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The 'Commonwealth of Dominica', commonly known as 'Dominica' (), is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. It is distinct and separate from the Dominican Republic, another Caribbean nation. The name is pronounced [] (dom-in-EE-cuh). In Latin, its name means "Sunday", which was the day on which it was discovered by Columbus.
Dominica's pre-Columbian name was 'Wai'tu kubuli', which means "Tall is her body". The indigenous people of the island, the Caribs, have a territory similar to the Indian reserves of North America. Because the island lies between two French overseas departments (Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south), and because it was colonized by France for a time, it is sometimes called "French Dominica". However, its official language is English - though a French creole is commonly spoken.
Dominica has been nicknamed the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean" due to its seemingly unspoiled natural beauty. It is one of the youngest islands in the Lesser Antilles, and it is still being formed by geothermal-volcanic activity. 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 which is the island's national bird, is featured on the national flag. Dominica's economy is heavily dependent on both tourism and agriculture.

Contents

History

Politics

Parishes

Geography

Climate

Demographics

Culture

Media and communication

Film and TV

Economy

Agriculture

Tourism

Transportation

Education

Nature

See also

References

Gallery

External links

Government

News and media

Tourism

Organizations and directories

History

Main articles: History of Dominica

The island of 'Dominica''s indigenous Arawak people were expelled or exterminated by Caribs in the fourteenth century. The Arawaks were guided to Dominica, and other islands of the Caribbean, by the South Equatorial current from the waters of the Orinoco River. These descendants of the early Tainos were overthrown by the Kalinago tribe of the Caribs.
The Caribs arrived on this island by special boats which they are still making at their own territory on the island. Christopher Columbus arrived at this island on Sunday November 3 1493. He and his crew members soon left the island after being defeated by the Caribs. In 1627 England also tried and failed to capture Dominica. In 1635 the French claimed the island and sent missionaries, but were unable to wrench Dominica from the Caribs. They abandoned the island, along with the island of Saint Vincent, in the 1660s.
For the next hundred years 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 the United Kingdom in 1763. The United Kingdom then set up a government and made the island a colony in 1805. The emancipation of African slaves occurred throughout the British Empire in 1834, and, by 1838, Dominica became the first British Caribbean colony to have a Black-controlled legislature. In 1896, the United Kingdom re-took governmental control of Dominica and turned 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 finally became an independent nation.

Politics

Main articles: Politics of Dominica

Dominica is a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth of Nations. The President is 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 with the British monarch as head of state, as it instead became a republic on independence. Dominica is a full and participating member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Dominica is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military (as covered under Article 98).

Parishes

Dominica is divided into ten parishes:
#Saint Andrew Parish
#Saint David Parish
#Saint George Parish
#Saint John Parish
#Saint Joseph Parish
#Saint Luke Parish
#Saint Mark Parish
#Saint Patrick Parish
#Saint Paul Parish
#Saint Peter Parish

Geography

Main articles: Geography of Dominica

Dominica is an island nation and borderless country in the Caribbean Sea, the northernmost of the Windward Islands. The size of the country is about 289.5 square miles (754 km²). The capital is Roseau.
Dominica is largely covered by rainforest and is home to the world's largest boiling lake. Dominica also has many waterfalls, springs and rivers. Some plants and animals thought to be extinct on surrounding islands can still be found in Dominica's forests. The volcanic nature of the island and the lack of sandy beaches have made Dominica a popular scuba diving spot. Dominica is home to several protected areas, including Cabrits National Park. The local people like to say that Dominica has 365 rivers.
It is said that when his royal sponsors asked Christopher Columbus to describe this island in the "New World," 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.
Morne Trois Pitons National Park is a tropical forest blended with scenic volcanic features.^[1] It was recognized as a World Heritage Site on April 4, 1995. Within the Caribbean, it shares this distinction with historic World Heritage sites in San Juan (Puerto Rico), Willemstad (Curacao), Saint Kitts, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic/Haiti) and Cuba, and another natural World Heritage site in St. Lucia.
The Commonwealth of Dominica is engaged in a long-running dispute with Venezuela over Venezuela's territorial claims to the sea surrounding Isla Aves (Bird Island), a tiny islet located 70 miles (110 km) west of the island of Dominica.
The only two major cities are Roseau and Portsmouth.

Climate

It has two seasons, wet and dry. The climate is very tropical in nature with the temperature being above 20 Celsius degree most of the time. The high amounts of annual rain actually feeds into the rivers.
The island is in the hurricane region. In 1979, Dominica was hit directly by Category 5 Hurricane David, causing widespread and extreme damage.
In August 17th, 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 fell onto their house.^[2] In another incident two people were injured when a tree fell on their house.^[3] Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit estimated that 100 to 125 homes were damaged, and that the agriculture sector was extensively damaged.^[4]
see also: Effects of Hurricane Dean in the Lesser Antilles

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Dominica

Almost all of the 70,000 nationals of Dominica today are descendants of African slaves, brought in by colonial planters in the eighteenth century. Dominica is the only Eastern Caribbean island that still has a population of pre-Columbian native Caribs, who were exterminated or driven from neighboring 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 Queen in 1903.^[5]. 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 Caribbean islands, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, or Canada. English is the official language of Dominica and is universally understood; however, because of historic French domination, and the island's location between two French-speaking territories (Martinique and Guadeloupe) Antillean Creole "Patois", a French-based creole language is the mother tongue of 80% of the Dominican people. Dominica is therefore a member of the Francophonie organization. About 80% of the population is Catholic, though in recent years a number of Protestant churches have been established.
It has recently been noted that Dominica has an incredibly high proportion of the population who are centenarians (over the age of 100). As of March 2007, there are 22 centenarians out of the island's 70,000 inhabitants - three times the average incidence of centenarianism than in developed countries.Pickford, John ''From Our Own Correspondent'' BBC Radio 4. First broadcast 31 March 2007. Dominica report 17'49" - 22'55" The reasons for this are the subject of current research being undertaken at Ross University School of Medicine.

Culture

Dominica is home to a wide range of people. Historically occupied by several native tribes, only a Carib tribe remained by the time European settlers reached the island. French and British settlers each claimed the island, and imported slaves from Africa. The remaining Caribs live on a 3,700 acre territory at the east coast side of the island. They elect their own chief. This mix of cultures is important to Dominica.
The famed novelist Jean Rhys was born and raised in Dominica. The island is obliquely depicted in her best-known book, ''Wide Sargasso Sea''. Recently, Caribbean writer Marie-Elena John's debut novel ''Unburnable'' has evoked much of the spirit of Dominica captured by Rhys, prompting comparisons between the two novels,^[6] in spite of the hundred-year difference, and suggesting that Dominica has remained one of the Caribbean's most pristine islands. Rhys's friend, the political activist and writer Phyllis Shand Allfrey, set her 1954 novel, ''The Orchid House'' (ISBN 0-8135-2332-X), in Dominica.
The dialect of Dominica also includes Cocoy and Creole - French-based patois. Other than English, the majority of people speak Creole which came from the French plantation owners from the neighbouring French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Cocoy is primarily a mix of cockney English imported by English settlers, with an infusion of African lingual. It is mainly spoken in the north-eastern villages of Marigot and Wesley.^[7]

Media and communication

Currently, Dominica has two newpapers, The Sun, and The Chronicle. There is a national television station and a few radio stations, such as: Q95 FM, Dominica Broadcasting Corporation, Kairi FM, etc.
Before 2004, there was only one telecommunication company called Cable and Wireless (Caribbean). Shortly after that, AT&T 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.

Film and TV

In 2004, Dominica was selected for the film of Pirates of the Caribbean. In spring of 2007, CBS filmed its first pirates related TV show called Pirate Master in Dominica.

Economy

Main articles: Economy of Dominica

The Dominican economy is dependent on both tourism and agriculture. Forty percent of Dominican workers are in the agricultural sector, and Dominica's primary agricultural exports include tobacco, bananas, vegetables, citrus, copra, coconut oil, and essential oils such as bay oil. The country's industries, other than tourism, include soap, furniture, cement blocks, and shoes. Dominica is further benefited by the presence of an offshore Devry owned medical school - Ross University , in the northern town of Portsmouth. Over 1,000 students mainly from USA and Canada live and study in Portsmouth.

The Dominican economy has high poverty (30%), high unemployment (23%), and a low per capita GDP (US$5,400). The Dominican economy has been hurt by problems in the banana industry. The entire economy suffers when weather conditions damage the banana crop, or when the price of bananas falls. The European Union has phased out preferred access of bananas to its markets, causing banana demand to fall. In response, the Dominican government privatized the banana industry. Also, the government has attempted to diversify the economy and has lifted price controls in an attempt to improve the lagging economy. The government is also trying to develop tourism, especially ecotourism. The lack of a large international airport or sandy beaches limit opportunities for standard tourism, but the island's heavily rainforested landscape and beautifully preserved environment could lure those looking for unparalleled ecotourism experiences. Indeed, it is remarked that of all the islands of the Caribbean, Dominica is the only one Christopher Columbus might still recognise.

Agriculture

Bananas have traditionally formed the backbone of the island's economy. Between 1988–1999, banana production declined 63% and a 62% decline in export value. It is mainly due to the performance of the banana industry.^[8]

Tourism

Unlike many other Caribbean islands, Dominica's tourism is underdeveloped. It does not have any world-famous chains of hotels.
Dominica has a few famous tourist spots, such as the Indian River in Portsmouth, Emerald Pool, Trafalgar Falls, Scotts Head (where the Atlantic Ocean meets with the Caribbean Sea), and the world's largest Boiling Lake which is inside of Morne Trois Pitons National Park - Dominica's World Heritage site. This island country also has many excellent diving spots due to its steep drop-offs, healthy marine environment and reefs.
In 2004, because of its unchanged natural beauty, Dominica was chosen to be one of the major filming locations for '' and its follow-up, ''. Hampstead Beach, Indian River, Londonderry River, Soufriere and Vieille Case, which is situated on the island’s northern tip, were among the places which were selected for filming. The production ended on May 26th of 2005. The cast, crew and their island hosts had a "Dominica Survivor Party".
Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) has made Dominica one of its Ports of Call for 2007. The pier is located in the capital city of Roseau and is a simple pier. Other Caribbean islands such as St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia and Antigua have more extensive cruise pier facilities.
The Dominica straw markets open on Tuesdays when the cruise ship dock. These shops are operated by locals and are located on the main street directly in front of the pier, as well as directly behind the Dominica Museum. No other straw markets are located on the North side of the island.

Transportation

There are two small airports on the island: the main one is Melville Hall Airport (DOM), about one hour away from Portsmouth; the second one is Canefield (DCF) which is about fifteen minutes' travel from Roseau. Neither of them is big enough for typical commercial size airplanes, although Melville Hall is under expansion. As of 2007, American Airlines, LIAT (who recently merged with Caribbean Star, a former competitor to that market) are the major airlines that service the Melville Hall airport, and Carib Aviation operates service from Canefield. There is no night-time service, because the airports do not have night lights.
There is no major highway on the island. Before the road was built between Portsmouth and Roseau, people had to take boats which took several hours from one way to the other. Now, it takes about one hour to drive from Portsmouth to Roseau. Minibus services form the major public transport system. It costs about 1 EC to go anywhere in Portsmouth area, about 8 EC from Portsmouth to Roseau (2006).

Education

The island has its own state college, formerly named Clifton Dupigny Community College. Some Dominicans get scholarships from the Cuban government to attend medical school 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, a medical school, is located at Portsmouth. In 2006, another medical school called All Saints University of Medicine opened in temporary facilities in Loubiere, with a permanent campus being constructed in Grand Bay.

Nature

Dominica is blessed with the most pristine wilderness in the Caribbean. Originally, it was protected by sheer mountains which led the European powers to build ports and agricultural settlements on other islands. More recently, the enlightened citizens of this island have sought to preserve its spectacular natural beauty and discouraged 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, spectacular coastlines and coral reefs.
The Sisserou parrot is Dominica's national bird and is indigenous to its mountain forests.

See also

★ Communications in Dominica

★ Foreign relations of Dominica

★ Military of Dominica

★ Transportation in Dominica

★ Music of Dominica

★ List of people of Dominica

★ The Scout Association of Dominica

★ Lesser Antilles

References

1. Morne Trois Pitons National Park by World Heritage Sites
2. Hurricane Dean Gains Caribbean Strength
3. Hurricane claims one life in St. Lucia and possibly two in Dominica
4. Dominica Badly Affected
5. The Carib Indians
6. Harris, Ena. "Dominica as Spiritual Landscape: Representations of Nature and Ritual in Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea and Marie-Elena John's Unburnable". Trajectories of Freedom: Caribbean Societies Past and Present. Abstracts. Biennial Conference 2007, University of the West Indies, Cavehill. (Abstract by Dr Ena Harris of Bard College, NJ, USA).
7. Creole for Beginners
8. Positioning Dominica’s Agriculture for Sustained Economic and Social Development

Gallery

External links

Government

★ Commonwealth of Dominica - Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

★ Invest Dominica - Official site for the Division of Industry, Dominica.

★ Dominica Marine Reserve Service - Fisheries Division, Dominica

News and media

★ Dominica Broadcasting Corporation

★ QFM Radio - West Indies Communications Enterprise Limited, Dominica

★ Kairi FM - Radio station on Dominica

★ The Chronicle - Weekly newspaper of Dominica, published online by News Dominica

Tourism

★

★ Discover Dominica: Nature Island of the Caribbean - Official government tourism website by the National Development Corporation of Dominica

★ Tourism Dominica - Official site of the Dominica Ministry of Tourism, Industry & Private Sector Relations

★ Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association - Official site

★ Dominica Accommodations - Provides lists of Accommodation Packages, hotel listings and general travel guide information to traveler to Dominica

Organizations and directories

★ Dominica Association of Industy & Commerce

★ Dominica's Society for Heritage, Architectural Preservation & Enhancement

★ Kalinago - Official Website of Dominica's Carib Territory Cultural Groups

★ Resources on Dominica's history & culture - compilation by Lennox Edward Honychurch, Curator of The Dominica Museum, Bayfront, Roseau

★ Dominica and the IMF - The International Monetary Fund