General 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.
Area comparative: Slightly more than four
times the size of Washington, DC
Climate:
Tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain: Rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Population: 70,158 (July 2002 est.)
Ethnic groups: Black, Mixed Black and European,
European, Syrian, Carib Amerindian
Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15%
(Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist
3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6%
Language: English (official), French patois
Government type: Parliamentary democracy; republic
within the Commonwealth
Capital: Roseau
Legal system: Based on English common law
Economic overview: The Dominican economy depends
on agriculture, primarily bananas, and remains highly
vulnerable to climatic conditions. Hurricane Luis devastated
the country's banana crop in 1995 after tropical storms
wiped out a quarter of the 1994 crop. The subsequent
recovery has been fueled by increases in construction,
soap production, and tourist arrivals. Development of
the tourism industry remains difficult however, because
of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the absence
of an international airport. Economic growth is sluggish,
and unemployment is greater than 20%. The government
has been attempting to develop an offshore financial
sector in order to diversify the island's production
base.
Communication/Telephone system: Fully automatic
network
Places of interest: Dominica has a lush mountainous
interior of rainforests, waterfalls, lakes, hot springs
and more than 200 rivers, many of which cascade over
steep cliff faces en route to the coast. The only way
to really experience this fabulous terrain is to pull
on your hiking boots and start walking.
Travel tips:
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