Jamaica Country & Tourist Information

Location
Caribbean.

Area
10,991 sq km (4,244 sq miles).

Population
2.7 million (UN, 2005).

Population Density
245.65 sq km.

Capital
Kingston.
Population: 660,000.

Government
Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1962.

Language
The official language is English. Local patois is also spoken.

Religion
Protestant majority (Anglican, Baptist, Church of God and Methodist) with Roman Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Bahai communities. Rastafarianism, a religion based on belief in the divinity of the late Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie (Ras Tafari), is also widely practiced.

Time
GMT - 5.

Electricity
110 volts AC, 60Hz, single phase. American two-pin plugs are standard, but many hotels offer, in addition, 220 volts AC, 50Hz, single phase, from three-pin sockets.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller since 2006.

Head of State
HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Kenneth Hall.

Telephone
Country code: 1 876. There are no area codes.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies.

Internet
There are several free Internet kiosks at shopping centers in Kingston. Internet cafes exist mainly in the Kingston area. Internet is also available in many hotels and parish libraries.

Media
Jamaica enjoys a free press. The broadcast media are predominantly commercial and the main newspapers are privately-owned.


Post
Airmail to Europe takes up to four days.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1630.

Press
• Daily papers are The Jamaica Gleaner (website: www.jamaica-gleaner.com), The Daily Star and The Jamaica Observer (website: www.jamaicaobserver.com).

Radio
• Radio Jamaica Ltd (RJR) operates three commercial networks: RJR 94 FM; entertainment station FAME-FM; music and sports station Radio 2 FM.
• Other commercial stations include Irie FM, reggae Hot 102, KLAS FM and Power 106.
• Roots 96.1 FM is a community station.
• BBC Caribbean Service and World Service radio programs are available via the BBC 104 FM network.

Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
21 Feb Ash Wednesday.
6 Apr Good Friday.
9 Apr Easter Monday.
23 May Labor Day.
1 Aug Emancipation Day.
6 Aug Independence Day.
17 Oct National Heroes’ Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Feb Ash Wednesday. 
21 Mar Good Friday.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
23 May Labor Day.
1 Aug Emancipation Day. 
4 Aug Independence Day.
17 Oct National Heroes’ Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

Contact Information:

Jamaica High Commission in the UK
1-2 Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BZ, UK
Tel: (020) 7823 9911.
Website: www.jhcuk.org
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0900-1700, Fri 0900-1600 (High Commission); Mon-Fri 1000-1430 (Consulate).

Jamaica Tourist Board in the UK
Address as High Commission.
Tel: (020) 7225 9090.
Website: www.visitjamaica.com

Caribbean Tourism Organization in the UK
22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, UK
Tel: (020) 8948 0057.
Website: www.doitcaribbean.com 

Jamaican Embassy in the USA
1520 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 452 0660.
Website: www.jamicaembassy.org

Jamaica Tourist Board in the USA
5201 Blue Lagoon Drive, Suite 670, Miami, Florida, 33126
Tel: (305) 665 0557 or 1 800 233 4582.
Website: www.visitjamaica.com


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