Caribbean.

GMT - 5.

10,991 sq km (4244 sq miles).

2.7 million (UN, 2005).

245.65 sq km.

Kingston. Population: 660,000.

Jamaica is the third-largest island in the West Indies and is a narrow outcrop of a submerged mountain range. The island is crossed by a range of mountains reaching 2256m (7402ft) at the Blue Mountain Peak in the east, and descending towards the west with a series of spurs and forested gullies running north and south. Most of the best beaches are on the north and west coasts. The island’s luxuriant tropical and subtropical vegetation is probably unsurpassed anywhere in the Caribbean.

The head of state is the British monarch, represented by a Governor General who has nominal and rarely used powers. The 60-member House of Representatives, which is responsible for legislation, is elected every five years by universal suffrage. An upper house, the Senate, has 21 appointees to ratify legislation.

Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1962. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor General Sir Felixe Cook. Head of Government: Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller since 2006. Recent history: The People's National Party (PNP, social democrat) has held power since February 1989, first under Michael Manley and, since March 1992, PJ Patterson. Elections were held in October 2002, when the People's National Party (PNP) won a fourth consecutive term in office, giving PJ Patterson an unprecedented fourth term as Prime Minister. He has successfully tackled Jamaica's rampant inflation through tight monetary and fiscal policies and has sought to reduce the state's debt by privatising state enterprises. PJ Patterson stepped down in March 2006, after 14 years as Prime Minister. Portia Simpson Miller, the newly-elected leader of the ruling People's National Party (PNP), automatically succeeded him, becoming Jamaica's first female Prime Minister.

The official language is English. Local patois is also spoken.

Protestant majority (Anglican, Baptist, Church of God and Methodist) with Roman Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Bahai communities. Rastafarianism, a religion based on belief in the divinity of the late Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie (Ras Tafari), is also widely practised.

Handshaking is the customary form of greeting. As tourism is a major industry in Jamaica, the visitor is well catered for, and hotel and restaurant staff are generally friendly and efficient. Outside Kingston, the pace of life is relaxed and people are welcoming and hospitable. Normal codes of practice should be observed when visiting someone’s home. It may be common to see signs on the island referring to ‘Jah lives’, Jah being the name given to God by the Rastafarians. Casual wear is suitable during the day, but shorts and swimsuits must be confined to beaches and poolsides. Evening dress varies from very casual in Negril to quite formal during the season in other resorts, where some hotels and restaurants require men to wear jackets and ties at dinner. Possession of marijuana may lead to imprisonment and deportation.

110 volts AC, 60Hz, single phase. American two-pin plugs are standard, but many hotels offer, in addition, 220 volts AC, 50Hz, single phase, from three-pin sockets.