Jamaica

C

Mining and Manufacturing

The bauxite and alumina (enriched bauxite ore) industries are a mainstay of the Jamaican economy. In 2004 annual production of bauxite amounted to 13.3 million metric tons.

Beginning in the 1950s manufacturing became an increasingly important part of the Jamaican economy. Although it declined in the 1990s, it still accounts for 14 percent of gross domestic product. The government has granted concessions, such as duty-free importation and tax-relief programs, to further industrialization. Along with established food and beverage industries, the country manufactures products such as printed fabrics, clothing, footwear, paints, agricultural machinery, cement, transistor radios, and fertilizers. A petroleum refinery in Kingston produces fuel sufficient to meet about half the national demand.

D

Banking and Foreign Trade

The unit of currency is the Jamaican dollar, consisting of 100 cents (62.30 dollars equal U.S.$1; 2005 average). The Bank of Jamaica, established in 1960, is the central bank and bank of issue. Several commercial banks are also in operation.

Among the chief exports are alumina, bauxite, sugar, rum, clothing, and coffee, and all exports were valued at $1.1 billion in 2002. Leading purchasers are the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, and Japan. Food and animal products, chemicals, textiles, machinery, and petroleum are major imports; the value of all imports amounted to $3.5 billion. Chief sources are the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, Japan, Venezuela, and Canada.

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E

Transportation and Communications

In 1999 Jamaica had 18,700 km (11,620 mi) of roads; of these, about one-fourth were paved. Most of the railways in Jamaica are privately owned and used to transport bauxite. Numerous international airlines and Air Jamaica serve the island, and internal flights are provided by Trans-Jamaican Airlines.

Jamaica has two broadcasting companies, one public and one privately owned. In 1998 the country had 766 radio receivers and 187television sets for every 1,000 residents. In 2005 there were 129 telephone mainlines per 1,000 people.

F

Labor

In 2005 the employed labor force exceeded 1.2 million. However, Jamaica suffers from high unemployment; in 2004 the country’s unemployment rate was 11.4 percent. Many people are employed in seasonal work such as those who work on sugar plantations or in tourist facilities.

The main trade unions included the National Workers’ Union of Jamaica (NWU) and the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU). Each union was closely identified with one of the two main political parties: the NWU with the People’s National Party and the BITU with the Jamaica Labour Party.

V

Government

The Jamaican constitution, promulgated in 1962, established a parliamentary system of government patterned after that of Britain. The prime minister is the head of the government. Jamaica recognizes the British monarch as its own monarch and head of state. The monarch is represented by the governor-general, who is appointed on the advice of the prime minister.