Kingston Local Customs

Kingston Page by Dabs

by Dabs
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Plaque in Spanishtown

British parliament abolished slavery as of August 1, 1834, although the Jamaican slaves remained bound to their owners by compensation schemes (apprenticeship) for another 4 years until 1838. There is a sign on one of the buildings in the square in Spanish town that marks the spot where the governor of Jamaica read the proclamation freeing the slaves in August 1838, 27 years before the end of the Civil War in the United States which gave slaves their freedom.

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	The Jamaicans living in... Tip Rating:

By hajin

on August 24, 2002

Kingston Page by hajin

The Jamaicans living in Kingston are very different from those that most visitors to Jamaica encounter in Negril or Montego Bay. First, you don't feel like they're hustling you all the time. Second, it almost feels as if you aren't even noticed at times. In Kingston, you really feel as if this is an independent country and not just a playground for tourists. This is a very good thing indeed.

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	Patois

By RudoElCojonudo

on October 3, 2005

Kingston Page by RudoElCojonudo

by RudoElCojonudo
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The jaimacans have their own language, they call it PATOIS. For me is like a 'bad spoken' english, but it's nice to listen to then talking it. I learnt some words because all the people use to call us like this, they aren't very nice words but we had to start learning from somewhere!! ;-)
-Battybway or Battyman: Homesexual, gay in not a very polite way.
-Pochaina: Pussy.
-Bomboclat: It is the worse thing you can be called in Jamaica, it sth like '*** off'. They only say that when they are really hangry.

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	Pocking Smot

Updated By morgr

on December 7, 2004

Kingston Page by morgr

by morgr
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Ganja plants.

When you think of Jamaica, the images you are likely to conjur up are of white beaches, crystal clear blue waters, and rastas smoking pot. While it is often used very openly, it's not as commonplace as you might think. From what I could tell, rural people tend to smoke more then city people.

Invariably you will be offered 'ganja' as the locals call it, and in the resort towns much harder drugs such as meth and coke as well. Remember these are all, including marijuana, HIGHLY ILLEGAL in Jamaica, and unlike here in Canada, if caught you will be severely punished (unless you can bribe your way out of it, wich I'm sure is quite possible). If you want to smoke, do so discretely.