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North & Central America and Caribbean
Dominica |
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Last reviewed: 04 June 2009 |
Country information
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 (Methodist, Pentecostal, Seventh Day Adventist, Baptist, other)
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD) which is pegged at XCD 2.70 = US$1.00
Major Political Parties: Dominica Labour Party (DLP); United Workers Party (UWP); Dominica Freedom Party (DFP)
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 five-year term by the unicameral 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 nine Senators. The regional representatives are elected by universal suffrage and, in turn, decide whether Senators are to be elected or appointed. If appointed, five are chosen by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister and four 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 five years, although the Prime Minister can call elections any time. Dominica's legal system is based on English common law. There are three 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 Vince Henderson
Membership of international groupings/organisations: Dominica's memberships include: the Commonwealth, Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), 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?
There are 22 centenarians in Dominica which has the second highest ratio 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. The main mode of HIV transmission in the Caribbean is unprotected heteorosexual intercourse. Dominica is tackling the HIV/AIDS pandemic mainly through an education programme.
