How did the British live in Jamaica when they arrived?

When the British first arrived in Jamaica in the 17th century, they established a plantation economy based on sugar cane. This required a large labor force, which was initially provided by enslaved Africans. The British lived in Jamaica as a small ruling elite, with a small number of white colonists owning large plantations and dominating the island's economy and politics. The majority of the population was enslaved Africans who were forced to work on the plantations in harsh conditions. The British also established a system of racial segregation in Jamaica, which further entrenched their control and maintained the social and economic status quo.