• 1960: Certificate, Council of Legal Education
  
• 1966: LL.B. (Hons), Manchester University

• 1967-68: Circuit Magistrate
  
  
• 1968-69: Crown Counsel, Office of the Director of Public Prosecution
  
  
• 1970: Attorney-at-Law; President, Public Service Union; Member, United Black Association for Development (UBAD); Founder Member, People's Action Committee (PAC) and the Society for the Promotion of Education and Research (SPEAR)
  
  
  
• 1974: Joined the People's United Party (PUP)
  
  
• 1974-79: Senator. Ministerial Portfolios - Attorney-General; Minister of Education; Foreign Affairs; Economic Development; Sports and Culture
  
  
• 1996: Leader, People's United Party
  
  
• 1998 (August): Prime Minister
  
• 2003 (March): Re-elected Prime Ministe

Agriculture is the leading sector, accounting for 21.5 per cent of GDP and about 70 per cent of export earnings. Sugar cane accounts for about half of arable land acreage. Sugar is a major agricultural export, contributing 28.7 per cent of domestic export earnings valued at US$44.5million for 1998. Bananas, another major export earner, brought in 15.8 per cent of domestic export earnings valued at approximately US$24.5million for just over 50,000 tonnes produced in 1998.

Citrus - orange and grapefruit - production reached almost 265,000 tonnes. The fruit is processed and exported as frozen concentrate. In 1998, 3.3million gallons were produced, accounting for 13.9 per cent of domestic earnings valued at US$21.3 million. Meanwhile, efforts are advancing to diversify into non-traditional crops such as papaya, cucumber and ginger. Other export crops include cocoa, vegetables and tropical fruit.

Marine products have become an important source of foreign exchange as well as being a vital domestic food source. Lobster and shrimp are the main marine exports which totalled almost 2,000 tonnes in 1998. There are 13 fishing cooperatives, four of which boast a total membership of 800, and are the major contributors to the export industry. There are six shrimp farms in operation.

The forestry industry has been growing in recent years. Government has initiated a national reforestation programme, adding new impetus to this sector's development.

Re-export trade have been making a significant impact on merchandise exports, yielding approximately US$13 million in 1998, equivalent to 7 per cent of total merchandise exports.

Tourism is on the upswing, realising some of the nation's potential as a specialist holiday destination. The barrier reef (coral) - the second longest in the world - is a popular site for scuba diving. Mayan archaeological sites are among a number of important tourist attractions being promoted.

Land of the Free

O, Land of the Free by the Carib Sea,
Our Manhood we pledge to thy liberty!
No tyrants here linger, despots must flee
This tranquil haven of democracy
The blood of our sires which hallows the sod
Brought freedom from slavery oppression's rod,
By the might of truth and the grace of God.
No longer shall we be hewers of wood.

Chorus:

Arise! ye sons of the Baymen's clan,
Put on your armours, clear the land!
Drive back the tyrants, let despots flee -
Land of the Free by the Carib Sea!

Nature has blessed thee with wealth untold,
O'er mountains and valleys where prairies roll;
Our fathers the Baymen, valiant and bold
Drove back the invader; this heritage bold
From proud Rio Hondo to old Sarstoon,
Through coral isle, over blue lagoon;
Keep watch with the angels, the stars and moon;
For freedom comes to-morrow's noon.