North & Central America and Caribbean

Jamaica
Last reviewed: 05 August 2009

Country information

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HISTORY

Columbus landed in Jamaica on 4 May 1494 and found it occupied by Arawak Indians. He took possession in the name of Spain. The Arawaks had died out by the time an English expedition of 7,000 landed at Passage Fort on 10 May 1655. Most of the slaves the Spanish had imported from Africa remained in the interior using the opportunity to set up towns where they could live in freedom; they became known as the Maroons. In 1662 the people of Jamaica were given the rights of citizens of England and the right to make their own laws.

The People's National Party (PNP) was formed in 1938 under the leadership of Norman Manley, with the aim of establishing representative and responsible government for Jamaica within the Commonwealth. It is supported by the National Workers' Union to which it is affiliated. Alexander Bustamante formed the second major political party, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), in 1943. Like the PNP, the JLP derives support from Labour unions and affiliates to the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU). Jamaica became a member of the Federation of the West Indies in 1958 and self-governing in its internal affairs in 1959. As a result of a referendum in 1961, Jamaica withdrew from the Federation of the West Indies and became an independent sovereign country within the Commonwealth on 6 August 1962.

BBC News Country Timeline: Jamaica