Country	Dominica
Capital	Roseau
Continent	North America(Central America)
Currency	East Caribbean dollar(XCD)
Languages	English, Antillean Creole & French

Locaion

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic Co ordinates

15 25 N, 61 20 W

Land Boundries

0 km

Geography - note

known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in the world

Population

72,813 (July 2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 200

Nationality

Noun:Dominican(s)
Adjective:Dominican

Ethnic groups

black 86.8%, mixed 8.9%, Carib Amerindian 2.9%, white 0.8%, other 0.7% (2001 census)

Religions

Roman Catholic 61.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 6%, Pentecostal 5.6%, Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.2%, other Christian 7.7%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.6%, none 6.1% (2001 census)

Languages

English (official), French patois

Country Name

Conventional long form:Commonwealth of Dominica
Conventional short form:Dominica

Government Type

parliamentary democracy

Capital

Name:Roseau
Geographic coordinates:15 18 N, 61 24 W
Time difference:UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 the UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Constitution

3 November 1978

Legal system

based on English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Chief of state:President Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (since October 2003)
Head of government:Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)
Cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
Elections:president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held on 1 October 2003 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results:Nicholas LIVERPOOL consented to a second term in 2008 at the request of the prime minister and leader of the opposition

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats; 9 members appointed, 21 elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections:last held on 18 December 2009 (next to be held in 2015); note - tradition dictates that the election will be held within five years of the last election, but technically it is five years from the first seating of parliament (12 May 2005) plus a 90-day grace period
Election results: percent of vote by party - DLP 61.2%, UWP 34.9%; seats by party - DLP 18, UWP 3

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the Court of Appeal and the High 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]; Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT]; Dominica United Workers Party or UWP [Earl WILLIAMS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Judith Ann ROLLE
Chancery:3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
Telephone:[1] (202) 364-6781
FAX:[1] (202) 364-6791
Consulate(s) general:New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica

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)

Video

View Larger Map

Government - Government - Dominica Foreign Embassies in Dominica Ministry Of Education
Newspapers -  Caribbean Net News: Dominica Caribseek Dominica News Dominica Weekly
                              News Dominica The Dominican
Tourism -         Official Government Tourism Website

Google News

Man From Dominica Arrested For Possession With Intent To Distribute Cocaine - VI Consortium (press release) VI Consortium (press release) Man From Dominica Arrested For Possession With Intent To Distribute Cocaine VI Consortium (press release) ST. THOMAS — Kenneth James, 51, of Dominica, made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge George W. Cannon after being charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, Acting United ... Dominica's gov't establishes $15M, 3% loan facility for manufacturing sector - St. Lucia News Online (press release) St. Lucia News Online (press release) Dominica's gov't establishes $15M, 3% loan facility for manufacturing sector St. Lucia News Online (press release) (PRESS RELEASE) – Dominica's Government has announced that it has agreed to establish an EC$15 million special loan facility to meet the needs of the manufacturing sector. The announcement was made by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, the ... Dominica: Where champagne and warm mud mix - USA TODAY USA TODAY Dominica: Where champagne and warm mud mix USA TODAY Mom always said, “If you don't end up dirty and sleepy, you're not having enough fun.” Mom would've loved Dominica. After a few days of snorkeling in “champagne bubbles,” soaking in tea-colored hot springs and hiking through a rain forest with sucking ... US fashion mag lists reasons to visit 'unique' DominicaWIC News all 2 news articles » Dominica chooses Motts for road refurb - The Construction Index The Construction Index Dominica chooses Motts for road refurb The Construction Index A grant from the UK's Department for International Development has been provided to Dominica through the Caribbean Development Bank. The Ministry of Public Works & Ports project will see the construction of nine new bridges, the rehabilitation of the ... Dominica: UK-based company chosen for Loubiere-Bagatelle road designWIC News all 2 news articles » Cloud physics could be the key to understanding climate change - Quartz Quartz Cloud physics could be the key to understanding climate change Quartz “We want to predict the future, but we are currently struggling to predict these clouds,” says Campbell Watson, an atmospheric scientist who used to study fluffy cumulus formations above the tiny tropical island of Dominica. Moreso than other greenery ... PRESS RELEASE: Prime Minister offers condolences to Dominica following deadly accident - St. Lucia News Online (press release) St. Lucia News Online (press release) PRESS RELEASE: Prime Minister offers condolences to Dominica following deadly accident St. Lucia News Online (press release) “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Dominica at this time. Dominica is our sister isle and we in Saint Lucia have gone through something very similar and we know how difficult this can be for a small country,” noted Prime Minister Chastanet. and more » Dominica seeking World Bank funds for geothermal energy project - Nation News Nation News Dominica seeking World Bank funds for geothermal energy project Nation News Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said the government has established the Dominica Geothermal Development Company (DGDC) to move ahead with the construction of the plant, a project which is expected to reduce Dominica's dependence on crude oil. Dominica secures funding for finalisation of geothermal power projectThinkGeoEnergy all 2 news articles » Vehicular Accident In Dominica Leaves Five Young Men Dead; Prime Minister Issues Statement - VI Consortium (press release) VI Consortium (press release) Vehicular Accident In Dominica Leaves Five Young Men Dead; Prime Minister Issues Statement VI Consortium (press release) DOMINICA — The lives of five young men were cut short early Sunday morning during the 7:00 a.m. hour, following a tragic accident in Ambas, Vielle Case, Dominica, one of three Villages in the St. Andrews Parish, whose parliamentary representative is ... Tributes paid to Vieille Case accident victimsWIC News all 3 news articles » Dominica mourns young men's deaths after car plunges off cliff - The Daily Herald (press release) Dominica mourns young men's deaths after car plunges off cliff The Daily Herald (press release) A shaken Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit who represents the constituency located in northern Dominica described the incident as tragic, saying that the lives of five promising young men had been lost. “Just last evening I spent a considerable amount ... Police name victims of Dominica cliff tragedy - WIC News WIC News Police name victims of Dominica cliff tragedy WIC News The Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force has released the name of the five men who died in the horrific cliff accident Vieille Case on Sunday. The group, all from Penville, were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in swerved off the road and ... REGIONAL: Dominica police release names of victims in fatal accidentSt. Lucia News Online Dominica Mourns As Young Men Die When Car Plunges off CliffCaribbean360.com (subscription) all 3 news articles »