Dominica
(Facts
on File)
A
History of Calibishie
A
Virtual Dominica
CaKaFete
Calabash
Skyviews
Caribbean-On-Line
Destination:
Dominica
Dominica
Dominica's
Charters
Dominica:
The Nature Island of the Caribbean
First
Serenade
Inside
Dominica
The
Island of Dominica
Sensay
Dominica
Travel
Dominica
Virtual
Voyages
World
Creole Music Festival
Official Name: Commonwealth of Dominica
Capital: Roseau
Official Languages: English and French
Head of State: President Crispin A. Sorhaindo
Head of Government: Prime Minister Eddison James
Ruling Party: United Workers Party
Currency Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$)
Exchange Rate: U.S.$1.00 = EC$2.70
Time Zone: EST +1; GMT -4
Phone Code: Regional Code (767) plus 7 digit local number
Geography:Dominica is located between Guadeloupe and Martinique. It is the largest of the Windward Islands and is situated most northernly. It has an area of about 290 square miles. The island is very lush with dense forests, lakes, and many rivers and waterfalls. It is made up of volcanic peaks as high as 5,000 feet.
Climate: Dominica has a very tropical climate, with cool trade winds. The average annual temperature is about 27°C (80°F), and there is a hurrican season from July to September.
Total Population: 73,000
Average Annual Rate of Growth: .003 %
Reproductive Rate: 28 per 1,000
Population Density: 280 per square mile
Adult Literacy: 96 %
Ethnic Make-up: The people are mainly of African descent, with a small number of Carib Indians and Europeans.
Education
The Dominican gevernment provides an extensive educational program. It has numerous facilities to further your education after highschool, providing engineering, technical, mechanical, construction, agricultural, plumbing, and general business courses. There is also a division of the University of the West Indies to attend, and many students also go on to other universities around the world.
History
Dominica is one of the smallest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Located in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean Sea it was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. Eventually French settlers established plantations even though, in 1660, it was agreed under a French-British treaty that Dominica be left to the original Carib Indian inhabitants. Following many wars in the mid 1700's it became a British possession in 1805. Dominica became a member of the Leeward Islands Federation in 1939, joined the Windward Islands in 1940, and attained separate status in 1960. In 1967 it became a West Indies Associated State achieving complete autonomy in internal affairs, with Britain responsible for defense and foreign affairs. Dominica became an independent republic within the Commonwealth in 1978.