Jamaica
Why children in Jamaica need your help
Jamaica is famed around the world as the home of reggae music,
with Bob Marley its most famous export. The island is also
renowned for its beauty, food, music and strong sense of cultural
pride.
Jamaica has enjoyed relative political stability, and has a
number of natural resources, including bauxite and sugar. The
tourism industry also provides economic opportunities. However,
there is still considerable poverty spurred by high unemployment,
violence and drugs.
The situation for children in Jamaica has improved in recent
years, but children still account for one in every two Jamaicans
living in poverty. Violence and abuse are inherent problems, with
91 children murdered in 2005. Reports of sexual abuse in children
are common, one in five children are born to teenage mothers and
poor outcomes in education, especially for boys, is contributing
to continued poverty.
Country facts
The island of Jamaica was discovered by Christopher Columbus in
1494 and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century. African
slaves gradually replaced the native Taino Indians, before
England colonised the island in 1655. Slavery was abolished in
1834, freeing over a quarter of a million slaves, most of whom
became farmers.
Jamaica gradually gained independence from Britain, joining the
Federation of the West Indies in 1958, and gained full
independence when it withdrew from the Federation in 1962.
Since independence, Jamaica has been ruled at various stages by
both the social-democratic People's National Party and the
conservative Jamaica Labour Party. Elections have often been
tarnished by violence but the results have generally been
accepted.
In contrast to the luxury tourist resorts the island is famous
for, poverty is rife in over-populated ghettos.
- Population: 2.7 million
- Capital: Kingston
- Major languages: English
- Major religions: Christianity
- Life expectancy: 73 years
