Jamaica
Located in the northwestern Caribbean, Jamaica is the third largest island in the Greater Antilles. It is located 145 kilometers (ninety miles) south of Cuba and some 161 kilometers (100 miles) west of Haiti. Jamaica is a mountainous island with a relatively narrow coastal plain. Much of its interior spine, stretching 225 kilometers (140 miles) from east to west, is above 457 meters (1,500 feet). The highest reaches are in the east, where Blue Mountain Peak extends some 2,255 meters (7,400 feet) above sea level.
Jamaica is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth, the Organization of American States (OAS), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and numerous other international and regional organizations. Jamaica is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. Despite its independence from the former colonial power Great Britain, the Queen of England remains head of state. However, her powers are largely ceremonial and are undertaken by her local representative, the governor-general, who is appointed by the Queen under the advice of the prime minister in consultation with the leader of the opposition. Real power resides with the prime minister, who is elected as a member of the House of Representatives in general elections for sixty constituency-based, single-member seats.
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