Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the
advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Edward SEAGA]; National Democratic
Movement or NDM [Hyacinth BENNETT]; People's National Party or PNP
[Percival James PATTERSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
New Beginnings Movement or NBM; Rastafarians (black
religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon SHIRLEY
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
FAX: [1] (202) 452-0081
telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660
chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sue McCourt COBB
embassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor,
Kingston 5
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [1] (876) 929-4850 through 4859
FAX: [1] (876) 935-6001
Flag description:
diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green
(top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)
Economy Jamaica
Economy - overview:
The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which now
account for 70% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its
foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. The
global economic slowdown, particularly after the terrorist attacks
in the US on 11 September 2001, stunted economic growth; the economy
rebounded moderately in 2003, with one of the best tourist seasons
on record. But the economy faces serious long-term problems: high
interest rates; increased foreign competition; a pressured,
sometimes sliding, exchange rate; a sizable merchandise trade
deficit; large-scale unemployment; and a growing internal debt, the
result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy. The
ratio of debt to GDP is close to 150%. Inflation, previously a
bright spot, is expected to remain in the double digits. Depressed
economic conditions have led to increased civil unrest, including
gang violence fueled by the drug trade. In 2004, the government
faces the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline
in order to maintain debt payments while simultaneously attacking a
serious and growing crime problem that is hampering economic growth.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $10.61 billion (2003 est.)