1 The Child Care and Protection Act gets the final approval by Parliament on March 11, and was signed into law by Governor General Kenneth Hall on March 25.

2 In July, mandatory death penalty for murder in Jamaica was abolished, winning a reprieve for more than 60 prisoners on death row, in a historic judgement from nine judges sitting in London.

3 Hugh Lawson Shearer, former prime minister, dies on July 5.

4 On July 14, local football star, Onandi Lowe, was granted bail when he appeared at the Wellingborough Police Station in England. Lowe was officially charged in England for attempting to possess crack cocaine valued at £117,000 with intent to supply.

5 August 10, Bruce Golding officially declared his candidacy to lead the Jamaica Labour Party at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston.

6 On August 25, Veronica Campbell became the first ever Jamaican and Caribbean woman to win an Olympic sprint gold, at the Athens Olympics in Greece. Jamaica won five medals; two gold, two bronze and one silver.

7 On September 10, Hurricane Ivan, at category five, visited the island, taking 18 lives and leaving Jamaica in a devastated state that lasted for weeks.

8 In September, 800 University of the West Indies, Mona students marched around the campus demanding the UWI administration to extend the October 15 deadline for students to pay their fees for the 2004/2005 academic year. They padlocked the three main gates of the institution, preventing activities on the campus.

9 Over 1,200 Jamaicans were murdered.

10 Joel Andem, the most wanted man for almost a decade, was arrested and warlord Oliver ‘Bubu’ Smith, leader of the famed One Order Gang was gunned down.

— Compiled by Shantayaé Grant