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Commerce
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Bank
Hours. From 9am to 2pm every day except Friday when they
open 9am to noon and again from 2pm to 5pm. A few, like Workers
Bank, are open on Saturday mornings.
Public Holidays. August 2nd - Independence Day; October
18 - National Heroes Day; December 25 - Christmas Day; December
27 - Boxing Day; January 1st - New Year's Day.
Currency. Jamaica's currency is the Jamaican dollar,
not to be confused with the US dollar. The value of the Jamaican
dollar fluctuates.
Credit Cards: In Jamaica most major credit cards are
accepted by most hotels and all types of businesses including
Duty Free shops, restaurants and night clubs etc.
Tax Free Status: Due to a tax treaty between the US and
the Jamaican government made 1981 all expenses incurred for
holding a meeting or convention in Jamaica are tax deductible.
Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time. Jamaica does not observe
daylight saving time.
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Official
Matters
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Entry
Regulations. Canadian & US citizens entering Jamaica need
a valid passport or an original, certified copy of US birth
certificate plus a picture ID such as a driver's license and
a return ticket. All other visitors must carry a valid passport.
All visitors must pay a US$25 departure tax on leaving the
country.
Driving Licenses. Holders of most foreign driving licenses
are entitled to drive in Jamaica for 12 months from their
date of arrival, provided the license is valid for all of
that period. For a longer stay, a Jamaican license must be
obtained. No person under 17 years may drive a car or a motorcycle.
Marriage Licenses. Visitors can obtain a special license
after a 24 hour period on the island. You must produce your
passport and two witnesses. If either ~ has been divorced
or widowed, necessary documents must be produced to vouch
for their current status. Young people under 21 years of age
must produce written consent from a parent, signed by a notary
public. Call Mr. Percival Thompson at the Civil Registrar
of Marriages at 37, Market Street, Montego Bay. 952-3782
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Miscellaneous
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Departure
Tax Most important to remember, you will be asked to pay
a departure tax of US$25 unless it was already calculated into
your ticket when you bought it.
Language English is the official language of Jamaica
although you may be forgiven for doubting this after listening
to a lively Jamaican debate outside your hotel window. What
most Jamaicans speak among themselves is really a "patois" of
broken English, archaic English words and phrases which have
survived on the island, a little Spanish and some surviving
language forms from Africa thrown in for good measure. However,
most Jamaicans will speak intelligible, often beautiful, English
to a foreign visitor.
Electricity 110 volts / 50 cycles standard.
Drugs Possession of marijuana or any "Hard" drug is illegal
in Jamaica and brings stiff fines and imprisonment.
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