Political/religious geography of Jamaica

JAMAICAN RELIGION

Christianity, in its various denominations, some indigenous, is the religion of the vast majority of Jamaicans. There are, however, other religions observed and practiced in Jamaica by relatively smaller numbers of people, such as Islam, Judaism, and Hinduism.

RASTAFARI also spelled Ras Tafari , religious and political movement, begun in Jamaica in the 1930s and adopted by many groups around the globe, that combines Protestant Christianity, mysticism, and a pan-African political consciousness. Rastafari “livity,” or the principle of balanced lifestyle, includes the wearing of long hair locked in its natural, uncombed state, dressing in the colours of red, green, gold, and black (which symbolize the life force of blood, herbs, royalty, and Africanness), and eating an “I-tal” (natural, vegetarian) diet. Religious rituals include prayer services, the smoking of ganja (marijuana) to achieve better “itation” (meditation) with Jah, and “bingis” (all-night drumming ceremonies). Rastafari plays a large role in Jamaican culture.

According to the most recent census (2011), the population's religious affiliation consists of Church of God, 21%; Seventh-day Adventist, 9%; Pentecostal, 7.6%; Baptist, 9%; Anglican, 5.5%; Roman Catholic, 4%; United Church, 2%; Methodist, 2%; Jehovah's Witnesses, 2%; Moravian, 1%; Brethren, 1%; unstated, 3%; and "other," 10%. The category "other" includes 24,020 Rastafarians, an estimated 5,000 Muslims, 1,453 Hindus, approximately 350 Jews, and 279 Baha'is. The census reported that 21% claimed no religious affiliation.


JAMAICAN POLITICS

Government Type: Constitutional parliamentary democracy.
Branches: Executive--Governor General, prime minister, cabinet.
                 Legislative--bicameral Parliament Judicial--Court of Appeal and courts of original jurisdiction.

Political parties: People's National Party (PNP), Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), National Democratic Movement (NDM), New Nation Coalition (NNC) Suffrage: Universal at 18.

POLITICAL CONDITIONS Jamaica's political system is stable. However, the country's serious economic problems have exacerbated social problems and are the subject of political debate. High unemployment--averaging at least 12.0%--rampant underemployment, growing debt, and high interest rates are the most challenging economic problems. Violent crime is a serious problem, particularly in Kingston. The two major political parties have historical links with the two largest trade unions--the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) with the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), and the People's National Party with the National Workers Union (NWU).


JAMAICAN LANGUAGE 

The official language of Jamaica is English. Jamaicans primarily speak an English-African Creole language known as Jamaican Patois, which has become known widely through the spread of Reggae music. Jamaican Patois was formed from a base of mainly English words with elements of re-formed grammar, together with a little vocabulary from African languages and Native American words.