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OFFICIAL NAMECommonwealth of DominicaLANDArea: 751 sq km (290 sq mi).Capital and largest city: Roseau (1984 est. pop., 9,348).Elevations: Highest--Morne Diablotin, 1,447 m (4,747 ft); lowest--sea level, along the coast.PEOPLEPopulation (1992 est.): 87,035; density: 116 persons per sq km (300 per sq mi).Distribution, urban/rural: not available.Annual growth (1992): 1.6%.Official language: English.Major religion: Roman Catholicism.EDUCATION AND HEALTHLiteracy (1986): 94.4% of adult population.Universities (1990): 1.Hospital beds (1986): 312.Physicians (1986): 27.Life expectancy (1992): women--79; men--74.Infant mortality (1992): 11 per 1,000 live births.ECONOMYGDP (1987): $170 million; $2,000 per capita.Labor distribution (1987): agriculture--40%; industry and commerce--32%; services--28%.Foreign trade (1990): imports--$103.9 million; exports--$59.9 million; principal trade partners--United Kingdom, United States, Trinidad and Tobago.Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar = 100 cents.GOVERNMENTType: republic within Commonwealth.Head of State-President: last held 20 December 1988 (next to be heldDecember 1993); results - President Sir Clarence Augustus SEIGNORETwas reelected by the House of AssemblyHead of Government: Prime Minister (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES(since 21 July 1980, elected for a third term 28 May 1990)Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES;Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Pierre CHARLES;United Workers Party (UWP), Edison JAMES.Legislature: Unicameral House of Assembly--Legal system: based on English common lawExecutive branch: president, prime minister, CabinetJudicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme CourtConstitution: 3 November 1978National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978)Political & Administrative subdivisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, SaintDavid, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke,Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint PeterSuffrage: universal at age 18Member of: ACCT, ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD,ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, LORCS, NAM(observer), OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,WHO, WMOUS: no official presence since the Ambassador resides inBridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently to DominicaFlag: green with a centered cross of three equal bands - thevertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - thehorizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposedin the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserouparrot encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged inyellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions(parishes)COMMUNICATIONSRailroads (1990): none.Roads (1987): 370 km (230 mi) paved; 380 km (236 mi) unpaved.Major ports: 2.Major airfields: 2. |
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