La Vida

Jamaica is a country consisting of an island, which is the third largest of the Antilles, located south of Cuba. Its dimensions are 240 km long and up to 80 km in width situated in the Caribbean Sea in the coordinates 18 º 15 'N, 77 ° 30' W. It is 630 km from the Central American mainland, 150 km south of Cuba and 180 km west of the island of Spanish, which are Haiti and the Dominican Republic.It has a length of 1022 kilometers of coastline and a surface area of 350 km2 irrigated.

Jamaica is an independent state within the British Commonwealth and the Head of State representing Queen Elizabeth II as a Governor General.

The climate is tropical and humid all year round. The dry season runs from December to April, and corresponds to the tourist season. Temperatures are thereforebetween 19 and 30 º C (in Kingston).

The rainiest season is from May to November. The less rainy months are May and October. The average rainfall ranges from 100 mm to 25 mm in May to February (which is the driest month with 62% humidity).

In October, the wettest month (75% moisture), rainfall can reach an average of 180 mm. Between August and October's hurricane risk.

The terrain ismountainous except in several lowland areas on the southern coast. The main mountain range, located in the eastern part of the island, are the Blue Mountains, where the Blue Mountain (2,256 m), the highest peak in the Antilles. A series of smaller hills, with many cross foothills, extending along the west coast passing an extensive plateau. The coast of 1,022 km in length, is irregular, especially inthe south, so that the island has a number of excellent natural harbors, among which are those of Kingston, Saint Ann's Bay, Montego Bay and Port Maria.

In different areas of the island are hot springs. There appears no other volcanic phenomenon, but the island is subject to strong earthquakes. Many small rivers traverse the island but not suitable for navigation.

The Jamaican Constitution,enacted in 1962, establishing a system of parliamentary government, modeled on Britain. The prime minister is the head of government. The British monarch is the head of state and is represented by a governor general, who is appointed on the advice of the prime minister.

Executive power lies in Jamaica a Cabinet of 20 ministers, headed by a prime minister, who is the leader of the majority partyand is elected by the Chamber of Deputies with the approval of the governor general. The prime minister chooses the cabinet members.

Jamaica has a two-party system. The People's National Party (PNP) is a socialist orientation and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supports free enterprise in a mixed economy. Minority parties are the Workers' Party of Jamaica (Marxist character) and the AmericanParty of Jamaica, like the incorporation of Jamaica to the United States.

A bicameral Parliament holds the legislative power. The 60 members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected by universal suffrage for a term of five years. The 21 members of the Senate are elected by the governor general, 13 according to the suggestions of the Prime Minister and the remaining eight on the recommendation of theleader of the minority party.

The legal and judicial system is also based on the British system. The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, a court of appeal, the permanent magistrates, courts and other minor offenses.
Jamaica's population is primarily of African or mixed (with Europeans), a descendant of slaves brought to the island between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Amongstable minority citizens are Southeast Asian, European and Chinese. Nearly 48% of the population lives in rural areas.

Jamaica has a population (2008 estimate) of 2,801,544 inhabitants, representing a population density of 258.70 inhabitants / km ². Life expectancy is 71 years for men and 75 years for women (according to UN estimates for the period 2008). The annual rate of population growth,...