me Minister Percival James PATTERSON
(since 30 March 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Seymour MULLINGS (since
NA 1993) cabinet: minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary;
governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the
prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by
the governor general

Legislative branch: 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 18 December 1997 (next
to be held by March 2002) election results: percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - PNP 50, JLP 10

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general
on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders: Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Edward SEAGA];
National Democratic Movement or NDM [Bruce GOLDING]; People's National
Party or PNP [Percival James PATTERSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders: New Beginnings Movement or NBM;
Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: Ambassador Seymour MULLINGS
consulate(s) general: chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Sue McCourt COBB embassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road,
3rd floor, Kingston 5 mailing address: use
[1] (876) 929-4850 through 4859 FAX:
Flag description: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four
triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)

Economy Jamaica

Economy - overview: The economy, which depends heavily on tourism and
bauxite, has been stagnant since 1995. After five years of recession,
the economy grew 0.8% in 2000 and 1.1% in 2001, but the global economic
slowdown, particularly in the United States after the 11 Septemb