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Once you've found it you may not want to leave it |
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Portland is a hilly parish occupying the north eastern section of the
island of Jamaica. Portland has an area of roughly 300 square miles and is considered the hilly
parish because of its sparse flatlands and hilly terrain. Its main town is Port Antonio, and smaller towns like Buff
Bay and Manchioneal serve as community towns. Other
towns are Hectors River,Hope Bay, Windsor Castle and Priestmans
River to just name a few.
The parish of Portland, just like the other thirteen parishes, is governed locally
by a Mayor and Councillors, elected from the different prescribed territories. This form of governing allows
for direct represntation to all parishoners. The parish is also divded in two, east and west, for the purpose
of electing representatives to the House of Parliament or the central governing body.
The topographical make up of Portland is mountainous. The mountains to the southern border sometimes
runs to the Caribbean sea in the north. The populus areas are mostly east to west along the coastline, where
there is occasionally flat land. The exceptions to the rule are the smaller towns precariously situated in the
larger river valleys. Portland is by far the rainiest parish in Jamaica, which results in its lush green
vegetation througout the entire parish all year round and its relatively large rivers.
There are two established Maroon communities that still exist in Portland.
The Charles Town community, situated just south of Buff Bay and the Moore Town community a
few miles south east of Port Antonio. The Maroon activity in Portland was what promted the then governor, Duke
of Portland, to establish this parish.
Hoping that a strong European presence would deter Maroon activities in Portland, he made strong inducements
in the law, for anyone who would dare to settle there. He also gave this area his name. Incidentally there are
three places with the name "Windsor". Windsor Castle, Windsor Forrest and just plain Windsor, was there a
Duke of Winsdor living in Portland?
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