3. . The English Admiral William Penn and General Venables seized the island in 1655. During its first 200 years of British rule, Jamaica became the world's largest sugar exporting nation and produced over 77,000 tons of sugar annually between 1820 - 1824, which was achieved through the massive use of imported African slave labor “in 1655 Jamaica was conquered, the first English colony taken by force”

4. By the beginning of the 19th century, Britain's heavy reliance on slavery resulted in blacks outnumbering whites by a ratio of almost 20 to one, leading to constant threat of revolt. Following a series of rebellions, slavery was formally abolished in 1834, with full emancipation from chattel slavery declared in 1838.

5. Jamaica slowly gained increasing independence from the United Kingdom, and in 1958 Jamaica became a province in the Federation of the West Indies, a federation between all the British West Indies. Jamaica attained full independence by leaving the federation in 1962.

6. The Jamaican constitution, promulgated in 1962, established a parliamentary system of government patterned after that of the United Kingdom. The prime minister is the head of government. The British monarch is the head of state and is represented by a governor-general, who is appointed on the advice of the prime minister. The Jamaican head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who is given the title of "Queen of Jamaica." The Queen is represented by a governor general, appointed by the Prime Minister. Both serve largely ceremonial roles. Politics:

7. Howard Felix Cooke entered the Jamaican Parliament in 1962, and served as Senator until early 1967. He served as a member of the House of Representatives between 1967 and 1980, and was a minister of Government between 1972 and 1980. As Minister, he held, at different times, the portfolios of: Pension and Social Security Education Labour & the Public Service He was president of the Senate from 1989 to 1991 and served on the Executive of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. He was also the general-governor.

8. The Jamaican Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Members of the House are directly elected, and the leader of the majority party in the House becomes the Prime Minister. Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister, and the parliamentary Leader of the Opposition. The current Prime Minister of Jamaica is P. J. Patterson who has held office since the 1992. Patterson has been re-elected three times, the last being in 2002. Jamaica's constitution requires the Prime Minister to call the next general election by October 2007.

9. Jamaica has traditionally had a two party system, with power often alternating between the People's National Party and Jamaican Labour Party. Jamaica is a full and participating member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

10. Yasmine Dalmas Janelle Camilleri Annalise Agius. Presented By: