Jamaica is an island country in the west indies that is the third largest island in the Caribbean Sea ("Jamaica"). Jamaica has a rich colonial history that has made it into the unique cultural center that it is today. The country was first colonialized by Europeans in 1655 and Spanish, French, and English influences are still evident in the country today. It gained independence from the UK in 1962. The majority of Jamaica's population is of African descent and are descended from slaves that European colonists brought to the country. Agriculture is an important part of the country's economy and many of its common crops were introduced by European settlers such as sugarcane, bananas, and citrus trees. Close to one sixth of Jamaica's workforce is in agriculture which demonstrates how big of an industry it is for the country ("Jamaica").