"Jamaica" a Jamaica Travel Page by suraphona

<FONT Face="tahoma" SIZE="3" COLOR="#660099"><BLOCKQUOTE><B>Jamaica is an independent nation and a member of the British Commonwealth.<BR> <BR>After enjoying full internal self-government for a number of years Jamaica achieved independence in August of 1962. <BR><BR>Queen Elizabeth II however, is still Queen of Jamaica by tradition and the titular head of state is her representative on the island—the Governor General. It is similar to Canada.<BR><BR>

Democracy is complete, with an elected Parliament, a Prime Minister, an elected House of Representatives and a Senate. It works on similar lines to the British parliament. The constitution embodies absolute safeguards to personal liberties and democratic rule of law.<BR><BR>

Parliament sits at Gordon House on Kingston's Duke Street and visitors can watch proceedings from the visitors gallery.<BR><BR>

Population standing at 2,509,800 at the end of 1994 is made up of the following approximate ethnic groups: <BLOCKQUOTE>African 76.3%, Afro-European 15. 1%, European 0.8%, Chinese and Afro-Chinese 1.2I%, East Indian and Afro-East Indian 3.4% and others 3.4%.</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
Arawak Indians were the original inhabitants exterminated by the Spanish after Columbus discovered Jamaica in 1492.<BR> The Spanish were defeated by the British in 1655.<BR><BR>

Currency- Jamaica's currency is the Jamaican dollar,
not to be confused with the U.S. dollar. <BR>The value of the Jamaican dollar fluctuates but in Dec 1992 it was approximately JA$25 to US$1<p><center>As at 6 Feb 2003 JA$50=USD 1</center></b></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT>