Title: Background Note: Dominica
PA
Source: Office of Public Communication, Bureau of Public
Affairs
Description: Historical, Political and Economic Overviews of the
Countries of the World
Date: Jan, 15 19931/15/93
Category: Country Data
Region: Caribbean
Country: Dominican Republic
Subject: Travel, History, International Organizations,
Trade/Economics, Military Affairs, Cultural Exchange,
State Department
[TEXT]
Official Name:
Commonwealth of Dominica
PROFILE
Geography
Area:
754 sq. km. (290 sq. mi.).
Cities:
Capital--Roseau.
Terrain:
Mountainous volcanic island with rain forest
cover.
Climate:
Tropical.
People
Nationality:
Noun and adjective--Dominican (Dom-i-nee-
can).
Population (1991):
72,000.
Annual growth rate:
0%.
Ethnic groups:
Mainly African descent, some Carib Indians.
Religions:
Roman Catholic (80%), Anglican, other
Protestant denominations.
Languages:
English (official); a French patois is widely
spoken.
Education:
Years compulsory--to age 14. Literacy--about
80%.
Health:
Infant mortality rate--17/1,000. Life
expectancy--men 71 yrs., women 74 yrs.
Work force (30,600):
Agriculture--37%. Services--30%.
Industry and commerce--20%.
Government
Type:
Parliamentary democracy; republic within
Commonwealth.
Independence:
November 3, 1978. Constitution: November
1978.
Branches:
Executive--president (head of state), prime
minister (head of government), cabinet. Legislative--unicameral
House of Assembly. Judicial--magistrate and jury courts, Eastern
Caribbean Supreme Court (high court and court of appeals), privy
council.
Subdivisions:
10 parishes.
Political parties:
Dominica Freedom Party (incumbent),
United Workers Party (official opposition), Dominica Labor Party
(opposition).
Suffrage:
Universal adult.
Flag:
Green background, three striped cross of yellow,
white, and black with a circular emblem of red in the center
containing a Sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green stars.
Economy
GDP (1991):
$147 million.
GDP growth rate (1991):
2%. GDP per capita: $2,000.
Natural resources:
Timber, water (hydropower).
Agriculture (26% of GDP):
Products--bananas, citrus,
coconuts, cocoa, herbal oils and extracts.
Industry (7% of GDP):
Types--agricultural processing, soap
and other coconut-based products, apparel.
Trade:
Exports--$55 million: bananas, citrus fruits, soap,
cocoa. Major partners--European Community (EC), CARICOM, US.
Imports--$140 million: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs,
manufactured articles, cement. Major partners--CARICOM, US, EC,
Japan.
Exchange rate:
Eastern Caribbean dollar $2.70=US$1.
PEOPLE
Almost all Dominicans are descendants of African slaves imported
by colonial planters in the 18th century. Dominica is the only island
in the eastern Caribbean to retain some of its pre-Colombian
population, the Carib Indians, about 500 of whom live on the island's
east coast.
The population growth rate is low, due primarily to emigration to
more prosperous Caribbean islands, the United Kingdom, the United
States, and Canada.
English is the official language; however, because of historic French
domination, the most widely spoken dialect is a French patois.
About 80% of the population is Catholic. In recent years, a
significant number of Protestant churches have been re-established.
HISTORY
The island's indigenous Arawak people were expelled or
exterminated by Caribs in the 14th century. Columbus landed there
in November 1493. Because of prevailing winds and currents,
Spanish ships frequently landed on Dominica during the 16th century,
but fierce resistance by the Caribs discouraged Spain's efforts at
settlement.
In 1635, France claimed Dominica. Shortly thereafter, French
missionaries became the first European inhabitants of the island.
Carib incursions continued, however, and in 1660, the French and
British agreed that both Dominica and St. Vincent should be
abandoned. Dominica was officially neutral for the next century, but
the attraction of its resources remained; rival groups of British and
French foresters were harvesting timber by the start of the 18th
century, normally in expeditions rather than from permanent
settlements.
Largely due to Dominica's position between Martinique and
Guadeloupe, France eventually became predominant, and a French
settlement was established and grew. However, as part of the 1763
Treaty of Paris that ended the Seven Years' War being fought in
Europe, North America, and India, the island became a British
possession. In 1778, during the American Revolutionary War, the
French mounted a successful invasion with the active cooperation of
the still largely French population. The 1783 Treaty of Paris, ending
American hostilities, returned the island to Britain. French
invasions in 1795 and 1805 ended in failure.
In 1763, the British established a legislative assembly, representing
only the white population. In 1831, reflecting a liberalization of
official British racial attitudes, the "Brown Privilege Bill" conferred
political and social rights on nonwhites. Three blacks were elected
to the Legislative Assembly the following year, and by 1838,
recently enfranchised blacks dominated that body. Most black
legislators were smallholders or merchants who held economic and
social views diametrically opposed to the interests of the small,
wealthy English planter class. Reacting to a perceived threat, the
planters lobbied for more direct British rule. In 1865, after much
agitation and tension, the colonial office replaced the elective
assembly with one comprised of one-half elected members and one-
half appointed. The elected legislators were outmaneuvered on
numerous occasions by planters allied with colonial administrators.
In 1871, Dominica became a federal colony attached to the Leeward
Island Federation. The power of the black population progressively
eroded until crown colony government, after severe colonial office
pressure, was forced upon the assembly in 1896. All political rights
for the vast majority of the population were effectively curtailed.
Development aid, offered as compensation for disenfranchisement,
proved to have a negligible effect.
Following World War I, an upsurge of political consciousness
throughout the Caribbean led to the formation of the Representative
Government Association. Marshaling public frustration with the lack
of a voice in the governing of Dominica, this group won one-third of
the popularly elected seats of the Legislative Assembly in 1924 and
one-half in 1936. Shortly thereafter, Dominica was transferred
from Leeward Island administration and was governed as part of the
Windwards until 1958, when it joined the short-lived Federation of
the West Indies. After the Federation dissolved, Dominica became an
associated state of the United Kingdom in 1967 and formally took
responsibility for its internal affairs. On November 3, 1978, the
Commonwealth of Dominica was granted independence by the United
Kingdom. Independence alone did not solve problems stemming from
centuries of economic underdevelopment, however. In mid-1979,
political discontent led to the formation of an interim government.
This was replaced after 1980 elections by the Dominica Freedom
Party under Prime Minister Mary Eugenia Charles, the Caribbean's
first female prime minister. Chronic economic problems were
compounded by the severe impact of Hurricanes David in 1979 and
Allen in 1980. But by the end of the decade, the economy had made a
healthy recovery, fueled by highly profitable banana exports.
GOVERNMENT
Dominica has a Westminster-style parliamentary government, and
there are three political parties--the Dominica Freedom Party (the
majority party), the Democratic Labor Party, and the United Workers
Party. 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. He 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 elected by universal
suffrage, 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, five are chosen by the president
with the advice of the prime minister and four with the advice of
the opposition leader. If elected, it is by 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
three magistrate's courts, with appeals made to the West Indies
Court of Appeal and, ultimately, to the Privy Council in London.
Councils elected by universal suffrage govern most towns.
Supported largely by property taxation, they are responsible for the
regulation of markets and sanitation and the maintenance of
secondary roads and other municipal amenities. The island is also
divided into 10 parishes, whose governance is unrelated to the town
governments.
Principal Government Officials
President--Clarence Seignoret
Prime Minister--Mary Eugenia Charles
Minister of External Affairs and Organization of Eastern Caribbean
States Unity--Brian Alleyne
Ambassador to the United States--Edward I. Watty (resident in
Dominica)
Ambassador to the United Nations--Frank Barron
ECONOMY
During 1990 and 1991, Dominica's economy made significant
progress toward restoring the levels of economic activity that were
interrupted in 1989 by damage caused by Hurricane Hugo. The
economy grew rapidly in 1990, as a result of higher banana prices
and increased construction and tourism activity, but slowed again in
1991. Agriculture, with bananas and coconuts as principal crops,
continues to be the economic mainstay, accounting for 26% of GDP.
This sector is highly vulnerable to weather conditions and to
external events that affect commodity prices.
Since over 60% of foreign exchange earnings are from banana exports
to the United Kingdom, possible loss of this protected market with
the establishment of a single European market in 1992 poses a
serious threat to Dominica's economy. Agricultural diversification
is a key priority, and Dominica has made real advances toward it,
with the export of small quantities of citrus fruits and vegetables
and the introduction of coffee, patchouli, aloe vera, cut flowers, and
exotic fruits such as mangoes, guavas, and papayas.
Manufacturing accounted for 7% of GDP in 1991. Soap is the island's
second most important export after agricultural products. Other
manufactured products (mostly for export) include garments, animal
feed, bottled water, gloves, furniture, and food products. To attract
export-oriented industry, the government has constructed factory
structures for lease to investors. The country has recruited a
number of foreign investors in light industry and food processing.
Under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, the government
reduced its deficit and cut taxes to encourage the private sector.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) provided more
than $4 million for the program and also helped fund technical
assistance in infrastructure development.
Development of tourism has been slow, compared with that on
neighboring islands, because Dominica is mostly volcanic and has
few beaches. However, with high, rugged mountains covered by
unexploited rainforests, freshwater lakes, hot springs, waterfalls,
and diving spots, Dominica's unique landscape is beginning to attract
tourists.
Dominica, along with Antigua, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and the
Grenadines, is a member of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank,
which issues a common currency.
Dominica is a beneficiary of the US Caribbean Basin Initiative. It is
also a member of the 12-nation Caribbean Economic Community and
Common Market, which has signed a framework agreement with the
United States to promote trade and investment under the Enterprise
for the Americas Initiative.
DEFENSE
Dominica does not maintain a standing army but participates in the
Regional Security System (RSS) with six other Caribbean states.
The RSS arrangement calls for the maintenance of a paramilitary
special service unit (SSU) within each police force and a Coast
Guard. The SSU, consisting of 32 personnel commanded by the police
commissioner, receives weapons and equipment under a US security
assistance program. The police force has an additional 440 officers
responsible for crime prevention and civil police duties. The coast
guard, also within the police force, has 35 personnel and operates a
65-foot patrol boat and two 22-foot runabouts. It also receives
equipment and maintenance support under a US security assistance
program.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Like its Eastern Caribbean neighbors, the main priority of Dominica's
foreign relations is economic development. It maintains
representatives in Brussels, London, and New York and is represented
jointly with other Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
members in Canada. As a small nation, it participates in diplomatic
activity primarily through international organizations. It is also a
member of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Caribbean
Community (CARICOM), and the British Commonwealth. It became a
member of the United Nations and the IMF in 1978, and of the World
Bank and Organization of American States (OAS) in 1979.
US-DOMINICAN RELATIONS
The United States and Dominica have excellent bilateral relations.
The United States supports the Dominican Government's efforts to
expand its economic base and provide a higher standard of living for
its citizens. American assistance in the past primarily has been
through multilateral agencies such as the CDB and the Caribbean
Agricultural Research and Development Institute. More recently,
USAID programs have provided considerable direct assistance in
agricultural development, rural electrification, economic structural
adjustment, and construction of schools, water projects, and health
facilities.
Dominica's economy benefits from access to US markets through the
Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI), but manufacturing accounts for a
very small percent of GDP. A box factory built under the section 936
program with Puerto Rico is one result of Dominica's participation
in the CBI.
The Peace Corp has about 20 volunteers in Dominica, working
primarily in education, agriculture, and health.
There is no official US mission in Dominica. The ambassador and
embassy staff in Bridgetown, Barbados, are accredited to the
Dominica Government and travel there frequently.
Principal US Officials
Ambassador--G. Philip Hughes
Deputy Chief of Mission--Tain P. Tompkins
Political/Economic Counselor--Richard T. Miller
Regional Labor Attache--Mary Ann Singlaub
Consul General--Thomas Cairns
Public Affairs Officer--Gerald Waters
USAID Director--Mosina Jordan
Peace Corps Director--Richard Pyle (resident in St. Lucia)
The US embassy is located in the Canadian imperial Bank of
Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown, Barbados, (tel). 809
436-4950.
TRAVEL NOTES
Customs:
Passports and visas are not required for
American citizens, although some proof of citizenship (usually an
original birth certificate and a photo ID) must be presented.
Visitors also should have a return or onward ticket.
Health:
Travelers should check latest information before
traveling.
Currency:
Dominica is a member of the Eastern Caribbean
Central Bank. In common with the neighboring Windward and
Leeward Islands, it uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar, currently
pegged to the US dollar at EC$2.70=US$1.
Telecommunications:
Direct dial long-distance telephone,
telegraph, and telex services are available.
HOW TO ORDER BACKGROUND NOTES IN PAPER
Published by the United States Department of State -- Bureau of
Public Affairs -- Office of Public Communication -- Washington, DC
January 1993 -- Editor: Josephine C. Brooks Managing Editor: Peter
Knecht
Department of State Publication 9235
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