Portuguese immigration to Jamaica

Most Portuguese came to Jamaica were Sephardi Jews who fled their country because of the Spanish Inquisition which persecuted individuals of Jewish faith.^[2]

Many of them were merchants and money lenders and changers they were never farmers. They also became successful traders as they traded pepper, cocoa, vanilla, pimento and sugar.

The Jews who were said to introduce sugar cultivation technology to Brazil in the 1520s are largely credited with doing the same for Jamaica about 1530. The Jews remain in Jamaican after the British conquest and began to practice their religion openly as they established synagogues of which only one remains today, Synagogue Sha’are Shalom,the house of worship of the United Congregation on Israelites.

Notable Jamaicans of Portuguese descent

• Sean Paul, Reggae artist (Grandfather was a Sephardic Jew whose family emigrated from Portugal)
• Lady Colin Campbell - Author, socialite, radio hostess

See also

• History of the Jews in Jamaica

References