If you are not from, have no relative in, nor have yet visited Jamaica, I would at least assume you have heard of Jamaica. Whether it is from the internet, television, your work or in some movie? Is my assumption correct?
But even if you are familiar with Jamaica, I can probably bet you (and win) you never knew half of these interesting facts on Jamaica.
I myself was even surprised at some of these findings. Here you go!
- Jamaica was the first country in the Western world to construct a railway, even before the United States! This was only 18 years after Britain!
- Jamaica is the first Caribbean Country to gain Independence.
- Jamaica is the first team from the English-speaking Caribbean to qualify for the Football (Soccer) World Cup. This was the 1998 championship.
- Jamaica stands strong in 3rd place on the list of countries to win the Miss World titles the most! [Hmmm!] The only countries to have won it more than Jamaica is India, Venezuela and the UK, but considering the size of Jamaica, you have to say that this achievement is monumental!
- On his second voyage to the New World in 1494, the tip of the Blue Mountains in Jamaica was the first land sighted by Christopher Columbus.
- Jamaica was the first commercial producer of bananas in the Western Hemisphere.
- Jamaica also was the first island in the Caribbean to produce rum on a commercial basis.
- The Manchester Golf Club in Jamaica, established in 1868, is the oldest in the western hemisphere!.
- Apart from the United States, Jamaica has won the most world and olympic medals.
- 2006-2007: World Fastest man and woman- you bet, are Jamaicans [Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson].
- Jamaica has more multiple (two or more) live births than anywhere else in the world.
- Jamaica was the first country to impose economic sanctions against the apartheid regime of South Africa.
- Jamaica is the third largest in the Caribbean.
- Jamaica was the first Caribbean island to enact legislation, "The Motion Picture Industry (Encouragement) Act" to promote the making of films.
- Jamaica is the first country to sign a Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria grant agreement.
- Jamaica was the first tropical country to enter the IOC Winter Olympics. The bobsleigh team's efforts inspired the film ‘Cool Runnings’.
- Jamaica was the first colony England acquired by conquest. This was in the year 1655 when the Spanish were driven from the island.
- We have the second largest butterfly in the world? (The Giant Swallowtail).
- Another of the interesting facts on Jamaica is that it was the first British colonial territory to establish a postal service (in 1688).
- Jamaica was the first Caricom country to liberalize the telecommunications sector. Since then, other Caricom countries have opened up to competition.
- Another one I found to be one of the most interesting facts on Jamaica is that Jamaica was the first country in the caribbean region to launch a web site, jamaicatravel.com. This was in 1994!
- And if you know none of the above, (which is fine) I expect you at least know that Jamaica is the birth place of Robert ("Bob") Marley [smile]
Now my friend, get out and share you new found knowledge of Jamaica.
Wellesley Gayle is the author and publisher of http://www.my-island-jamaica.com. This website is a valuable resource that brings you helpful insight in this Caribbean Paradise. He welcomes you to subscribe to his blog and newsletter or contact him there.
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| Jamaica |
| Government: Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy Population: (July 2005) estimate 2,651,000 Currency: Jamaican dollar (JMD) Calling code: +1 876 Ethnic origins: Jamaica's population consists mainly of people of West-African descent, comprising about 90.9% of the demographics. Other populations on the island are as follows: East Indian 1.3%, White 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, Lebanese 0.1%, Multiracial 7.3%. Immigration from regions such as China, Colombia, South Asia, and other areas of the Caribbean have seen a steady rise. |
| Religion Christians make up 65.3% of Jamaica's population, with the majority being Protestant. Today, the five largest denominations in Jamaica are: Church of God, Seventh-day Adventist, Baptist, Pentecostal and Anglican. The Rastafari movement: was founded in Jamaica. Bob Marley, a convert to the faith, spread the message of Rastafari to the world. There are now estimated to be more than a million Rastafarians throughout the world. Non-Christian religions in Jamaica include: Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism. There is also a small population of Reform Jews in Jamaica and the West African folk cult of Obeah is found in poor urban and rural areas. |
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Every summer, during what might otherwise have been a slow tourist season, Montego Bay
comes alive with the pulsating sounds of reggae when the well-known reggae festival Reggae
Summerfest take place - (it was, until very recently, known as Reggae Sunsplash). Performers at
this festival have included Ziggy Marley, Cocoa Tea, the Melody Makers, Barefoot Hammond, the
Mystic Revelers, and some of the biggest names in reggae, both from Jamaica and abroad. Many
local hotels are fully booked for the festival, so advance reservations are necessary.
Surf around the site and tailor make your trip to this amazing island...we can offer you Montego
Bay Accommodation to fit any budget.
I will warn you though...seriously: Jamaica gets under your skin! Once you have set foot on this
earthly paradise...you are lost! For the rest of your life you will have a deep yearning to go back.
Jamaica is addictive! There is absolutely no need for the tourist industry to keep repeating their
slogan "Make it Jamaica again" - for most people do return anyway.
comes alive with the pulsating sounds of reggae when the well-known reggae festival Reggae
Summerfest take place - (it was, until very recently, known as Reggae Sunsplash). Performers at
this festival have included Ziggy Marley, Cocoa Tea, the Melody Makers, Barefoot Hammond, the
Mystic Revelers, and some of the biggest names in reggae, both from Jamaica and abroad. Many
local hotels are fully booked for the festival, so advance reservations are necessary.
Surf around the site and tailor make your trip to this amazing island...we can offer you Montego
Bay Accommodation to fit any budget.
I will warn you though...seriously: Jamaica gets under your skin! Once you have set foot on this
earthly paradise...you are lost! For the rest of your life you will have a deep yearning to go back.
Jamaica is addictive! There is absolutely no need for the tourist industry to keep repeating their
slogan "Make it Jamaica again" - for most people do return anyway.
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Experience The Real Jamaica, Mon
by Dorte Holm Jensen
Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean and is located
about 90 miles south of Cuba and a 1 1/2 hour plane ride from
Miami, Florida. It is about the size of Long Island, New York
stretching for over 146 miles from east to west and 51 miles from
north to south.
English is the official language in Jamaica. Although everyone speaks
and understands English, Jamaicans speak a dialect known as
"Patois," a creolized or abridged version of English which might be
hard to understand to most first time visitors. Most Jamaicans will be
happy to teach the average tourist a thing or two about "speaking
Patois." Not to worry though. There really is no language barrier in
Jamaica.
by Dorte Holm Jensen
Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean and is located
about 90 miles south of Cuba and a 1 1/2 hour plane ride from
Miami, Florida. It is about the size of Long Island, New York
stretching for over 146 miles from east to west and 51 miles from
north to south.
English is the official language in Jamaica. Although everyone speaks
and understands English, Jamaicans speak a dialect known as
"Patois," a creolized or abridged version of English which might be
hard to understand to most first time visitors. Most Jamaicans will be
happy to teach the average tourist a thing or two about "speaking
Patois." Not to worry though. There really is no language barrier in
Jamaica.
When I think of Jamaica I get the picture of clear blue skies, indigo
blue water, green lush nature or quite simply a vision of absolute
paradise. Jamaica really has it all: beaches, mountains, forests,
rivers, waterfalls, mangroves, crocodiles and cities...and a beautiful
people with a spirit like nowhere else in the world . And the nightlife
in Jamaica...makes any world city look like a small town in the
middle of nowhere.
You can literally feel the pulse of the island in every step you take....
and then the music hits you. The reggae music.
Jamaica was the birthplace of Bob Marley and it is still the Reggae
Capital of the world.
blue water, green lush nature or quite simply a vision of absolute
paradise. Jamaica really has it all: beaches, mountains, forests,
rivers, waterfalls, mangroves, crocodiles and cities...and a beautiful
people with a spirit like nowhere else in the world . And the nightlife
in Jamaica...makes any world city look like a small town in the
middle of nowhere.
You can literally feel the pulse of the island in every step you take....
and then the music hits you. The reggae music.
Jamaica was the birthplace of Bob Marley and it is still the Reggae
Capital of the world.
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