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Dominica
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.
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago Geographic coordinates: 15 25 N, 61 20 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area:
Area - comparative: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 148 km Maritime claims:
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, arable land Land use:
Irrigated land: NA sq km Natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months Environment - current issues: NA Environment - international agreements:
Population: 71,540 (July 2000 est.) Age structure:
Population growth rate: -1.14% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 18.27 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -22.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio:
Infant mortality rate: 17.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate: 2.05 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality:
Ethnic groups: black, Carib Amerindian Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% Languages: English (official), French patois Literacy:
Country name:
Data code: DO Government type: parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth Capital: Roseau Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter Independence: 3 November 1978 (from UK) National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978) Constitution: 3 November 1978 Legal system: based on English common law Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch:
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21 elected by popular vote representatives; members serve five-year terms)
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Saint Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Labor Party of Dominica or LPD [Rosie DOUGLAS]; United Workers Party or UWP [Edison JAMES] Political pressure groups and leaders: Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party) International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US:
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; US interests are served by the embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados Flag description: green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
Economy - overview: The economy depends on agriculture and is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions, notably tropical storms. Agriculture, primarily bananas, accounts for 21% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the lack of an international airport. Hurricane Luis devastated the country's banana crop in September 1995; tropical storms had wiped out one-quarter of the crop in 1994 as well. The economy's recovery continued in 1998, fueled by increases in construction, soap production, and tourist arrivals. The government is attempting to develop an offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's production base. GDP: purchasing power parity - $225 million (1998 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1998 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,400 (1998 est.) GDP - composition by sector:
Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (1998) Labor force: 25,000 Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28% Unemployment rate: 20% (1999 est.) Budget:
Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes Industrial production growth rate: -10% (1997 est.) Electricity - production: 40 million kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source:
Electricity - consumption: 37 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa; forest and fishery potential not exploited Exports: $60.8 million (1998) Exports - commodities: bananas 50%, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges Exports - partners: Caricom countries 47%, UK 36%, US 7% (1996 est.) Imports: $120.4 million (1998) Imports - commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals Imports - partners: US 41%, Caricom countries 25%, UK 13%, Netherlands, Canada (1996 est.) Debt - external: $90 million (1998 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $24.4 million (1995) Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976) Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Telephones - main lines in use: 18,000 (1995) Telephones - mobile cellular: NA Telephone system:
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998) Radios: 46,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 0 (however, there is one cable television company) (1997) Televisions: 6,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
Railways: 0 km Highways:
Ports and harbors: Portsmouth, Roseau Merchant marine: none (1999 est.) Airports: 2 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways:
Military branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard) Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Disputes - international: none Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer; banking industry is vulnerable to money laundering Please click here for a guide to the country profiles Click here for all other countries
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