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10 Amazing Facts About Jamaica

Posted byBy Leo | Published on: | Updated on November 16, 2013 CommentsComments (28)

Jamaican_railroad_with_railcar_and_station_1960Historical Narrative

The history of Jamaica is truly impressive. It’s the first English-speaking Caribbean nation to gain independence. Jamaica obtained running water before other major cities in the world, and in 1845, it was  was the third place in the Americas to build a modern railroad connecting Kingston and Spanish Town, according to jamaicaobserver.com. 

michael-lee-chinWealth

Jamaica’s most important modern economic activities are tourism, bauxite mining, agriculture and manufacturing. Tourism is now the country’s second largest earner of foreign exchange.

Although Jamaica isn’t a particularly rich country, it has created some of the most successful business people in the Caribbean, including Michael Lee-Chin is one of the first Caribbean billionaires, and Gordon “Butch” Stewart, who revolutionized the hotel industry with his “all inclusive” luxury hotel chain Sandals.

In addition, because of its location, Jamaica is primed to become the economic hub for trade between the West and the rest of the world.

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