| JAMAICA Jamaica Jamaica Joined United Nations: 18 September 1962 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Click here Updated 07/27/10 |
| CAPITAL |
| POPULATION |
| CHIEF OF STATE |
| SELECTION PROCESS |
Kingston
2,847,232 (July 2010 est.)
Elizabeth II of United Kingdom
Queen since 6 February 1952
Queen since 6 February 1952
The monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the
monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister;
Next scheduled election: None
monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister;
Next scheduled election: None
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
SELECTION PROCESS
Bruce Golding
Prime Minister since 11 September 2007
Prime Minister since 11 September 2007
Following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
the leader of the majority coalition in the House of
Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor
general; the deputy prime minister is recommended by the prime
minister Elections last held: 3 September 2007
Next scheduled election: October 2012
the leader of the majority coalition in the House of
Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor
general; the deputy prime minister is recommended by the prime
minister Elections last held: 3 September 2007
Next scheduled election: October 2012
| DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
Black 91.2%, mixed 6.2%, other or unknown 2.6% (2001 census)
| RELIGIONS |
Protestant 62.5% (Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, Pentecostal 9.5%, Other Church of God 8.3%, Baptist 7.2%,
New Testament Church of God 6.3%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God of Prophecy 4.3%,
Anglican 3.6%, other Christian 7.7%), Roman Catholic 2.6%, other or unspecified 14.2%, none 20.9%, (2001
census)
New Testament Church of God 6.3%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God of Prophecy 4.3%,
Anglican 3.6%, other Christian 7.7%), Roman Catholic 2.6%, other or unspecified 14.2%, none 20.9%, (2001
census)
| GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE |
Constitutional parliamentary democracy ; 14 parishes; Legal system is based on English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive: The monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the
prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition in
the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general; the deputy prime minister is
recommended by the prime minister
Legislative: Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member body appointed by the governor general on
the recommendations of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party is allocated 13 seats, and the
opposition is allocated eight seats) and the House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 September 2007 (next to be held no later than October 2012)
Judicial: Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of
Appeal
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive: The monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the
prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition in
the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general; the deputy prime minister is
recommended by the prime minister
Legislative: Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member body appointed by the governor general on
the recommendations of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party is allocated 13 seats, and the
opposition is allocated eight seats) and the House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 September 2007 (next to be held no later than October 2012)
Judicial: Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of
Appeal
| LANGUAGES |
English, English patois
| BRIEF HISTORY |
Tainos from South America had settled in Jamaica at around 1,000 BC and called the land Xamayca, meaning land of
wood and water. After Christopher Columbus' arrival in 1494, Spain claimed the island and began occupation in 1509,
naming the island Santiago (St. James). The Arawaks were exterminated by disease, slavery, and war. Some also
committed suicide, presumably to escape their conditions as slaves. Spain brought the first African slaves to Jamaica in
1517. On Jamaica one outspoken man, Bartolome de Las Casas, worked for the protection of the Taino population. It
was also he who suggested, and later came to regret, the importation of slaves from Africa. De Las Casas was a Spanish
priest, and wrote several books about the poor treatment of the natives by Spanish conquistadors. He believed that the
Spanish should work to convert the Tainos to Christianity. The settlers later moved to Villa de la Vega, now called
Spanish Town. This settlement became the capital of Jamaica. By the 1640s many people were attracted to Jamaica,
which had a reputation for stunning beauty. In fact, pirates were known to desert their raiding parties and stay on the
island. For 100 years between 1555 and 1655 Spanish Jamaica was subject to many pirate attacks, the final attack left
the island in the hands of the English. The English were also subject to pirate raids after they began their occupation of the
island. The 1907 Catholic Encyclopedia states, "A review of the period of Spanish occupation is one which reflects very
little credit on Spanish colonial administration in those days. Their treatment of the aboriginal inhabitants, whom they are
accused of having practically exterminated, is a grave charge, and if true, cannot be condoned on the plea that such
conduct was characteristic of the age, and that as bad or worse was perpetrated by other nations even in later years."
This is borne out by the much more detailed history of Spanish Jamaica by Francisco Morales Padrón. In May 1655,
British forces in the form of a joint expedition by Admiral Sir William Penn (father of the founder of Pennsylvania), and
General Robert Venables seized the island. In 1657 the Governor invited buccaneers to base themselves at Port Royal to
deter Spanish aggression. In 1657 and 1658 the Spanish, sailing from Cuba, failed at the battles of Ocho Rios and Rio
Nuevo in their attempts to retake the island, and in 1657 Admiral Robert Blake defeated the Spanish West Indian Fleet.
The British extended colonisation in 1661 and gained formal recognition of possession from other European powers
through the Treaty of Madrid in 1670. However part of the Island remained in the hands of the Maroons with whom they
signed a treaty on 1 March 1738. Although much of the Spanish capital, Villa de la Vega, was burned during the
conquest, the English renamed it Spanish Town and kept it as the island's capital. For some time, however, Port Royal
functioned as the capital while Spanish Town was being rebuilt. The island was a major base for pirates, especially at Port
Royal before it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1692. After the disaster, Kingston was founded across the harbor, one
of the largest natural havens in the world, and rapidly became the major commercial centre of the island. The cultivation of
sugar cane and coffee by African slave labour made Jamaica one of the most valuable possessions in the world for more
than 150 years. The colony's slaves, who outnumbered their white masters 300,000 to 30,000 in 1800, mounted over a
dozen major slave conspiracies and uprisings between 1673 and 1832. Escaped slaves, known as Maroons established
independent communities in the mountainous interior that the British were unable to defeat, despite major attempts in the
1730s and 1790s; one Maroon community was expelled from the island after the Second Maroon War in the 1790s and
those Maroons eventually became part of the core of the Creole community of Sierra Leone. The colonial government
enlisted the Maroons in capturing escaped plantation slaves. The British also used Jamaica's free people of color, 10,000
strong by 1800, to keep the enslaved population in check. During the Christmas holiday of 1831, a large scale slave
revolt (involving as many as 60,000 of the island's 300,000 slave population) known as the Baptist War broke. It was
organised originally as a peaceful strike by Samuel Sharp. The rebellion was suppressed by the militia of the Jamaican
plantocracy and the British garrison ten days later in early 1832. Because the loss of property and life in the 1831
rebellion, the British Parliament held two inquiries. The results of these inquiries contributed greatly to the abolition of
slavery as of August 1, 1834 throughout the British Empire. However the Jamaican slaves remained bound to their former
owners' service, albeit with a guarantee of rights, until 1838 under what was called the Apprenticeship System. The freed
population still faced significant hardships, marked by the October 1865 Morant Bay rebellion led by George William
Gordon and Paul Bogle. It was brutally repressed and in its wake the island's Assembly renounced its authority and
Jamaica became a Crown Colony. The sugar crop was declining in importance in the late 19th century and the colony
diversified into bananas. In 1872 the capital was moved to Kingston, as the port city had far outstripped the inland
Spanish Town in size and sophistication. The establishment of Crown Colony rule resulted over the next few decades in
the growth of a middle class of low-level public officials and police officers drawn from the mass of the population whose
social and political advancement was blocked by the colonial authorities. The Great Depression had a serious impact both
on the emergent middle class and the working class of the 1930s. In the spring of 1938 sugar and dock workers around
the island rose in revolt. Although the revolt was suppressed it led to significant changes including the emergence of an
organized labour movement and a competitive party system. Jamaica gained a degree of local political control in the
mid-1940s. The People's National Party (PNP) was founded in 1938. Its main rival, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) was
established five years later. The first elections under universal adult suffrage was held in 1944. Jamaica joined nine other
UK territories in the Federation of the West Indies in 1958 but withdrew after Jamaican voters rejected membership in
1961. Jamaica gained independence on August 6, 1962, remaining a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The first
prime minister was Alexander Bustamante of the Jamaica Labour Party. Initially, power swapped between the People's
National Party and the Jamaican Labour Party regularly. Michael Manley was the first PNP prime minister in 1972 and he
introduced socialist policies and improved relations with Cuba. His second term elections marked the start of repeated
political violence. When the PNP lost power in 1980 Edward Seaga immediately began to reverse the policies of his
predecessor, bringing in privatization and seeking closer ties with the USA. When the PNP and Manley returned to
power in 1989 they continued the more moderate policies and were returned in the elections of 1993 and 1998. Manley
resigned for health reasons in 1992 and was succeeded as leader of the PNP by Percival Patterson Historically, Jamaican
emigration has been heavy. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Jamaicans migrated to Central America, Cuba,
and the Dominican Republic to work in the banana and canefields. In the 1950s and 1960s the primary destination was
the United Kingdom; since the United Kingdom restricted emigration in 1962, the major flow has been to the United
States and Canada. About 20,000 Jamaicans emigrate to the United States each year; another 200,000 visit annually.
New York, Miami, Chicago, and Hartford are among the U.S. cities with a significant Jamaican population. Remittances
from the expatriate communities in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada make increasingly significant
contributions to Jamaica's economy.
Source: Wikipedia History of the Jamaica
wood and water. After Christopher Columbus' arrival in 1494, Spain claimed the island and began occupation in 1509,
naming the island Santiago (St. James). The Arawaks were exterminated by disease, slavery, and war. Some also
committed suicide, presumably to escape their conditions as slaves. Spain brought the first African slaves to Jamaica in
1517. On Jamaica one outspoken man, Bartolome de Las Casas, worked for the protection of the Taino population. It
was also he who suggested, and later came to regret, the importation of slaves from Africa. De Las Casas was a Spanish
priest, and wrote several books about the poor treatment of the natives by Spanish conquistadors. He believed that the
Spanish should work to convert the Tainos to Christianity. The settlers later moved to Villa de la Vega, now called
Spanish Town. This settlement became the capital of Jamaica. By the 1640s many people were attracted to Jamaica,
which had a reputation for stunning beauty. In fact, pirates were known to desert their raiding parties and stay on the
island. For 100 years between 1555 and 1655 Spanish Jamaica was subject to many pirate attacks, the final attack left
the island in the hands of the English. The English were also subject to pirate raids after they began their occupation of the
island. The 1907 Catholic Encyclopedia states, "A review of the period of Spanish occupation is one which reflects very
little credit on Spanish colonial administration in those days. Their treatment of the aboriginal inhabitants, whom they are
accused of having practically exterminated, is a grave charge, and if true, cannot be condoned on the plea that such
conduct was characteristic of the age, and that as bad or worse was perpetrated by other nations even in later years."
This is borne out by the much more detailed history of Spanish Jamaica by Francisco Morales Padrón. In May 1655,
British forces in the form of a joint expedition by Admiral Sir William Penn (father of the founder of Pennsylvania), and
General Robert Venables seized the island. In 1657 the Governor invited buccaneers to base themselves at Port Royal to
deter Spanish aggression. In 1657 and 1658 the Spanish, sailing from Cuba, failed at the battles of Ocho Rios and Rio
Nuevo in their attempts to retake the island, and in 1657 Admiral Robert Blake defeated the Spanish West Indian Fleet.
The British extended colonisation in 1661 and gained formal recognition of possession from other European powers
through the Treaty of Madrid in 1670. However part of the Island remained in the hands of the Maroons with whom they
signed a treaty on 1 March 1738. Although much of the Spanish capital, Villa de la Vega, was burned during the
conquest, the English renamed it Spanish Town and kept it as the island's capital. For some time, however, Port Royal
functioned as the capital while Spanish Town was being rebuilt. The island was a major base for pirates, especially at Port
Royal before it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1692. After the disaster, Kingston was founded across the harbor, one
of the largest natural havens in the world, and rapidly became the major commercial centre of the island. The cultivation of
sugar cane and coffee by African slave labour made Jamaica one of the most valuable possessions in the world for more
than 150 years. The colony's slaves, who outnumbered their white masters 300,000 to 30,000 in 1800, mounted over a
dozen major slave conspiracies and uprisings between 1673 and 1832. Escaped slaves, known as Maroons established
independent communities in the mountainous interior that the British were unable to defeat, despite major attempts in the
1730s and 1790s; one Maroon community was expelled from the island after the Second Maroon War in the 1790s and
those Maroons eventually became part of the core of the Creole community of Sierra Leone. The colonial government
enlisted the Maroons in capturing escaped plantation slaves. The British also used Jamaica's free people of color, 10,000
strong by 1800, to keep the enslaved population in check. During the Christmas holiday of 1831, a large scale slave
revolt (involving as many as 60,000 of the island's 300,000 slave population) known as the Baptist War broke. It was
organised originally as a peaceful strike by Samuel Sharp. The rebellion was suppressed by the militia of the Jamaican
plantocracy and the British garrison ten days later in early 1832. Because the loss of property and life in the 1831
rebellion, the British Parliament held two inquiries. The results of these inquiries contributed greatly to the abolition of
slavery as of August 1, 1834 throughout the British Empire. However the Jamaican slaves remained bound to their former
owners' service, albeit with a guarantee of rights, until 1838 under what was called the Apprenticeship System. The freed
population still faced significant hardships, marked by the October 1865 Morant Bay rebellion led by George William
Gordon and Paul Bogle. It was brutally repressed and in its wake the island's Assembly renounced its authority and
Jamaica became a Crown Colony. The sugar crop was declining in importance in the late 19th century and the colony
diversified into bananas. In 1872 the capital was moved to Kingston, as the port city had far outstripped the inland
Spanish Town in size and sophistication. The establishment of Crown Colony rule resulted over the next few decades in
the growth of a middle class of low-level public officials and police officers drawn from the mass of the population whose
social and political advancement was blocked by the colonial authorities. The Great Depression had a serious impact both
on the emergent middle class and the working class of the 1930s. In the spring of 1938 sugar and dock workers around
the island rose in revolt. Although the revolt was suppressed it led to significant changes including the emergence of an
organized labour movement and a competitive party system. Jamaica gained a degree of local political control in the
mid-1940s. The People's National Party (PNP) was founded in 1938. Its main rival, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) was
established five years later. The first elections under universal adult suffrage was held in 1944. Jamaica joined nine other
UK territories in the Federation of the West Indies in 1958 but withdrew after Jamaican voters rejected membership in
1961. Jamaica gained independence on August 6, 1962, remaining a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The first
prime minister was Alexander Bustamante of the Jamaica Labour Party. Initially, power swapped between the People's
National Party and the Jamaican Labour Party regularly. Michael Manley was the first PNP prime minister in 1972 and he
introduced socialist policies and improved relations with Cuba. His second term elections marked the start of repeated
political violence. When the PNP lost power in 1980 Edward Seaga immediately began to reverse the policies of his
predecessor, bringing in privatization and seeking closer ties with the USA. When the PNP and Manley returned to
power in 1989 they continued the more moderate policies and were returned in the elections of 1993 and 1998. Manley
resigned for health reasons in 1992 and was succeeded as leader of the PNP by Percival Patterson Historically, Jamaican
emigration has been heavy. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Jamaicans migrated to Central America, Cuba,
and the Dominican Republic to work in the banana and canefields. In the 1950s and 1960s the primary destination was
the United Kingdom; since the United Kingdom restricted emigration in 1962, the major flow has been to the United
States and Canada. About 20,000 Jamaicans emigrate to the United States each year; another 200,000 visit annually.
New York, Miami, Chicago, and Hartford are among the U.S. cities with a significant Jamaican population. Remittances
from the expatriate communities in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada make increasingly significant
contributions to Jamaica's economy.
Source: Wikipedia History of the Jamaica
| ECONOMIC OVERVIEW |
The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which now account for more than 60% of GDP. The country
continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Remittances account
for nearly 20% of GDP, but have declined 15% since the onset of the Global recession. Tourism revenues account for
20% of GDP, and arrivals have remained strong, up 4% in 2009, although total revenues have declined due to
discounts offered to retain visitors. The economy faces serious long-term problems: a sizable merchandise trade deficit,
large-scale unemployment and underemployment, and a debt-to-GDP ratio of more than 130%. Jamaica's onerous
debt burden - the fourth highest per capita - is the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy, most
notably to the financial sector in the mid-to-late 1990s. The Government of Jamaica signed a $1.27 billion, 27-month
Standby Agreement with the International Monetary Fund for balance of payment support in February 2010. Other
multilaterals have also provide millions of dollars in loans and grants. The government's difficult fiscal position hinders
spending on infrastructure and social programs, particularly as job losses rise in a shrinking economy. The GOLDING
administration faces the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline in order to maintain debt payments, while
simultaneously attacking a serious and growing crime problem that is hampering economic growth. High unemployment
exacerbates the crime problem, including gang violence that is fueled by the drug trade.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Jamaica)
continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Remittances account
for nearly 20% of GDP, but have declined 15% since the onset of the Global recession. Tourism revenues account for
20% of GDP, and arrivals have remained strong, up 4% in 2009, although total revenues have declined due to
discounts offered to retain visitors. The economy faces serious long-term problems: a sizable merchandise trade deficit,
large-scale unemployment and underemployment, and a debt-to-GDP ratio of more than 130%. Jamaica's onerous
debt burden - the fourth highest per capita - is the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy, most
notably to the financial sector in the mid-to-late 1990s. The Government of Jamaica signed a $1.27 billion, 27-month
Standby Agreement with the International Monetary Fund for balance of payment support in February 2010. Other
multilaterals have also provide millions of dollars in loans and grants. The government's difficult fiscal position hinders
spending on infrastructure and social programs, particularly as job losses rise in a shrinking economy. The GOLDING
administration faces the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline in order to maintain debt payments, while
simultaneously attacking a serious and growing crime problem that is hampering economic growth. High unemployment
exacerbates the crime problem, including gang violence that is fueled by the drug trade.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Jamaica)
| POLITICAL CLIMATE |
The two long-established political parties have historical links with two major trade unions — the Jamaica Labour Party
(JLP) with the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and the People's National Party (PNP) with the National
Workers Union (NWU). A third party, the National Democratic Movement (NDM), was created in October 1995; it
does not have links with any particular trade union, and its leading figures have mostly withdrawn from it or significantly
reduced their activity.
In 2005, JLP leader Edward Seaga (who had headed the party since 1974), announced his resignation from that
position. He was succeeded by Bruce Golding, who had been a government minister under him in the 1980s, but who
had broken from the JLP to found the NDM and had subsequently returned to the JLP.
In March 2006, Portia Simpson-Miller was appointed Jamaica's seventh Prime Minister. She is the first woman in the
country's history to hold the position of Prime Minister of Jamaica.
On September 11, 2007, Bruce Golding assumed office as Prime Minister of Jamaica.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Jamaica
(JLP) with the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and the People's National Party (PNP) with the National
Workers Union (NWU). A third party, the National Democratic Movement (NDM), was created in October 1995; it
does not have links with any particular trade union, and its leading figures have mostly withdrawn from it or significantly
reduced their activity.
In 2005, JLP leader Edward Seaga (who had headed the party since 1974), announced his resignation from that
position. He was succeeded by Bruce Golding, who had been a government minister under him in the 1980s, but who
had broken from the JLP to found the NDM and had subsequently returned to the JLP.
In March 2006, Portia Simpson-Miller was appointed Jamaica's seventh Prime Minister. She is the first woman in the
country's history to hold the position of Prime Minister of Jamaica.
On September 11, 2007, Bruce Golding assumed office as Prime Minister of Jamaica.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Jamaica
| INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES |
None reported.
| REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDP) |
None reported.
| ILLICIT DRUGS |
Transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation and consumption
of cannabis; government has an active manual cannabis eradication program; corruption is a major concern; substantial
money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Jamaica for illicit financial transactions
of cannabis; government has an active manual cannabis eradication program; corruption is a major concern; substantial
money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Jamaica for illicit financial transactions
| HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENTS, ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUES |
2009 Human Rights Report: Jamaica
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Jamaica is a constitutional parliamentary democracy with a population of approximately 2.8 million. In generally free and fair
elections in September 2007, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) won 32 of the 60 seats in the House of Representatives, and JLP
leader Bruce Golding was sworn in as prime minister. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security
forces.
While the government generally respected the human rights of its citizens, there were serious problems in some areas, including:
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Jamaica is a constitutional parliamentary democracy with a population of approximately 2.8 million. In generally free and fair
elections in September 2007, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) won 32 of the 60 seats in the House of Representatives, and JLP
leader Bruce Golding was sworn in as prime minister. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security
forces.
While the government generally respected the human rights of its citizens, there were serious problems in some areas, including:
- unlawful killings committed by members of the security forces,
- abuse of detainees and prisoners by police and prison guards,
- poor prison and jail conditions,
- impunity for police who committed crimes,
- an overburdened judicial system and frequent lengthy delays in trials,
- violence and discrimination against women,
- trafficking in persons,
- violence against person based on their suspected or known sexual orientation.
25 August 2006
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Thirty-sixth session
7-25 August 2006
Concluding comments of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Jamaica
Introduction
2. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for its fifth periodic report, which followed the Committee’s
guidelines for preparation of periodic reports, while noting that it does not refer to the Committee’s general recommendations and
lacks sufficient data disaggregated by sex. The Committee also expresses appreciation to the State party for the written replies to
the list of issues and questions raised by its pre-session working group and for the introductory statement and further clarifications
provided in response to the questions posed orally by the Committee.
Positive aspects
5. The Committee commends the State party for its commitment at the highest level to accede to the Optional Protocol to the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and welcomes the time frame for ratification as
indicated by the delegation.
6. The Committee commends the State party for the 2004 amendment to the Domestic Violence Act, and the passage of the 2004
Property (Rights of Spouses) Act and the 2005 Maintenance Act. It further recognizes the passage of the 2004 Child Care and
Protection Act and the ratification, in December 2005, of the Convention of Belém do Pará, the United Nations Convention against
Transnational Organized Crime, and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and
Children.
Principal areas of concern and recommendations
10. While recalling the State party’s obligation to systematically and continuously implement all the provisions of the Convention,
the Committee views the concerns and recommendations identified in the present concluding comments as requiring the State party’
s priority attention between the present time and the submission of the next periodic report. Consequently, the Committee calls
upon the State party to focus on those areas in its implementation activities and to report on action taken and results achieved in
its next periodic report. It calls on the State party to submit the present concluding comments to all relevant ministries and to
Parliament so as to ensure their full implementation.
Click here to read more »
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Thirty-sixth session
7-25 August 2006
Concluding comments of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women: Jamaica
Introduction
2. The Committee expresses its appreciation to the State party for its fifth periodic report, which followed the Committee’s
guidelines for preparation of periodic reports, while noting that it does not refer to the Committee’s general recommendations and
lacks sufficient data disaggregated by sex. The Committee also expresses appreciation to the State party for the written replies to
the list of issues and questions raised by its pre-session working group and for the introductory statement and further clarifications
provided in response to the questions posed orally by the Committee.
Positive aspects
5. The Committee commends the State party for its commitment at the highest level to accede to the Optional Protocol to the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and welcomes the time frame for ratification as
indicated by the delegation.
6. The Committee commends the State party for the 2004 amendment to the Domestic Violence Act, and the passage of the 2004
Property (Rights of Spouses) Act and the 2005 Maintenance Act. It further recognizes the passage of the 2004 Child Care and
Protection Act and the ratification, in December 2005, of the Convention of Belém do Pará, the United Nations Convention against
Transnational Organized Crime, and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and
Children.
Principal areas of concern and recommendations
10. While recalling the State party’s obligation to systematically and continuously implement all the provisions of the Convention,
the Committee views the concerns and recommendations identified in the present concluding comments as requiring the State party’
s priority attention between the present time and the submission of the next periodic report. Consequently, the Committee calls
upon the State party to focus on those areas in its implementation activities and to report on action taken and results achieved in
its next periodic report. It calls on the State party to submit the present concluding comments to all relevant ministries and to
Parliament so as to ensure their full implementation.
Click here to read more »
FREEDOM IN THE WORLD 2010 REPORT
Political Rights Score: 2
Civil Liberties Score: 3
Status: Free
Overview
In 2009, Jamaica experienced an increase in crime, with homicides reaching an all-time high of 1,680, surpassing the previous
record from 2005. Gang violence persisted, especially in urban areas.
Under Golding’s rule, Jamaica has continued to struggle with high levels of crime. In the first six months of 2009, 4,778 major
crimes were reported, representing a 19 percent increase over the same period the previous year. The 1,680 homicides reported in
2009 represented an all-time high, marking a four percent increase over 2008 numbers. Over half of these murders were gang-
related and only 21 percent were solved in court.
In April 2009, Jamaica witnessed its first major airplane hijacking in years when a gunman took six crew members hostage on a
CanJet flight; however, the perpetrator was captured after an eight hour standoff, and no injuries were reported.
Jamaica is an electoral democracy. Violence has often accompanied elections, but in the 2007 vote there were only two shootings.
The British monarch is represented as head of state by a governor-general, who is appointed by the monarch on the
recommendation of the Jamaican prime minister. Following legislative elections, the governor-general appoints the leader of the
majority party or coalition in the lower house, the House of Representatives, to be the prime minister. The bicameral Parliament
consists of the 60-member House of Representatives, elected for five years, and the 21-member Senate, with 13 senators appointed
on the advice of the prime minister and 8 on the advice of the opposition leader.
In recent years, the ideological gulf between the two main political parties—the center-left PNP and the more conservative JLP—
has narrowed considerably due to the retirement of their respective veteran leaders.
Corruption remains a considerable problem. Government whistleblowers who object to official acts of waste, fraud, or abuse of
power are not well protected by Jamaican law, as is required under the Inter-American Convention against Corruption. In 2009, an
overhaul of the customs service resulted in the firing of several employees allegedly linked to corruption, and customs revenue
subsequently increased by 25 percent. The Corruption Prevention Act of 2002 requires that some government officials make their
financial assets public, but implementation of this rule has been problematic; over 5,000 government employees have reportedly
filed late or not at all. Jamaica was ranked 99 out of 180 countries surveyed in Transparency International’s 2009 Corruption
Perceptions Index.
Click here to read more »
Political Rights Score: 2
Civil Liberties Score: 3
Status: Free
Overview
In 2009, Jamaica experienced an increase in crime, with homicides reaching an all-time high of 1,680, surpassing the previous
record from 2005. Gang violence persisted, especially in urban areas.
Under Golding’s rule, Jamaica has continued to struggle with high levels of crime. In the first six months of 2009, 4,778 major
crimes were reported, representing a 19 percent increase over the same period the previous year. The 1,680 homicides reported in
2009 represented an all-time high, marking a four percent increase over 2008 numbers. Over half of these murders were gang-
related and only 21 percent were solved in court.
In April 2009, Jamaica witnessed its first major airplane hijacking in years when a gunman took six crew members hostage on a
CanJet flight; however, the perpetrator was captured after an eight hour standoff, and no injuries were reported.
Jamaica is an electoral democracy. Violence has often accompanied elections, but in the 2007 vote there were only two shootings.
The British monarch is represented as head of state by a governor-general, who is appointed by the monarch on the
recommendation of the Jamaican prime minister. Following legislative elections, the governor-general appoints the leader of the
majority party or coalition in the lower house, the House of Representatives, to be the prime minister. The bicameral Parliament
consists of the 60-member House of Representatives, elected for five years, and the 21-member Senate, with 13 senators appointed
on the advice of the prime minister and 8 on the advice of the opposition leader.
In recent years, the ideological gulf between the two main political parties—the center-left PNP and the more conservative JLP—
has narrowed considerably due to the retirement of their respective veteran leaders.
Corruption remains a considerable problem. Government whistleblowers who object to official acts of waste, fraud, or abuse of
power are not well protected by Jamaican law, as is required under the Inter-American Convention against Corruption. In 2009, an
overhaul of the customs service resulted in the firing of several employees allegedly linked to corruption, and customs revenue
subsequently increased by 25 percent. The Corruption Prevention Act of 2002 requires that some government officials make their
financial assets public, but implementation of this rule has been problematic; over 5,000 government employees have reportedly
filed late or not at all. Jamaica was ranked 99 out of 180 countries surveyed in Transparency International’s 2009 Corruption
Perceptions Index.
Click here to read more »
Jamaica violence investigation must be thorough
27 May 2010
Amnesty International has called for a thorough investigation into the deaths of dozens of people in the Jamaican capital Kingston
during a security operation to arrest an alleged drug dealer.
The violence started in the capital city of Kingston on Sunday 23 May, as armed supporters of alleged drug dealer Christopher
"Dudus" Coke protested against his potential extradition to the US.
Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding declared a state of emergency on Sunday, giving the security forces broad new powers to
restrict freedom of movement, search premises and detain persons suspected of involvement in unlawful activities without a
warrant.
"While the Jamaican police have a duty to maintain law and order, the attribution of extraordinary powers to the security forces
may lead to human rights violations," said Kerrie Howard, Deputy Director of Amnesty International's America's programme
According to reports, estimates of the death toll vary from 44 to 60. At least three members of the security forces have also been
killed.
Security forces have so far accounted for four firearms seized, quite a low number compared with the number of people killed.
"The human rights record of the police force in Jamaica is dire. Every year the police are responsible for a high number of killings.
Evidence indicates that many of these killings are unlawful," said Kerrie Howard.
"In this context, residents of the affected areas, including those not involved in the armed confrontation, may become victims of
abuses by the security forces. Only an impartial and thorough investigation of every death or injury caused by the use of force will
enable the facts to be established regarding possible unlawful killings or extra-judiciary executions.
Police in Jamaica killed 253 people in 2009, a figure consistent with previous years.
In most cases, the police justify these killings as the result of shoot-outs with gunmen, especially in the context of gang violence in
marginalized inner-city communities.
The high number of killings, the virtual absence of injuries or fatalities of police officers, combined with eyewitness testimonies and
other evidence, indicate that many of the killings involved excessive or arbitrary use of force by the police and that, in many cases
they amounted to unlawful killings, including extrajudicial executions.
Click here to read more »
27 May 2010
Amnesty International has called for a thorough investigation into the deaths of dozens of people in the Jamaican capital Kingston
during a security operation to arrest an alleged drug dealer.
The violence started in the capital city of Kingston on Sunday 23 May, as armed supporters of alleged drug dealer Christopher
"Dudus" Coke protested against his potential extradition to the US.
Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding declared a state of emergency on Sunday, giving the security forces broad new powers to
restrict freedom of movement, search premises and detain persons suspected of involvement in unlawful activities without a
warrant.
"While the Jamaican police have a duty to maintain law and order, the attribution of extraordinary powers to the security forces
may lead to human rights violations," said Kerrie Howard, Deputy Director of Amnesty International's America's programme
According to reports, estimates of the death toll vary from 44 to 60. At least three members of the security forces have also been
killed.
Security forces have so far accounted for four firearms seized, quite a low number compared with the number of people killed.
"The human rights record of the police force in Jamaica is dire. Every year the police are responsible for a high number of killings.
Evidence indicates that many of these killings are unlawful," said Kerrie Howard.
"In this context, residents of the affected areas, including those not involved in the armed confrontation, may become victims of
abuses by the security forces. Only an impartial and thorough investigation of every death or injury caused by the use of force will
enable the facts to be established regarding possible unlawful killings or extra-judiciary executions.
Police in Jamaica killed 253 people in 2009, a figure consistent with previous years.
In most cases, the police justify these killings as the result of shoot-outs with gunmen, especially in the context of gang violence in
marginalized inner-city communities.
The high number of killings, the virtual absence of injuries or fatalities of police officers, combined with eyewitness testimonies and
other evidence, indicate that many of the killings involved excessive or arbitrary use of force by the police and that, in many cases
they amounted to unlawful killings, including extrajudicial executions.
Click here to read more »
Jamaica: Investigate Killings in Tivoli Gardens
Reports of Unarmed Men Shot by Soldiers
June 4, 2010
(Washington, DC) - Jamaican authorities should conduct prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into alleged extrajudicial
killings by state security forces in the Tivoli Gardens section of Kingston, Human Rights Watch said today.
Human Rights Watch has received credible reports from local human rights advocates indicating that some of the more than 70
deaths in a joint police and military operation to arrest the alleged illegal drug trafficker Christopher "Dudus" Coke may have
involved extrajudicial executions of civilians by members of the Jamaican security forces. In several instances, witnesses reported
seeing soldiers shoot unarmed men at point-blank range.
"An independent and impartial investigation is critical to determine whether any of the killings were in fact the result of excessive
force or outright executions," said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch.
The joint police and military operation on May 23, 2010, touched off three days of violence. The dead included three members of
the security forces. Officials and media reports said that the security forces encountered an armed, organized opposition by Coke
supporters. Tivoli Gardens has long been known as a stronghold for the Shower Posse gang, which Coke allegedly runs.
The United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials provides that law
enforcement officials, in carrying out their duty, shall, as far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of
force and firearms. Whenever the lawful use of force and firearms is unavoidable, law enforcement officials shall use restraint and
act in proportion to the seriousness of the offense. The legitimate objective should be achieved with minimal damage and injury, and
preservation of human life respected. The Basic Principles call for an effective reporting and review process, especially in cases of
death and serious injury.
Click here to read more »
Reports of Unarmed Men Shot by Soldiers
June 4, 2010
(Washington, DC) - Jamaican authorities should conduct prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into alleged extrajudicial
killings by state security forces in the Tivoli Gardens section of Kingston, Human Rights Watch said today.
Human Rights Watch has received credible reports from local human rights advocates indicating that some of the more than 70
deaths in a joint police and military operation to arrest the alleged illegal drug trafficker Christopher "Dudus" Coke may have
involved extrajudicial executions of civilians by members of the Jamaican security forces. In several instances, witnesses reported
seeing soldiers shoot unarmed men at point-blank range.
"An independent and impartial investigation is critical to determine whether any of the killings were in fact the result of excessive
force or outright executions," said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch.
The joint police and military operation on May 23, 2010, touched off three days of violence. The dead included three members of
the security forces. Officials and media reports said that the security forces encountered an armed, organized opposition by Coke
supporters. Tivoli Gardens has long been known as a stronghold for the Shower Posse gang, which Coke allegedly runs.
The United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials provides that law
enforcement officials, in carrying out their duty, shall, as far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of
force and firearms. Whenever the lawful use of force and firearms is unavoidable, law enforcement officials shall use restraint and
act in proportion to the seriousness of the offense. The legitimate objective should be achieved with minimal damage and injury, and
preservation of human life respected. The Basic Principles call for an effective reporting and review process, especially in cases of
death and serious injury.
Click here to read more »
STATEMENT BY H. E. RAYMOND O. WOLFE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF JAMAICA TO THE UNITED
NATIONS AT THE FOURTH BIENNIAL MEETING OF STATES TO CONSIDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
PROGRAMME OF ACTION (POA) TO PREVENT, COMBAT AND ERADICATE THE ILLICIT TRADE IN SMALL ARMS
AND LIGHT WEAPONS IN ALL ITS ASPECTS
NEW YORK, 14TH TO 18TH JUNE 2010
Mr. Chairman,
As a small island developing State Jamaica continues to grapple with the harmful effects of the illicit trade in small arms which is
endangering the well being of our people, and their socio–economic development.
Recent events in our nation’s capital Kingston, has underscored a pertinent fact; that the easy access to small arms and light
weapons promotes conflicts, exacerbates violence, increases the activities of organized crime and in many instances threatens to
undermine the authority of the State as well as the socio-economic development of our society.
For many developing countries like Jamaica, one of the many and varied ways by which those engaged in the trafficking of illegal
weapons have managed to exploit with impunity has been through relatively open and moderately secured borders.
The porous nature of our borders: land, air and sea, has unwittingly facilitated to a large extent, the illicit trade in small arms and
light weapons on our shores, the Government continues to push for improved and increased mechanisms to mitigate the flow of
illicit small arms through the country’s ports of entry and coastline.
Our Ministry of National Security continues to work assiduously to develop a comprehensive policy agenda to support national
security objectives. A plethora of solutions including legislative proposals is being explored by the Government at this time.
The transnational dimension of the problem cannot be overstated. The illicit traffic in small arms is part of the criminal networks
that extend to countries in South America, North America and Europe. That is why the active collaboration assistance of our
regional and international partners is crucial in our fight to develop and implement effective border control methods, practices and
procedures.
The nexus between narco- trafficking and the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons cannot be ignored and in this regard
the Government remains committed to confronting the challenges at hand.
Click here to read more »
NATIONS AT THE FOURTH BIENNIAL MEETING OF STATES TO CONSIDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
PROGRAMME OF ACTION (POA) TO PREVENT, COMBAT AND ERADICATE THE ILLICIT TRADE IN SMALL ARMS
AND LIGHT WEAPONS IN ALL ITS ASPECTS
NEW YORK, 14TH TO 18TH JUNE 2010
Mr. Chairman,
As a small island developing State Jamaica continues to grapple with the harmful effects of the illicit trade in small arms which is
endangering the well being of our people, and their socio–economic development.
Recent events in our nation’s capital Kingston, has underscored a pertinent fact; that the easy access to small arms and light
weapons promotes conflicts, exacerbates violence, increases the activities of organized crime and in many instances threatens to
undermine the authority of the State as well as the socio-economic development of our society.
For many developing countries like Jamaica, one of the many and varied ways by which those engaged in the trafficking of illegal
weapons have managed to exploit with impunity has been through relatively open and moderately secured borders.
The porous nature of our borders: land, air and sea, has unwittingly facilitated to a large extent, the illicit trade in small arms and
light weapons on our shores, the Government continues to push for improved and increased mechanisms to mitigate the flow of
illicit small arms through the country’s ports of entry and coastline.
Our Ministry of National Security continues to work assiduously to develop a comprehensive policy agenda to support national
security objectives. A plethora of solutions including legislative proposals is being explored by the Government at this time.
The transnational dimension of the problem cannot be overstated. The illicit traffic in small arms is part of the criminal networks
that extend to countries in South America, North America and Europe. That is why the active collaboration assistance of our
regional and international partners is crucial in our fight to develop and implement effective border control methods, practices and
procedures.
The nexus between narco- trafficking and the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons cannot be ignored and in this regard
the Government remains committed to confronting the challenges at hand.
Click here to read more »
'Official Secrets Act a relic'
Human rights body advocates repeal or reform
With Alicia Dunkley
Sunday, July 18, 2010
THE Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights has urged the Government to either repeal or reform the 1911 Official Secrets
Act, warning that the provision, if kept as is, will void the Whistle-blower legislation now being debated by Parliament.
This was the line carried by attorneys Lord Anthony Gifford QC and Nancy Anderson on behalf of the Council to the Joint Select
Committee of Parliament reviewing the Whistle-blower Bill, formally called the Protected Disclosures Act, on Thursday.
"My own view is that the Official Secrets Act is a relic of a past where Government took place behind closed doors and nobody
was allowed or expected to know what took place behind those doors. We are now in an age of transparency," Lord Gifford said.
While commending the Whistle-blower Bill, the concern, he said, was the impact of clause 4 (2) of the provision, which says a
disclosure of information is not protected if the employee making the disclosure commits an offence by making it; as this would be
in direct conflict with the Official Secrets Act.
"That means if the communicating of the information would constitute an offence, the information is not protected no matter how
you go to the ombudsman or the contractor general," he explained.
Under the Official Secrets Act, if a person employed to the state in a sensitive post passes on information or documents obtained
based on their position to any person other than a person they are authorised to communicate it to, that person is guilty of a
misdemeanour.
"In other words, anything you learn is a secret... It does take all the stuffing out of the Whistle-blower Act if a public servant is
inhibited from making the sort of disclosures one would expect him or her to make in case of wrongdoing known to him or her in
Government," Lord Gifford said.
He urged lawmakers to take another look at the Official Secrets Act or at least ensure that the Whistle-blower legislation protects
information that would otherwise not be protected under the Official Secrets Act.
"In other words, the Protected Disclosures Bill should trump the Official Secrets Act. I hope this apparent conflict could be
resolved," he said.
Click here to read more »
Human rights body advocates repeal or reform
With Alicia Dunkley
Sunday, July 18, 2010
THE Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights has urged the Government to either repeal or reform the 1911 Official Secrets
Act, warning that the provision, if kept as is, will void the Whistle-blower legislation now being debated by Parliament.
This was the line carried by attorneys Lord Anthony Gifford QC and Nancy Anderson on behalf of the Council to the Joint Select
Committee of Parliament reviewing the Whistle-blower Bill, formally called the Protected Disclosures Act, on Thursday.
"My own view is that the Official Secrets Act is a relic of a past where Government took place behind closed doors and nobody
was allowed or expected to know what took place behind those doors. We are now in an age of transparency," Lord Gifford said.
While commending the Whistle-blower Bill, the concern, he said, was the impact of clause 4 (2) of the provision, which says a
disclosure of information is not protected if the employee making the disclosure commits an offence by making it; as this would be
in direct conflict with the Official Secrets Act.
"That means if the communicating of the information would constitute an offence, the information is not protected no matter how
you go to the ombudsman or the contractor general," he explained.
Under the Official Secrets Act, if a person employed to the state in a sensitive post passes on information or documents obtained
based on their position to any person other than a person they are authorised to communicate it to, that person is guilty of a
misdemeanour.
"In other words, anything you learn is a secret... It does take all the stuffing out of the Whistle-blower Act if a public servant is
inhibited from making the sort of disclosures one would expect him or her to make in case of wrongdoing known to him or her in
Government," Lord Gifford said.
He urged lawmakers to take another look at the Official Secrets Act or at least ensure that the Whistle-blower legislation protects
information that would otherwise not be protected under the Official Secrets Act.
"In other words, the Protected Disclosures Bill should trump the Official Secrets Act. I hope this apparent conflict could be
resolved," he said.
Click here to read more »
PUBLIC DEFENDER SETS UP OFFICE IN TIVOLI GARDENS
Bulletin 29
Kingston, (JIS) May 28, 2010
Public Defender, Earl Witter, is advising persons in and around the West Kingston community, who witnessed or experienced
excesses on the part of the security forces during the recent civil unrest in West Kingston, to visit or call the recently established
post at the Tivoli Gardens community centre to air their complaints.
"We have established offices temporarily in Tivoli Gardens to receive complaints for the ease and convenience of residents of that
community and Denham Town, because we have received complaints of police excesses and other atrocities," Mr. Witter told JIS
News.
He said that investigations have already begun and encouraged persons to visit or call to schedule appointments. The numbers to
call are: 922-7109 or 922-8256.
To ensure ease of access and to avoid jamming of the telephone lines, Mr. Witter said that only persons, who reside outside of
Tivoli Gardens, should call the numbers to be interviewed or to schedule appointments. Interviews, he informed, will be conducted
at the community centre or at the Public Defender's office on Harbour Street.
He implored residents inside Tivoli Gardens to visit the community centre to schedule interviews.
"What we are doing is discharging our statutory functions to investigate these complaints to determine whether or not the law
enforcement arm of the state, the (Jamaica Constabulary Force) and/or JDF (Jamaica Defence Force) has infringed any legal and
or constitutional right of any citizen in the purported exercise of their state of emergency powers," Mr. Witter stated.
The Office of the Public Defender, he explained, "is an independent commission of Parliament mandated to investigate
governmental maladministration and to protect and enforce constitutional rights, in particular, the fundamental rights and freedoms
of our people, including the right to life, and the protection against arbitrary arrest, save during periods of public emergency."
Click here to read more »
Bulletin 29
Kingston, (JIS) May 28, 2010
Public Defender, Earl Witter, is advising persons in and around the West Kingston community, who witnessed or experienced
excesses on the part of the security forces during the recent civil unrest in West Kingston, to visit or call the recently established
post at the Tivoli Gardens community centre to air their complaints.
"We have established offices temporarily in Tivoli Gardens to receive complaints for the ease and convenience of residents of that
community and Denham Town, because we have received complaints of police excesses and other atrocities," Mr. Witter told JIS
News.
He said that investigations have already begun and encouraged persons to visit or call to schedule appointments. The numbers to
call are: 922-7109 or 922-8256.
To ensure ease of access and to avoid jamming of the telephone lines, Mr. Witter said that only persons, who reside outside of
Tivoli Gardens, should call the numbers to be interviewed or to schedule appointments. Interviews, he informed, will be conducted
at the community centre or at the Public Defender's office on Harbour Street.
He implored residents inside Tivoli Gardens to visit the community centre to schedule interviews.
"What we are doing is discharging our statutory functions to investigate these complaints to determine whether or not the law
enforcement arm of the state, the (Jamaica Constabulary Force) and/or JDF (Jamaica Defence Force) has infringed any legal and
or constitutional right of any citizen in the purported exercise of their state of emergency powers," Mr. Witter stated.
The Office of the Public Defender, he explained, "is an independent commission of Parliament mandated to investigate
governmental maladministration and to protect and enforce constitutional rights, in particular, the fundamental rights and freedoms
of our people, including the right to life, and the protection against arbitrary arrest, save during periods of public emergency."
Click here to read more »
Represented by
Dr. Patrick L. Allen
Governor General since 26 February 2009
Dr. Patrick L. Allen
Governor General since 26 February 2009
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| TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS |
None reported.
