Jamaica
Jamaica has a fully digital telephone communication system with a mobile penetration of over 95%.[30]
The country’s three mobile operators - Cable and Wireless (marketed as bmobile), Digicel, and Oceanic Digital (operating as MiPhone) - have spent millions in network upgrade and expansion. The Irish owned Digicel has become a generic term for mobile phones in Jamaica. Both Digicel and Oceanic Digital were granted licenses in 2001 to operate mobile services in the newly liberalised telecom market that had once been the sole domain of the incumbent Cable and Wireless monopoly. Digicel opted for the more widely used GSM wireless system, while Oceanic opted for the CDMA standard. Cable and Wireless, which had begun with TDMA standard, subsequently upgraded to GSM, and currently utilises both standards on its network.
With wireless usage increasing, land lines supplied by Cable and Wireless have declined from just over half a million to roughly about three hundred thousand as of 2006.[30] In a bid to grab more market share, Cable and Wireless recently launched a new land line service called HomeFone Prepaid that would allow customers to pay for minutes they use rather than pay a set monthly fee for service, much like prepaid wireless service.
A new entrant to the Jamaican communications market, Flow Jamaica, recently laid a new submarine cable connecting Jamaica to the United States. This new cable increases the total number of submarine cables connecting Jamaica to the rest of the world to four.
Two more licenses were auctioned by the Jamaican government to provide mobile services on the island, including one that was previously owned by AT&T Wireless but never utilised, and one new licence. Industry analysts argue that with a near market saturation, there is very little room for new operators.
Military
The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is the small but professional military force of Jamaica. The JDF is based upon the British military model with organisation, training, weapons and traditions closely aligned with Commonwealth realms. Once chosen, officer candidates are sent to one of several British or Canadian basic officer courses depending upon which arm of service they are selected for. Enlisted soldiers are given basic training at JDF Training Depot, Newcastle or Up Park Camp, both in St. Andrew. As on the British model, NCOs are given several levels of professional training as they rise up the ranks. Additional military schools are available for speciality training in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The JDF is directly descended from the British West Indies Regiment formed during the colonial era. The West Indies Regiment was used extensively by the British Empire in policing the empire from 1795 to 1926. Other units in the JDF heritage include the early colonial Jamaica Militia, the Kingston Infantry Volunteers of WWI and reorganised into the Jamaican Infantry Volunteers in World War II. The West Indies Regiment was reformed in 1958 as part of the West Indies Federation. The dissolution of the Federation resulted in the establishment of the JDF.
The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) comprises an infantry Regiment and Reserve Corps, an Air Wing, a Coast Guard fleet and a supporting Engineering Unit. The infantry regiment contains the 1st, 2nd and 3rd (National Reserve) battalions. The JDF Air Wing is divided into three flight units, a training unit, a support unit and the JDF Air Wing (National Reserve). The Coast Guard is divided between sea-going crews and support crews. It conducts maritime safety and maritime law enforcement as well as defence-related operations. The support battalion contains a Military Police platoon as well as vehicle, armourers and supply units. The 1st Engineer Regiment provides military engineering support to the JDF. The Headquarters JDF contains the JDF Commander, Command Staff as well as Intelligence, Judge Advocate office, Administrative and Procurement sections.
In recent years the JDF has been called upon to assist the nation's police, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in fighting drug smuggling and a rising crime rate which includes one of the highest murder rates in the world. JDF units actively conduct armed patrols with the JCF in high-crime areas and known gang neighbourhoods. There has been vocal controversy as well as support of this JDF role. In early 2005, an Opposition leader, Edward Seaga, called for the merger of the JDF and JCF. This has not garnered support in either organisation nor among the majority of citizens.
Crime
- See also: Prisons in Jamaica
Some areas of Jamaica experience high levels of violent crime. Jamaica has had one of the highest murder rates in the world for many years, usually ranking third after Colombia and South Africa, according to UN estimates.[31] Jamaica's former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson described the situation as "a national challenge of unprecedented proportions".[32] In 2005, Jamaica had 1,674 murders for a murder rate of 64.10 per 100,000 people; that year Jamaica had the highest murder rate in the world.[33] The spate of gangland killings in the UK in particular, can be attributed to Yardie criminals illegally entering the country as part of the international drugs trade.[34]
See also
References
- ^ The United Confederation of Taíno People. Taíno Dictionary (Spanish). Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
- ^ Jamaican National Heritage Trust
- ^ Town of Montego Bay info
- ^ The Monarchy Today: Queen and Commonwealth. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
- ^ BBC News: Jamaica confirms opposition win. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.
- ^ Jamaicans to Cuba
- ^ Jamaican Census Figures. Retrieved on 2007-06-03.
- ^ Samuel Sharpe, Jamaica National hero. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
- ^ Antebellum Slavery: Plantation Slave Life. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
- ^ Antislavery Campaign in Britain. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
- ^ Paul Bogle, Jamaica National hero. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
- ^ George William Gordon, Jamaica National hero. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
- ^ Samual Sharpe, Jamaica National hero. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
- ^ Jamaican Census Figures. Retrieved on 2007-06-03.
- ^ religiousintelligence.co.uk, religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu
- ^ Jamaican Jews
- ^ Dawes, Mark (2003-06-10). publisher=Gleaner Co. Jews hold firm Life goes on in Old Synagogue. Retrieved on 2007-12-15.
- ^ Dr. Rebecca Tortello The History of Jamaica - Captivated by Jamaica
- ^ Moravian Church Contribution to Education in Jamaica. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
- ^ Transforming the Jamaican Education System. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
- ^ a b The CIA World Factbook - Jamaica Retrieved June 27 2007.
- ^ Highway 2000: Project Schedule Retrieved March 25 2007.
- ^ The Jamaica Observer Retrieved June 27 2007.
- ^ Jamaica. The World Factbook. CIA (2007-08-16). Retrieved on 2007-08-19. “Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2004 est.) Oil - consumption: 72,080 bbl/day (2004 est.)”
- ^ Petroleum Corp of Jamaica, Petroleum Industry Statistics. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
- ^ {{cite web |url=http://www.jpsco.com/site.nsf/web/powerPlants.htm |title=JPS - JPS' Power Plants |accessdate=2008-03-25}
- ^ Wigton Wind Farm Company. Retrieved on 2008-03-25.
- ^ Petroleum Corp of Jamaica, Petroleum Industry Statistics. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
- ^ Petroleum Corp of Jamaica, Petrojam Ethanol. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
- ^ a b Doing eBusiness in Jamaica, The Economist Intelligence Unit.
- ^ Nationmaster Crime Stats
- ^ Washington Post Foreign Service
- ^ Nationmaster Crime Stats
- ^ Washington Post Foreign Service
Further reading
- Chapman, V.J. 1961. The Marine Algae of Jamaica. Part 1. Myxophyceae and Chlorophyceae. Institute of Jamaica.
- Chapman, V.J. 1963. The Marine Algae of Jamaica. Part 2. Phaeophyceas and Rhodophyceae. Institute of Jamaica.
External links
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- Official website of Queen Elizabeth as Queen of Jamaica
- The Cabinet Office of the Government of Jamaica
- Pictures from Jamaica
- National Library of Jamaica materials in the Digital Library of the Caribbean
Wikimedia Atlas of Jamaica- Jamaica travel guide from Wikitravel
- Wikia has a wiki on this subject: Jamaica
- Jamaica at the Open Directory Project
- Jamaica entry at The World Factbook
- Satellite maps on Google
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