1890
http://www.jis.gov.jm/gov_ja/history.asp
Location
Jamaica, a nation in the West Indies, occupies the third largest island in the Caribbean Sea. Located south of Cuba and west of Hispaniola, Jamaica is slightly larger than the island of Hawaii. Kingston is its capital.http://www.discoverjamaica.com/gleaner/discover/bigmap.html
Economy
The economy, which depends heavily on tourism and bauxite, has been stagnant since 1995. After five years of recession, the economy inched ahead, by 0.8% in 2000, 1.7% in 2001, and 0.8% in 2002; the global economic slowdown, particularly in the United States after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, has stunted the economic recovery. Serious problems include: high interest rates; increased foreign competition; a pressured, sometimes sliding, exchange rate; a widening merchandise trade deficit; and a growing internal debt, the result of government bailouts to various ailing sectors of the economy, particularly the financial sector. Depressed economic conditions have led to increased civil unrest, including serious violent crime. Jamaica's medium-term prospects will depend upon encouraging investment and tourism, maintaining a competitive exchange rate, selling off reacquired firms, and implementing proper fiscal and monetary policies.
www.jamaicatravelnet.com
WOMEN'SITUATION
WOMEN'S STATUS
- In 1998, women accounted for 50.4% of the population.
- In 1999, estimated life expectancy was 77.4 years for women and 75.2 years for men.
- In 2000, the illiteracy rate for adult women was 9.3%, compared to 17.1% for men.
- The average life expectancy for women is 76.8 years compared to 72.4 years
- The percentage of females attending secondary schools in Jamaica has been consistently higer than that of males.
- While adult lietracy in males is 19%, it is only 11% for females
- 42% of jamican women are heads of household
Source: Women of the World: Laws and Policies Affecting Their Reproductive Lives - Latin America and the Caribbean, Progres Report 2000
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