Country Profile: Dominica

Last reviewed: 30 June 2008

Country information

Map of Dominica

DOMINICA TODAY

Country Facts

Area: 754 sq km (290 sq miles)
Population:72,000
Capital City: Roseau
People: Dominica is the only island in the Eastern Caribbean to retain some of its pre-Colombian population - the Carib Indians - about 3,000 of whom live on the island's East Coast. The population growth rate is very low, due primarily to emigration to more prosperous Caribbean Islands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.
Languages: The official language is English. However, because of historic connections with France, the most widely spoken dialect is the French patois, Creole.
Religion(s): Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 6%)
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD) GBP1.00 = 5.33 XCD, 1 EUR = 3.60 XCD
Major Political Parties: Dominica Freedom Party (DFP); Dominica Labour Party (DLP); United Workers Party (UWP)
Government: Dominica has a Westminster-style parliamentary government. A President and Prime Minister make up the executive branch. Nominated by the Prime Minister in consultation with the leader of the opposition party, the President is elected for a 5-year term by the Parliament. The President appoints as Prime Minister the leader of the majority party in the Parliament and also appoints, on the Prime Minister's recommendation, members of the Parliament from the ruling party as cabinet ministers. The Prime Minister and cabinet are responsible to the parliament and can be removed on a no-confidence vote. The unicameral Parliament, called the House of Assembly, is composed of 21 regional representatives and 9 Senators. The regional representatives are elected by universal suffrage and, in turn, decide whether Senators are to be elected or appointed. If appointed, 5 are chosen by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister and 4 with the advice of the opposition leader. If elected, it is by the vote of the regional representatives. Elections for Representatives and Senators must be held at least every 5 years, although the Prime Minister can call elections any time. Dominica's legal system is based on English common law. There are 3 magistrate's courts, with appeals made to the Eastern Caribbean court of appeal and, ultimately, to the Privy Council in London.
Head of State: President Dr Nicholas Liverpool
Prime Minister/Premier: The Hon Roosevelt Skerrit MP
Foreign Minister: The Hon Roosevelt Skerrit MP
Membership of international groupings/organisations: Dominica's memberships include: Commonwealth, CARICOM, Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), The Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP), United Nations (UN), UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UNESCO, Organisation of American States (OAS), IMF, WHO, Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA).

DID YOU KNOW?

Dominica has one of the highest ratios of centenarians in the world. Second highest in the Western Hemisphere, after Canada.

HEALTH

Life expectancy: 74.65 years (men: 71.73 years, women: 77.71 years)
Infant mortality: 14.15 per 1,000 live births

HIV/AIDS

The incidence of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean region is second only to sub-Sahara Africa. Dominica is tackling the HIV/AIDS pandemic mainly through an education programme.

A UK-CARICOM Forum on Reducing Stigma and Discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDs in the Caribbean was held in St Kitts in November 2004. The Forum was attended by stakeholders from throughout the region. Participants included the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Dr Peter Piot; the Director of the Caribbean Commission on Health and Development, Sir George Alleyne; Dr Edwin Carrington, CARICOM Secretary-General and DfID Minister Gareth Thomas MP. The aim of the Forum was to accelerate the process of reducing HIV/AIDs-related stigma and discrimination through persons identified as 'Champions for Change'. The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS has taken this work forward in the private sector. The campaign is starting to gain ground in government and the media, but public attitudes are slow to change.

Next Page: Economy