From 1891 til 2010, the island was part of the United States, however a referendum took place in 2008 on independence. Of 3.5 million registered voters, over 3.1 million voted in favour of independence. 300,000 voters voted to remain in the United States and the rest didn't vote. Independence was achieved on 1st January 2010. Independence leader Micheal De Santa became the first president, with his close friend and associate Franklin Clinton as Prime Minister. General Trevor Phillips, a former military pilot and associate of both De Santa and Clinton, became Chief of the General Staff, effectively head of the military. The three are effectively dictators, however, and hold all power. Before it was an American State, it was colonised by Spain in the 1580's and seized by the United Kingdom i