<P> Additionally, some Jamaicans use one or more of Jamaican Sign Language (JSL), American Sign Language (ASL) or the indigenous Jamaican Country Sign Language (Konchri Sain). Both JSL and ASL are rapidly replacing Konchri Sain for a variety of reasons . </P> <P> In 2016 it was announced that the government of Jamaica is considering making Spanish an official second language . The move has been discussed between Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness in a meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro as well as the Jamaican House of Representatives . It has also been publicly endorsed by Spain's Secretary for International Cooperation, Fernando Garcia Casas, who thinks that the ties between both countries could be increased with the use of Spanish there . </P> <P> Many Jamaicans have emigrated to other countries, especially to the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada . In the case of the United States, about 20,000 Jamaicans per year are granted permanent residence . The great number of Jamaicans living abroad has become known as the Jamaican diaspora . There has also been emigration of Jamaicans to Cuba . The scale of emigration has been widespread and similar to other Caribbean entities such as Puerto Rico, Guyana, and The Bahamas . It was estimated in 2004 that up to 2.5 million Jamaicans and Jamaican descendants live abroad . </P> <P> Jamaicans in the United Kingdom number an estimated 800,000 making them by far the country's largest African - Caribbean group . Large - scale migration from Jamaica to the UK occurred primarily in the 1950s and 1960s (when the country was still under British rule). Jamaican communities exist in most large UK cities . Concentrations of expatriate Jamaicans are quite considerable in numerous cities in the United States, including New York City, Buffalo, the Miami metro area, Atlanta, Chicago, Orlando, Tampa, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Hartford, Providence and Los Angeles . In Canada, the Jamaican population is centred in Toronto, and there are smaller communities in cities such as Hamilton, Montreal, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Ottawa . </P>

Is jamaica part of the united states of america