Chief
of State: President Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (since
October 2003)
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004)
Government Type: parliamentary
democracy; republic within the Commonwealth |
Population:
68,910 (July 2006 est.)
Languages: English (official),
French patois
Religion: Roman Catholic 77%,
Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), other 6%, none 2%
Life Expectancy: 74.87 |
Currency:
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
GDP(per capita): $5,500 (2003
est.)
Overview: The Dominican economy
depends on agriculture, primarily bananas, and remains
highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and international
economic developments. Production of bananas dropped
precipitously in 2003, a major reason for the 1% decline
in GDP. Tourism increased in 2003 as the government
sought to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism"
destination. Development of the tourism industry remains
difficult, however, because of the rugged coastline,
lack of beaches, and the absence of an international
airport. The government began a comprehensive restructuring
of the economy in 2003 - including elimination of price
controls, privatization of the state banana company,
and tax increases - to address Dominica's economic crisis
and to meet IMF targets. In order to diversify the island's
production base, the government is attempting to develop
an offshore financial sector and is planning to construct
an oil refinery on the eastern part of the island.
Exports: bananas, soap, bay
oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
Import: manufactured goods,
machinery and equipment, food, chemicals |
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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
Area: total: 754 sq km
land: 754 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still
living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population
remaining in the eastern Caribbean.
Independence Day: 3 November
1978 (from UK)
Capital City: 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 |
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