Jamaica is the largest English speaking island in the Caribbean. It is 150 miles long and approximately 50 miles at the widest point, covering an area of 4,411 square miles. The interior is mountainous and gives rise to many rivers. The Blue Mountain, running east to west, reach a peak of 7,402 ft.

The island has a maritime tropical climate and temperature range from approximately 80 degrees – 90 degrees at sea level and from 50 to 60 degrees in the mountains. June through September are the warmest months and the traditionally rainy months are May and October.

Jamaica’s original inhabitants are the Arawaks who came from South America some 2500 years ago. They names the island “xayamaca”, which means ‘land of wood and water’. Christopher Columbus came upon the island in 1492 and claimed it for Spain. They substituted X for J and the island became Jamaica. The Arawaks were gentle, peaceful; people who loved dancing, hunting and playing ball games. The Arawak population was totally wiped out by the brutality of the Spanish settlers. They were replaced with African slaves.

The island was invaded in 1655 by the British expedition who failed to conquer Santo Domingo. Instead of going away empty handed, they took Jamaica as a consolation prize. The African slaves of the Spanish colonists escaped to the hills and lived a free life, they were called the Maroons. They harassed the British conquerors to such an extent they were granted independence and their own lands by treaty in 1734, and are in part autonomous even today.

English is the official and commercial language, although a local patois is widely spoken. The vast majority of Jamaicans are of African descent or mixed race Negroes, Indians, Caucasians, and Chinese. Jamaica has more churches per square mile than anywhere in the world. The largest religious body is the Anglican church and the others include Baptists, Roman Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Seventh Day Adventists and Moravians. There are also other religious groups such as Hindus, Bahia’s and Rastafarians.

Jamaica has two political parties, the Peoples National Party formed in 1938 and the Jamaica Labour Party formed in 1943. The Road to self government was paved in 1944 when adult suffrage was granted to all people of the age of 21 and over, giving them the right to vote. The first election under Universal Adult Suffrage was held in 1944 and the Jamaica Labour Party was victorious in the polls.

In January 1962, a draft if the Independence Constitution was unanimously approved. At midnight, August 5, 1962, the British flag was lowered and the Jamaican flag was hoisted for the first time. On August 6, 1962 Jamaica became an independent nation.