Dominica

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Dominica
(Click to enlarge)
Dominica
(Mapping Specialists, Ltd.)
(dŏm'ə-nē'kə, də-mĭn'ĭ-kə) pronunciation

An island country of the eastern Caribbean between Guadeloupe and Martinique. Originally inhabited by Caribs, the island was visited by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and became a British colony in the early 1800s, gaining its independence in 1978. Roseau is the capital. Population: 72,400.

Dominican Dom'i·ni'can adj. & n.

The instrumental version of the national anthem of Dominica.
The instrumental version of the national anthem of Dominica.
Island country, Lesser Antilles, Caribbean Sea. It is located between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Area: 290 sq mi (751 sq km). Population: (2011 est.) 72,500. Capital: Roseau. The majority of the people are of African or mixed African and European descent. Languages: English (official), French patois. Religion: Christianity (predominantly Roman Catholic; also Protestant). Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar. A mountainous island, Dominica is broken midway by a plain drained by the Layou River. It has a warm tropical climate with heavy rainfall. The main crop is bananas. Dominica is among the poorest of the Caribbean nations. A developing tourist trade was helped by the establishment in 1975 of Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a unique tropical mountain wilderness, but the country was ravaged by hurricanes in 1979 and 1980. With financial help from Britain, it is trying to protect its coastline. It is a republic with one legislative house; its head of state is the president, and its head of government is the prime minister. At the time of Christopher Columbus's arrival in 1493, it was inhabited by the Caribs. Because of its steep coastal cliffs and inaccessible mountains, it remained in the possession of the Caribs until the 18th century; it was then settled by the French and later taken by Britain in 1783. Subsequent hostilities between the settlers and the native inhabitants resulted in the Caribs' near extinction. Incorporated with the Leeward Islands in 1833 and with the Windward Islands in 1940, it became a member of the West Indies Federation in 1958. Dominica became independent in 1978. West Indies. Offshore banking, a controversial boon to the Dominican economy in the late 20th century, was discontinued early in the 21st century.

For more information on Dominica, visit Britannica.com.

Dominica is the most northerly of the Windward Islands in the eastern Caribbean. It has been an independent state within the Commonwealth since 1978. Sighted and named by Columbus in 1493, it was disputed in the 18th cent. between France and Britain.


Caribbean Green
Extraordinary Islands > Garden Islands > Wet & Wild
Tourist information: ☎ 767/448-2045; www.dominica.dm
Airports: Canefield Airport and Melville Hall Airport.
Ship: L'Express des Iles www.express-des-iles.com from Guadeloupe, Martinique, and St. Lucia
Hotels: Jungle Bay Resort & Spa $$$ Point Mulatre ☎ 767/446-1789; www.junglebaydominica.com Sea Cliff Cottages $$ Hodges Beach ☎ 767/445-8998; www.dominica-cottages.com

If you're a moviegoer, maybe you've already been to Dominica—or, at least, to a slightly Disneyfied version of it. Taking advantage of Dominica's unspoiled and soaring, camera-ready natural scenery, some of the lushest sequences in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise were shot here. The real Dominica—an independent commonwealth lying between the French islands of Martinique (read more) and Guadeloupe (read more) —may not have swashbuckling pirates, but it is a nature lover's paradise, a sort of tropical Switzerland whose mountainous terrain is blanketed in rainforest and partitioned by a seemingly endless supply of rivers and waterfalls.

Sculpted by rainfall and volcanic activity, Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-ee-ka) rises from the sea, its brawny contours swathed in green. The traditional Carib name for the island is the apt Waitukubuli, meaning "Tall Is Her Body." Careful stewardship, combined with the fact that Dominica is practically beachless, has kept mass tourism and development at bay (and prices much lower than on some neighboring islands). This 751-sq.-km (290-sq.-mile) gem lives up to its nickname, "Nature Isle of the Caribbean," with a wealth of exploration opportunities, from leisurely river cruises to extreme hikes through untouched rainforest and past bubbling hot springs.

Adventurous travelers should make a beeline for Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the southern half of the island and home to Dominica's greatest hits of nature: tropical forest, rushing waterfalls, and exotic bird life. The inland village of Laudat is the best starting point for treks through Morne Trois Pitons; you'll find plenty of guides here (recommended). For an unforgettable rainforest swim, seek out Emerald Falls. The higher reaches of Morne Trois Pitons, where Dominica's strangest volcanic phenomena lie, are for experienced hikers only, but those willing to take on the extreme conditions here (slippery trails, steep terrain, and windy exposures) should head for Boiling Lake, the second-largest flooded fumarole in the world. Elsewhere on the island, you'll find less challenging hikes, past idyllic waterfalls and swimming holes and arcadian tropical landscapes, but going with a guide is highly recommended here: Arrange one at the office of the Dominica National Park in the Botanical Gardens in Roseau (☎ 767/448-2401; .

Dominica has 365 rivers—one for every day of the year, locals joke—and getting out on these inland waterways is a must. The Layou is Dominica's longest, and tube rides past spectacular cliffs and enchanting rainforests are the most popular way to experience it. The primordial, mangrove-lined Indian River, which empties in the northern coastal village of Portsmouth, was featured in those eerie, candlelit river scenes in Dead Man's Chest. The crystal-clear rivers of Dominica can be lazy or dangerously swift, so be sure to check on conditions before you take the plunge.

The beach scene on Dominica is—let's face it—nonexistent, but there is an interesting swimming site at Champagne, where volcanic vents puff steam into the ocean; swimmers have likened the effect to swimming in the bubbly. Also recommended is a whale-watching trip. More cetaceans pass through the waters off Dominica than anywhere else in the Caribbean, and you're likely to spot entire pods of great sperm whales, pilot whales, and dolphins. I like the tours offered by the (☎ Anchorage Hotel,; at Castle Comfort (☎ 767/448-2638; www.anchoragehotel.dm/main/) .

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Dominica (dŏmĭnē'), officially Commonwealth of Dominica, republic (2005 est. pop. 69,000) consisting of the island of Dominica (290 sq mi/750 sq km), located in the Windward Islands, West Indies. Roseau is the capital and chief port. The island, of volcanic origin, is mountainous and forested, with a wide variety of flora and fauna and an extensive national park system. Dominica is subject to frequent destructive hurricanes. The population is largely of African or mixed European and African descent. More than three quarters of the inhabitants are Roman Catholics, the balance mainly Protestants. English is the official language, but a French patois is also widely spoken.

Bananas are the chief commercial crop and export. Citrus, coconuts, and coconut oil are also exported, and mangoes and root crops are raised. Industry is generally limited to food processing and the manufacture of soap and other coconut-based products. Tourism is a growing industry, but Dominica remains one of the poorer Caribbean nations. The main trading partners are Great Britain, the United States, and China.

Government

Dominica is a parliamentary democracy governed under the constitution of 1978. The head of state is the president, who is elected by the House Assembly and serves a five-year term. The head of government is the prime minister. The members of the thirty-seat unicameral legislature, the House of Assembly serve five-year terms; twenty-one are popularly elected and nine are appointed. Administratively, Dominica is divided into ten parishes.

History

The island was sighted by Columbus in 1493. English and French attempts at settlement were thwarted by the Caribs, who had taken it earlier from the Arawaks. An Anglo-French treaty of 1748 left Dominica in Carib hands, but both powers continued to covet it. In the 18th cent. Africans were brought in as slaves to work plantations. The island definitively passed to the British in 1815. Hostilities between the British and the Caribs led to the slaughter of large numbers of Caribs. Today, however, there are around 3,000 Caribs who occupy a reservation on the eastern side of the island.

Dominica has been a fully independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations since 1978. In 1981 there were two failed coup attempts. In 1980, Eugenia Charles and the Dominica Freedom party came to power; Charles, who survived two coup attempts in 1981, remained prime minister until she retired in 1995. Edison James, founder of the opposition United Workers' party (DUWP), succeeded her after a win at the polls. He remained prime minister until early 2000, when Rosie Douglas led the Labor party (LPD) to a narrow victory over James and the DUWP. Douglas died in 2000 and was succeeded by Pierre Charles, who died in 2003. Roosevelt Skerrit succeeded Charles as prime minister. Labor was returned to power, again by a narrow margin, in 2005, but won by a landslide in 2009.


Dialing Code:

Dominica

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The international dialing code for Dominica is:   767

Note: When calling this country from North America, do not use the 011 prefix. Simply treat the country code as if it were a U.S. area code.

Local Time:

Dominica

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It is 9:44 AM, June 1, in Dominica.

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Click to enlarge flag of Dominica
Introduction
Background:Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which made the island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence, Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in office for 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.
Geography
Map of Dominica
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:15 25 N, 61 20 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 754 sq km
land: 754 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:148 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain:rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m
Natural resources:timber, hydropower, arable land
Land use:arable land: 6.67%
permanent crops: 21.33%
other: 72% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Total renewable water resources:NA
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):total: 0.02 cu km/yr
per capita: 213 cu m/yr (1996)
Natural hazards:flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in the world
People
Population:72,660 (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24% (male 8,910/female 8,518)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 24,532/female 23,301)
65 years and over: 10.2% (male 3,187/female 4,212) (2009 est.)
Median age:total: 29.8 years
male: 29.4 years
female: 30.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:0.208% (2009 est.)
Birth rate:15.73 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Death rate:8.32 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:-5.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Urbanization:urban population: 74% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 13.65 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.55 years
male: 72.61 years
female: 78.64 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.09 children born/woman (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups:black 86.8%, mixed 8.9%, Carib Amerindian 2.9%, white 0.8%, other 0.7% (2001 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 61.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 6%, Pentecostal 5.6%, Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.2%, other Christian 7.7%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.6%, none 6.1% (2001 census)
Languages:English (official), French patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2005)
Education expenditures:5% of GDP (1999)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form: Dominica
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Roseau
geographic coordinates: 15 18 N, 61 24 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter
Independence:3 November 1978 (from the UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Constitution:3 November 1978
Legal system:based on English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (since October 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 2003 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Nicholas LIVERPOOL consented to a second term in 2008 at the request of the prime minister and leader of the opposition
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats; 9 members appointed, 21 elected by popular vote; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 5 May 2005 (next to be held by 5 August 2010); note - tradition dictates that the election will be held within five years of the last election, but technically it is five years from the first seating of parliament (12 May 2005) plus a 90-day grace period
election results: percent of vote by party - DLP 52.1%, UWP 43.6%, DFP 3.2%, other 1.1%; seats by party - DLP 12, UWP 8, independent 1
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the Court of Appeal and the High Court (located in Saint Lucia; one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction)
Political parties and leaders:Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT]; Dominica United Workers Party or UWP [Earl WILLIAMS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Judith Ann ROLLE
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica
Flag description:green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
Economy
Economy - overview:The Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily bananas, and remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and international economic developments. Tourism has increased as the government seeks to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination and has developed a new tourism development plan with assistance from the EU. Hurricane Dean struck the island in August 2007 causing damages equivalent to 20 % of GDP. In 2003, the government began a comprehensive restructuring of the economy - including elimination of price controls, privatization of the state banana company, and tax increases - to address Dominica's economic and financial crisis of 2001-02 and to meet IMF targets. This restructuring paved the way for the current economic recovery - real growth for 2006 reached a two-decade high - and will help to reduce the debt burden, which remains at about 100% of GDP. In order to diversify the island's production base, the government is attempting to develop an offshore financial sector and has signed an agreement with the EU to develop geothermal energy resources.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$719.8 million (2008 est.)
$701.5 million (2007)
$691.2 million (2006)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):$365 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.6% (2008 est.)
1.5% (2007 est.)
4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$9,900 (2008 est.)
$9,700 (2007 est.)
$9,600 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 17.7%
industry: 32.8%
services: 49.5% (2004 est.)
Labor force:25,000 (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 40%
industry: 32%
services: 28% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:23% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:30% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:revenues: $73.9 million
expenditures: $84.4 million (2001)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.7% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:9.17% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:$73.71 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:$269.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:$193.1 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa; forest and fishery potential not exploited
Industries:soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Electricity - production:90 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:83.7 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:fossil fuel: 47.1%
hydro: 52.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:850.5 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:669.6 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:-$72 million (2007 est.)
Exports:$94 million f.o.b. (2006)
Exports - commodities:bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
Exports - partners:China 24.4%, Jamaica 10.3%, Antigua and Barbuda 10.1%, Guyana 8.5%, UK 8.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 5.5%, Saint Lucia 4.6%, Saint Kitts & Nevis 4% (2007)
Imports:$296 million f.o.b. (2006)
Imports - commodities:manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:US 24.1%, China 21.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.2%, Japan 11.1% (2007)
Debt - external:$213 million (2004)
Currency (code):East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use:21,000 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:41,800 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: NA
domestic: fully automatic network
international: country code - 1-767; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2003)
Radios:46,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2004)
Televisions:6,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.dm
Internet hosts:29 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:26,500 (2006)
Transportation
Airports:2 (2008)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2008)
Roadways:total: 780 km
paved: 393 km
unpaved: 387 km (2000)
Merchant marine:total: 53
by type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 27, chemical tanker 3, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 47 (Australia 2, Estonia 7, Greece 10, India 2, Latvia 1, Norway 1, Russia 3, Saudi Arabia 2, Singapore 7, Syria 2, Turkey 5, Ukraine 4, UAE 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:Portsmouth, Roseau
Military
Military branches:no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard) (2008)
Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 18,584 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 15,821
females age 16-49: 15,291 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:male: 776
female: 731 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:NA (2006)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:Dominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela's sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other island nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf claims over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer (2008)


National Anthem:

National Anthem of: Dominica

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Isle of beauty, isle of splendour,
Isle to all so sweet and fair,
All must surely gaze in wonder
At thy gifts so rich and rare.
Rivers, valleys, hills and mountains,
All these gifts we do extol.
Healthy land, so like all fountains,
Giving cheer that warms the soul.

Dominica, God hath blest thee
With a clime benign and bright,
Pastures green and flowers of beauty
Filling all with pure delight,
And a people strong and healthy,
Full of godly, rev'rent fear.
May we ever seek to praise Thee
For these gifts so rich and rare.

Come ye forward, sons and daughters
Of this gem beyond compare.
Strive for honor, sons and daughters,
Do the right, be firm, be fair.
Toil with hearts and hands and voices.
We must prosper! Sound the call,
In which ev'ry one rejoices,
"All for Each and Each for All."

Random House Word Menu:

categories related to 'Dominica'

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Random House Word Menu by Stephen Glazier
For a list of words related to Dominica, see:
  • Nations of the World - Dominica: Commonwealth of; island in West Indies; capital Roseau; area 290 sq. mi., pop. 85,000; English; Catholic; dollar


Commonwealth of Dominica
Flag
Motto: "Après Bondie, C'est La Ter"  (Antillean Creole)
"After God is the Earth"
"Après le Bon Dieu, c'est la Terre"
Anthem: Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendour
Capital
(and largest city)
Roseau
15°18′N 61°23′W / 15.3°N 61.383°W / 15.3; -61.383
Official language(s) English
Vernacular languages Dominican Creole French
Ethnic groups (2001) Black 86.8%
Mixed 8.9%
Carib Amerindian 2.9%
White 0.8%
Other 0.7%[1]
Demonym Dominican
Government Parliamentary republic
 -  President Nicholas Liverpool
 -  Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit
Legislature House of Assembly
Independence
 -  from the United Kingdom 3 November 1978 
Area
 -  Total 790 km2 (184th)
290 sq mi 
 -  Water (%) 1.6
Population
 -  July 2009 estimate 72,660 (195th)
 -  2011 census 71,293 
 -  Density 105/km2 (95th)
272/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2011 estimate
 -  Total $977 million[2] 
 -  Per capita $13,815[2] 
GDP (nominal) 2011 estimate
 -  Total $489 million[2] 
 -  Per capita $6,909[2] 
HDI (2007) increase0.724 (high) (73rd)
Currency East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Time zone Eastern Caribbean (UTC–4)
Drives on the left
ISO 3166 code DM
Internet TLD .dm
Calling code +1-767
1 Rank based on 2005 UN estimate.

Dominica (play /ˌdɒmɪˈnkə/ DOM-i-NEE-kə;[3] French: Dominique; Kali‘na (Carib): Wai‘tu kubuli), officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is 750 square kilometres (290 sq mi) and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of 1,447 metres (4,747 ft). The Commonwealth of Dominica had a population of 71,293 at the 2011 Census. The capital is Roseau.

Dominica has been nicknamed the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean" for its unspoiled natural beauty. It is the youngest island in the Lesser Antilles, still being formed by geothermal-volcanic activity, as evidenced by the world's second-largest hot spring, Boiling Lake. The island features lush mountainous rainforests, home of many rare plant, animal, and bird species. There are xeric areas in some of the western coastal regions, but heavy rainfall can be expected inland. The Sisserou Parrot (also known as the Imperial Amazon), the island's national bird, is featured on the national flag. Dominica's economy is heavily dependent on tourism, agriculture and heavy taxation.

Christopher Columbus named the island after the day of the week on which he spotted it, a Sunday (dominica in Latin), November 3, 1493. In the hundred years after Columbus's landing, Dominica remained isolated, and even more Caribs settled there after being driven from surrounding islands as European powers entered the region. France formally ceded possession of Dominica to Great Britain in 1763. Great Britain then established a colony on the island in 1805.

The emancipation of African slaves occurred throughout the British Empire in 1834, and, in 1838, Dominica became the first British Caribbean colony to have a legislature controlled by a black majority. In 1896, the United Kingdom reassumed governmental control of Dominica, turning it into a Crown colony. Half a century later, from 1958 to 1962, Dominica became a province of the short-lived West Indies Federation. In 1978, Dominica became an independent nation.

Contents

Etymology

The name Dominica comes from the Latin word for Sunday, which was the day on which it was spotted by Christopher Columbus. Its pre-Columbian name was “Wai‘tu kubuli”, which means “Tall is her body”.[4] The indigenous people of the island, the Caribs, have the Carib Territory, a territory similar to the Indian reserves of North America. The official language is English in consequence of its history as a British colony, territory, and state, though a French creole is spoken by many, especially people of older generations. The demonym or adjective is "Dominican" in English, but with the syllable stress being on the second "i" (that distinguishes it from same word used in reference to Dominican Republic, in which case the stress is on the first "i").

History

In 1635 France claimed Dominica along with all the other 'Petite Antilles' but no settlement was attempted. Between 1642 and 1650 a French missionary Raymond Breton became the first regular European visitor to the island. In 1660 the French and English agreed that both Dominica and St. Vincent should not be settled, but instead left to the Caribs as neutral territory. Dominica was officially neutral for the next century, but the attraction of its resources remained; rival expeditions of English and French foresters were harvesting timber by the start of the 18th century.[5]

In 1715 the French established their first permanent settlements in Dominica following a revolt of "poor white" smallholders in the north of Martinique, known as La Gaoulé, which caused an exodus of them to southern Dominica. In 1727 the first French commander, M. Le Grand, took charge of the island with a basic French government thus making Dominica formally a colony of France and the island was divided into districts or "quarters".[6] As part of the 1763 Treaty of Paris that ended the Seven Years' War, the island became a British possession. In 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, the French mounted a successful invasion with the active cooperation of the population. The 1783 Treaty of Paris, which ended the war, returned the island to Britain. French invasions in 1795 and 1805 ended in failure.[5]

A linen market in Dominica in the 1770s

In 1763, the British established a legislative assembly, representing only the white population. In 1831, reflecting a liberalization of official British racial attitudes, the Brown Privilege Bill conferred political and social rights on free non-whites. Three African people were elected to the legislative assembly the following year. Following the abolition of slavery, in 1838 Dominica became the only British Caribbean colony to have an African-controlled legislature in the 19th century. Most African legislators were smallholders or merchants who held economic and social views diametrically opposed to the interests of the small, wealthy English planter class. Reacting to a perceived threat, the planters lobbied for more direct British rule.[5]

In 1865, after much agitation and tension, the colonial office replaced the elective assembly with one that had one-half of members who were elected and one-half who were appointed. Planters allied with colonial administrators outmaneuvered the elected legislators on numerous occasions. In 1871, Dominica became part of the Leeward Island Federation. The power of the African population progressively eroded. Crown Colony government was re-established in 1896. All political rights for the vast majority of the population were effectively curtailed. Development aid, offered as compensation for disenfranchisement, proved to have a negligible effect.[5]

20th century

Following World War I, an upsurge of political consciousness throughout the Caribbean led to the formation of the Representative Government Association. Marshalling public frustration with the lack of a voice in the governing of Dominica, this group won one-third of the popularly elected seats of the legislative assembly in 1924 and one-half in 1936. Shortly thereafter, Dominica was transferred from the Leeward Island Administration and was governed as part of the Windwards until 1958, when it joined the short-lived West Indies Federation.[5]

After the federation dissolved, Dominica became an associated state of the United Kingdom in 1967 and formally took responsibility for its internal affairs. On November 3, 1978, the Commonwealth of Dominica was granted independence by the United Kingdom.[5]

Independence did little to solve problems stemming from centuries of economic underdevelopment, and in mid-1979, political discontent led to the formation of an interim government. It was replaced after the 1980 elections by a government led by the Dominica Freedom Party under Prime Minister Eugenia Charles, the Caribbean's first female prime minister. Chronic economic problems were compounded by the severe impact of hurricanes in 1979 and in 1980.

In 1981 Dominica was threatened with a takeover by mercenaries.[7] In 1981, a group of "mercenaries" led by Mike Perdue of Houston and Wolfgang Droege of Toronto, attempted to overthrow the government of Eugenia Charles. The North America mercenary group was to aid ex-Prime Minister Patrick John and his Dominica Defence Force in regaining control of the island in exchange for control over the island's future development. The entire plan failed and the ship hired to transport the men of Operation Red Dog never even made it off the dock as the FBI was tipped off. The self-titled mercenaries lacked any formal military experience and/or training and the majority of the crew had been misled into joining the armed coup by the con-man ringleader Mike Perdue. White supremacist Don Black was also jailed for his part in the attempt, which violated US neutrality laws. The book Bayou of Pigs, written by Stewart Bell, details the story of this misguided attempt to turn Dominica into a criminal paradise.

By the end of the 1980s, the economy recovered, but weakened again in the 1990s because of a decrease in banana prices.[5]

In the January 2000 elections, the Edison James United Workers Party (UWP) was defeated by the Dominican Labour Party (DLP), led by Roosevelt P. "Rosie" Douglas. Douglas died after only a few months in office and was replaced by Pierre Charles, who died in office in January 2004. Roosevelt Skerrit, also of the DLP, replaced Charles as Prime Minister. Under Prime Minister Skerrit's leadership, the DLP won elections in May 2005 that gave the party 12 seats in the 21-member Parliament to the UWP's 8 seats. An independent candidate affiliated with the DLP won a seat as well. Since that time, the independent candidate joined the government and one UWP member crossed the aisle, making the current total 14 seats for the DLP and 7 for the UWP.[5]

Geography and climate

Dominica is in the Lesser Antilles
Map of Dominica

Dominica is an island nation and borderless country in the Caribbean Sea, the northernmost of the Windward Islands (though it is sometimes considered the southernmost of the Leeward Islands). The size of the country is about 289.5 square miles (750 km2). The capital is Roseau.

Dominica is largely covered by rainforest and is home to the world's second-largest hot spring, Boiling Lake.[8] Dominica has many waterfalls, springs, and rivers. The Calibishie area in the country's northeast has sandy beaches.[citation needed] Some plants and animals thought to be extinct on surrounding islands can still be found in Dominica's forests.[citation needed] The volcanic nature of the island has attracted scuba divers. The island has several protected areas, including Cabrits National Park, as well as 365 rivers.

On his second voyage to the Caribbean, Dominica was the first New World country that Christopher Columbus discovered. It is said that when his royal sponsors asked Christopher Columbus to describe this island, he crumpled a piece of parchment roughly and threw it on the table. "This", Columbus explained, "is what Dominica looks like—completely covered with mountains with nary a flat spot."[citation needed]

Morne Trois Pitons National Park is a tropical forest blended with scenic volcanic features.[9] It was recognised as a World Heritage Site on April 4, 1995, a distinction it shares with four other Caribbean islands.[10]

Calibishie beach landscape

The Commonwealth of Dominica is engaged in a long-running dispute with Venezuela over Venezuela's territorial claims to the sea surrounding Isla Aves (literally Bird Island, but in fact called Bird Rock by Dominica authorities),[11] a tiny islet located 140 miles (225 km) west of the island of Dominica.[citation needed]

There are two primary population centres: Roseau (with 14,725 inhabitants in 2011) and Portsmouth (with 4,167 inhabitants in 2011).

Dominica possesses the most pristine wilderness in the Caribbean.[citation needed] Originally, it was protected by sheer mountains which led the European powers to build ports and agricultural settlements on other islands. More recently, the citizens of this island have sought to preserve its spectacular natural beauty by discouraging the type of high-impact tourism which has damaged nature in most of the Caribbean.

Visitors can find large tropical forests, including one which is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites, hundreds of streams, coastlines and coral reefs.

The Sisserou parrot is Dominica's national bird and is indigenous to its mountain forests.

The Caribbean Sea offshore of the island of Dominica is home to many cetaceans. Most notably a group of sperm whales live in this area year round. Other cetaceans commonly seen in the area include spinner dolphins, pantropical spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins. Less commonly seen animals include killer whales, false killer whales, pygmy sperm whales, dwarf sperm whales, Risso's dolphins, common dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins, humpback whales and Bryde's whales. This makes Dominica a destination for tourists interested in whale-watching.

Dominica is especially vulnerable to hurricanes as the island is located in what is referred to as the hurricane region. In 1979, Dominica was hit directly by category 5 Hurricane David, causing widespread and extreme damage. On August 17, 2007, Hurricane Dean, a category 1 at the time, hit the island. A mother and her seven-year-old son died when a landslide caused by the heavy rains crushed their house.[12] In another incident two people were injured when a tree fell on their house.[13] Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit estimated that 100 to 125 homes were damaged, and that the agricultural sector was extensively damaged, in particular the banana crop.[14]

Roseau photographed from a docked cruise ship
Typical landscape near the sea in Dominica
Typical landscape in inner Dominica

Government and administrative divisions

Dominica is a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth of Nations and, since 1979, a member of La Francophonie. The Commonwealth of Dominica is one of the Caribbean's few republics. The president is the head of state, while executive power rests with the cabinet, headed by the prime minister. The unicameral parliament consists of the thirty-member House of Assembly, which consists of twenty-one directly elected members and nine senators, who may either be appointed by the president or elected by the other members of the House of Assembly.

Unlike other former British colonies in the region, Dominica was never a Commonwealth realm, instead becoming a republic on independence. Dominica is a full and participating member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Parishes of Dominica

Dominica is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the U.S. military, as covered under Article 98. In January 2008 Dominica joined the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas.

Dominica is divided into ten parishes, given below with their 2011 Census populations:

  1. Saint Andrew Parish (9,471)
  2. Saint David Parish (6,043)
  3. Saint George Parish (21,241)
  4. Saint John Parish (6,561)
  5. Saint Joseph Parish (5,637)
  6. Saint Luke Parish (1,668)
  7. Saint Mark Parish (1,834)
  8. Saint Patrick Parish (7,622)
  9. Saint Paul Parish (9,786)
  10. Saint Peter Parish (1,430)

Economy

Current president, Nicholas Liverpool

In 2008, Dominica had one of the lowest per capita gross domestic product (GDP) rates of Eastern Caribbean states.[15][16] The country nearly had a financial crisis in 2003 and 2004, but Dominica's economy grew by 3.5% in 2005 and 4.0% in 2006, following a decade of poor performance. Growth in 2006 was attributed to gains in tourism, construction, offshore and other services, and some sub-sectors of the banana industry. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently praised the Government of Dominica for its successful macroeconomic reforms. The IMF also pointed out remaining challenges, including the need for further reductions in public debt, increased financial sector regulation, and market diversification.[5]

Graphical depiction of Dominica's product exports in 28 color coded categories.

Bananas and other agriculture dominate Dominica's economy, and nearly one-third of the labour force works in agriculture. This sector, however, is highly vulnerable to weather conditions and to external events affecting commodity prices. In 2007, Hurricane Dean caused significant damage to the agricultural sector as well as the country's infrastructure, especially roads. In response to reduced European Union (EU) banana trade preferences, the government has diversified the agricultural sector by promoting the production of coffee, patchouli, aloe vera, cut flowers, and exotic fruits such as mango, guava, and papaya. Dominica has also had some success in increasing its manufactured exports, primarily soap.[5]

Dominica is mostly volcanic and has few beaches; therefore, tourism has developed more slowly than on neighboring islands. Nevertheless, Dominica's mountains, rainforests, freshwater lakes, hot springs, waterfalls, and diving spots make it an attractive eco-tourism destination. Cruise ship stopovers have increased following the development of modern docking and waterfront facilities in Roseau, the capital.[5] Out of 22 Caribbean islands tracked, Dominica had the fewest visitors in 2008 (55,800 or 0.3% of the total). This was about half as many as visited Haiti.[17]

Dominica's currency is the East Caribbean Dollar.

Dominica is a beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) that grants duty-free entry into the United States for many goods. Dominica also belongs to the predominantly English-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).[5]

Dominica supposedly offers tax-free status to companies locating from abroad. It is not known how many companies benefit from the tax-free status because of the strict confidentiality the government enforces, although it is known many Internet businesses utilise Dominica for this reason.

The Commonwealth of Dominica offers an official and legally mandated economic citizenship to those seeking a valid second passport. The nationality law of Dominica authorizes the government to waive the normal requirement of seven years of legal residence to acquire citizenship in exchange for a cash contribution. Total costs including all fees for a single applicant come to about $105,000, with an additional $25,000 specified for a spouse and up to two children under 18. The Dominican passport holders can travel without a visa, or obtain a visa upon entry, to nearly 90 countries and territories. Applying for Dominica citizenship requires interacting with official Government Approved Economic Citizenship Agents.

Infrastructure

Air

There are two small airports on the island. The primary airport, Melville Hall Airport (DOM), is on the northeast coast and is about a 45-minute drive from Portsmouth. The second is Canefield Airport (DCF), about 15 minutes from Roseau on the southwest coast. Melville Hall Airport is suitable for limited use of commercial jets because of runway length. Melville Hall currently has regular service by American Eagle, Winair, and LIAT using twin turboprop aircraft like the De Havilland Dash 8, as well as Conviasa and Amerijet, which, using Boeing 727 Freighters, is the only airline with jet service to the republic. A runway extension and service upgrade project began at Melville Hall around 2006 and was finished in 2010.

Roads

The only major highway on the island is the road between Portsmouth and Roseau. It takes about one hour to drive from Portsmouth to Roseau. Private minibuses form the major public transport system. However, this "highway" is now under major reconstruction via help from the Chinese.

Demographics

The vast majority of Dominicans are of African descent. There is a significant mixed population, along with Indo-Caribbean or East Indian groups, a small European origin minority (descendants of French, British, and Irish colonists) and there are small numbers of Lebanese, Syrians and Asians. Dominica is also the only Eastern Caribbean island that still has a population of pre-Columbian native Caribs, who were exterminated or driven from neighbouring islands. There are only about 3,000 Caribs remaining. They live in eight villages on the east coast of Dominica. This special Carib Territory was granted by the British Crown in 1903.[18] There are also about 1,000 medical students from the United States and Canada who study at the Ross University School of Medicine in Portsmouth.

The population growth rate of Dominica is very low, due primarily to emigration to other countries. In the early 21st century, emigrant numbers for the most popular countries are as follows: the United States (8,560), the United Kingdom (6,739), Canada (605) and France (394).

It has recently been noted that Dominica has a relatively large number of centenarians. As of March 2007, there are 22 centenarians out of the island's 70,000 inhabitants—three times the average incidence of centenarianism in developed countries.[19] The reasons for this are the subject of current research being undertaken at Ross University School of Medicine.

About 80% of the population is Roman Catholic, though in recent years a number of Protestant churches have been established. There is also a small Muslim community in Dominica, and the nation's first mosque was built recently near Ross University.[20]

English is the official language of Dominica and is universally spoken and understood. However, because of historic French occupation during different times in history, and the island's location between the two French-speaking departments of Martinique and Guadeloupe, Antillean Creole, based on French, is spoken by many people on the island, especially from the older generation. Because of a decline in its usage by the younger generation, initiatives have been set up in an effort to increase usage and promote this unique part of the nation's history and culture. The dialect of Dominica also includes Cocoy, along with Creole—French-based patois. Cocoy, or Kockoy, is a mix of Leeward Island English-Creole and Dominican Creole. It is mainly spoken in the north-eastern villages of Marigot and Wesley.[21] As a result of this admixture of languages and heritage, Dominica is a member of both the English-speaking Commonwealth and the French-speaking La Francophonie.

At the beginning of the twentieth century the Rose's Company, which produced Rose's lime juice, saw demand for its product outgrow its ability to supply the product from Montserrat. Their response to the situation was to buy land on Dominica and encourage Montserrat farm labourers to relocate. As a result there came to be two linguistic communities in Dominica. Over time there has been much intermarrying, but there are still traces of difference in origin.[22]

Largest cities

Culture

Dominica's East coast territory of the Kalinago (tribe)

Dominica is home to a wide range of people. Although it was historically occupied by several native tribes, the Arawaks and Kalinago Carib tribes remained by the time European settlers reached the island. "Massacre" is a name of a river dedicated to the murders of the Native villagers by French and British settlers, because the river ran red with blood for days. Each (French and British) claimed the island and imported slaves from Africa. The remaining Caribs now live on a 3,700-acre (15 km2) territory on the east coast of the island. They elect their own chief. This mix of cultures is important to Dominica.

Music and dance are important facets of Dominica's culture. The annual independence celebrations show an outburst of traditional song and dance preceded since 1997 by weeks of Creole expressions such as "Creole in the Park" and the "World Creole Music Festival". Dominica gained prominence on the international music stage when in 1973, Gordon Henderson founded the group Exile One and an original musical genre which he coined "Cadence-lypso" which paved the way for modern Creole music. Other musical genres include "Jing ping" and "Cadence". Jing ping heavily features the accordion and is native to the island. Dominica's music is an intoxicating melange of Afro-Cuban, African and European traditions. Popular artists over the years include Chubby and the Midnight Groovers, Bells Combo, the Gaylords, WCK, and Triple Kay.

A Dominican drumming band

The 11th annual World Creole Music Festival was the first activity held there since its completion on October 27, 2007, part of the island's celebration of independence from Great Britain on November 3. A year-long reunion celebration began in January 2008 marking 30 years of independence.

Dominica is often seen as a society that is migrating from collectivism to that of individualism. The economy is a developing one that previously depended on agriculture. Signs of collectivism are evident in the small towns and villages which are spread across the island.

Dominican cuisine is similar to that of other Caribbean countries. Common main courses comprise meat (usually chicken, but can be goat, lamb, or beef) covered in sauce. The sauces are either spicy pepper sauces, or concoctions made from local fruit. A huge variety of local fruit, from tamarind to passion fruit, are served on the island, usually in juice or sauce form. Soursop is peeled and eaten raw. Sorrel, a red flower that only blooms around Christmas, is boiled into a bright red drink. Typical dishes include "pelau," a one-pot dish of rice and chicken, mountain chicken (frog), all types of local fish, frozen joys (a homemade flavored popsicle), and several types of "ground provisions,"--root vegetables including dasheen and tania.

Education

The island has its own state college, formerly named Clifton Dupigny Community College. Some Dominicans get scholarships from the Cuban government to attend universities in Cuba. Others go to the University of the West Indies or to schools in the United Kingdom, the United States, or other countries for higher education. Ross University,[23] a medical school, is located at Portsmouth. The Archbold Tropical Research and Education Center,[24] a biological field station owned by Clemson University,[25] is located at Springfield Estate between Canefield and Pond Cassé. In 2006, another medical school called All Saints University School of Medicine opened in temporary facilities in Loubiere, with a permanent campus being constructed in Grand Bay. Currently All Saints is located in Roseau, Dominica. Until 2009 there was also a marine biology institute in Mahaut, I.T.M.E (Institute for Tropical Marine Ecology), 15 minutes north of Roseau.

Cricket

Cricket is a popular sport on the island, and Dominica competes in test cricket as part of the West Indies cricket team. On October 24, 2007, the 8,000-seat Windsor cricket stadium was completed with a donation of EC$33 million (US$17 million, 12 million) from the government of the People's Republic of China.

Media

Dominica has three major newspapers, The Sun, The Times, and The Chronicle. There are two national television stations and a few radio stations, including Stations include: ZBC-AM 590, ZGBC-AM 740, ZGBC-FM 90.7 (Portsmouth), ZGBC-FM 102.1 (Roseau) and ZGBC-FM 106.1 (Marigot), Q95 FM,[26] the Dominica Broadcasting Corporation, and Kairi FM.[27] Before 2004, there was one telecommunication company called Cable and Wireless. In 2005, Digicel and a UK-based company called Orange started to offer service to the island. There are a number of mobile networks operating on the island.

Notable people from Dominica

Please see List of people of Dominica

See also

References

  1. ^ Dominica Ethnic groups 2001 Census
  2. ^ a b c d "Dominica". International Monetary Fund. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2012/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=54&pr.y=7&sy=2009&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=321&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=. Retrieved 2012-04-18. 
  3. ^ "English Pronunciation Guide to the Names of People, Places, and Stuff – How to pronounce Dominica". inogolo.com. http://inogolo.com/pronunciation/d202/Dominica. Retrieved 2010-09-09. 
  4. ^ "Discover Dominica: an introduction to our Caribbean island at www.dominica.dm". Dominica.dm. http://www.dominica.dm/site/dominica.cfm. Retrieved 2010-06-27. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Background note: Dominica". U.S. Department of State (July 2008).  This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ http://www.lennoxhonychurch.com/article.cfm?Id=394
  7. ^ "Caribbean Islands – Regional Security Threats, 1970–81". Country-data.com. http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-3376.html. Retrieved 2010-06-27. 
  8. ^ "Between Two Reunions: Boiling Lake, 1988 to 2008 | dominica.gov.dm: The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica's Official Website". dominica.gov.dm. http://www.dominica.gov.dm/cms/index.php?q=node/520. Retrieved 2010-06-27. 
  9. ^ "Morne Trois Pitons National Park by World Heritage Sites". Whc.unesco.org. 1997-12-07. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/814. Retrieved 2010-06-27. 
  10. ^ St. Lucia (2004), Saint Kitts (1999), Hispaniola (Dominican Republic [1990]/Haiti [1982]) and Cuba (multiple)
  11. ^ Carlyle L. Mitchell; Edgar Gold; Dalhousie Ocean Studies Programme (1983). Fisheries development in Dominica: an assessment of the New Law of the Sea Implications and Strategies. Dalhousie Ocean Studies Programme, Dalhousie University. ISBN 978-0-7703-0280-1. http://books.google.com/books?id=-1ARAAAAYAAJ. Retrieved 8 October 2010. 
  12. ^ Jonathan Katz (2007-08-18). "Hurricane Dean Gains Caribbean Strength". Forbes. Associated Press. http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/18/ap4033014.html. Retrieved 2007-08-18. [dead link]
  13. ^ "Hurricane claims one life in St. Lucia and possibly two in Dominica". CBC. 2007-08-17. Archived from the original on 2007-08-28. http://web.archive.org/web/20070828065016/http://www.cbc.bb/content/view/12195/45/. Retrieved 2007-08-17. 
  14. ^ "Dominica Badly Affected". CBC. 2007-08-17. Archived from the original on 2007-08-28. http://web.archive.org/web/20070828065016/http://www.cbc.bb/content/view/12195/45/. Retrieved 2007-08-17. 
  15. ^ "(Dominica 07/08, U.S. State Dept.)". http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2295.htm. 
  16. ^ "(World Bank 'At A Glance')" (PDF). http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTOECS/Resources/Dominica.AAG.pdf. 
  17. ^ DeLollis, Barbara and Hansen, Barbara (January 19, 2009). Bookings started to fall along with stock market. USA Today. 
  18. ^ "The Carib Indians". Avirtualdominica.com. http://www.avirtualdominica.com/caribs.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-27. 
  19. ^ Pickford, John From Our Own Correspondent BBC Radio 4. First broadcast 31 March 2007. Dominica report 17'49" – 22'55"
  20. ^ "Tropical Islam". Arabwashingtonian.org. http://www.arabwashingtonian.org/english/article.php?articleID=547&issue=19. Retrieved 2010-06-27. 
  21. ^ "Creole for Beginners". Avirtualdominica.com. http://www.avirtualdominica.com/creole.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-27. 
  22. ^ "Migration from Montserrat to Dominica". Lennoxhonychurch.com. http://www.lennoxhonychurch.com/article.cfm?id=402. Retrieved 2010-06-27. 
  23. ^ Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica
  24. ^ Springfield Guesthouse & the Archbold Tropical Research & Education Center, Dominica
  25. ^ "Clemson University". Clemson.edu. 2010-01-08. http://www.clemson.edu. Retrieved 2010-06-27. 
  26. ^ "Q95 FM". Wiceqfm.com. http://wiceqfm.com/index.html. Retrieved 2010-06-27. 
  27. ^ "Kairi FM". Kairi FM. http://www.kairifm.com/. Retrieved 2010-06-27. 

External links


Translations:

Dominica

Top

Dansk (Danish)
n. - Dominica

Français (French)
n. - Dominice

Deutsch (German)
n. - Dominica

Português (Portuguese)
n. - Dominicana

Español (Spanish)
n. - Dominica

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
多米尼加

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 多明尼加

한국어 (Korean)
도미니카(연방) (서인도 제도 남동부의 섬; 영연방으로부터 1978년 독립국; 수도 Roseau), 도미니카 (여자이름)

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮דומיניקה‬


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.dm (abbreviation)
Dom. (abbreviation)
Roseau (capital of Dominica)