Government

Government type: constitutional parliamentary democracy

Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland

Capital: Kingston

Independence: 6 August 1962

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1962)

Constitution: 6 August 1962

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Kenneth O. HALL (since 15 February 2006)

Head of government: Prime Minister Portia SIMPSON-MILLER (since 30 March 2006)

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

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 8 seats) and the House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

Elections: last held 16 October 2002 (next to be held no later than October 2007)

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 [Bruce GOLDING];

People's National Party or PNP [Portia SIMPSON-MILLER]; National Democratic Movement or NDM [Michael WILLIAMS]

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon SHIRLEY

Chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

Telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660

FAX: [1] (202) 452-0081

Consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: Ambassador Brenda LaGrange JOHNSON

Embassy: 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6

Mailing address: P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5

Telephone: [1] (876) 702-6000

FAX: [1] (876) 702-6348