The physical environment of the island of Jamaica is highly vulnerable to multiple seismic, atmospheric, geologic and hydrologic geohazards (Box - 1). This natural vulnerability is a result of particular combinations of geological history and structure, bedrock and surficial deposit characteristic, geomorphology, tectonic setting, and geographic location
2.1.1. Two prime factors to be considered locally in regard to the geohazards are as follows:
(a)Seismicity: The island lies within a 200km wide, seismically active zone of Neogene left - lateral striate- slip deformation that defines the central section of the boundary between the Caribbean and the North American Plates ( Fig.1). This boundary has been identified on the basis of recorded past earthquake events, active volcanoes and spreading ridge features.
Recent geophysical and geological data indicate that the Caribbean Plate, during at least the last 5 ma (million years), has been moving eastward at the rate of 1-2cm/year relative to the neighbouring North and South American Plates. This movement is accommodated by a number of major crustal faults within the region including the environs of Jamaica.

The earthquake activity on the island and its off shore environs is an expression of such movements. Therefore, in order to fully understand the genesis of earthquakes, the pattern of crustal movements within the last ten (10) million years (i.e. neotectonics) should be known. There is an urgent need to develop a neotectonic data base for the island and its surrounding area.