On the southern slopes of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains reside several million tons of gypsum. Mainly used in the production of cement and building materials, gypsum is an extremely common mineral. Many homeowners will be familiar with plaster as it is used in drywall. Gypsum has many other uses, including lawn fertilizer, blackboard chalk, and as a coagulant for tofu. Since it’s also used to create cement, some of Jamaica’s local plaster no doubt finds its way to one of the many all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica. Like some of the other industries in Jamaica, gypsum mining isn’t very exciting and certainly doesn’t get your pulse racing like some of the major clubs on the island. But it’s also industry like this that creates the backbone of Jamaica, helping create jobs for its people and fostering trade between other countries.
While agriculture is not as big in Jamaica as it is in other countries, it does create a large number of jobs. Workers are needed for the cultivation of a wide variety of crops. These crops include squash, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, papaya, pineapple, watermelon, corn, rice, yams, potatoes, and bananas. Sugar is the main export crop and a good amount of coffee and cocoa is also produced. Jamaican coffee, and particularly Blue Mountain coffee, enjoys a premium price and has the status of one of the most expensive coffees in the world. The best part is that you don’t need to take an all-inclusive Jamaica vacation to try coffee. You’ll pay a high price, but you can even order this soft roast over the Internet and have it shipped worldwide right to your door.
Of course, Jamaica was not always Jamaica. Christopher Columbus landed on the island in 1494 and claimed the land for Spain. He named the island Santiago. The island’s inhabitants at the time, the native Arawak, were exterminated by the Spanish and the island came under Spanish rule. This lasted until 1655, when British forces took control of the island. Needing a source of labor to grow sugar and coffee, the British brought African slaves to Jamaica. Despite numerous rebellions and slave uprisings, this period lasted for almost 150 years, until the abolition of slavery in 1834. For those visiting Jamaica for a Caribbean beach wedding, it is hard to believe that at some point this beautiful country participated in the slave trade. . Fortunately those days are long gone and all that remains are good times, good food and good people.