Dominica Travel Guide

Dominica — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Caribbean, Windward Islands.
Language: English is the official language, but French Creole is spoken by most of the population.
Area: 751 sq km (290 sq miles)
Time Zone: GMT - 4.
Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Three-pin European-style plugs are usual.
Population: 70, 400 (2009)
Population Density: 93 per sq km
Capital City: Roseau. Population: 14,500 (2005).
Government: Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1978.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit since 2004.
Head of State: President Nicholas Liverpool since 2003.
Religion: Almost entirely Christian, with Roman Catholic majority.

Recent History

Dominica's natural beauty was originally enjoyed by the Carib people. They made the island their home in the 14th century, before it was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. The Caribs called their sunny isle Waitukubuli, meaning "Tall is her body", and some Carib descendants remain in Dominica today - the last surviving community on earth of this indigenous group.

Following Columbus' arrival, the island became known as Dominica - taking its name from the day he landed (Doménica is Italian for Sunday). France colonized in the 1600s, before, in 1805, the island became a British possession, remaining under British rule until the late 1960s.

Since 1978, the island has enjoyed full independence although self-rule has been stormy, with two coup attempts during the early 1980s.

The arrival of Hurricane David in 1979 brought mass chaos: the immense tropical storm damaged three quarters of the island, destroying homes and killing 42 people. A bus still remains to this day crushed under a storm-felled tree in Rousea's Botanical Gardens.

Politically, the early 2000s proved eventful, with two Prime Ministers - Roosevelt Douglas and Pierre Charles - both dying while in office. Since 2004, Roosevelt Skerrit has been leading the country and remains a popular figure.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +1 767.

Mobile Telephone

TDMA (Time division multiple access) network with unregistered roaming is available for users with TDMA handsets provided they can give a credit card number. Handsets can be hired.

Internet

Access is available at the offices of Cable & Wireless in Roseau, at an Internet cafe and in some hotels. Connections tend to be slow.

Media

There are no daily newspapers in Dominica; newspapers are in English and include The Chronicle, The Sun and The Tropical Star. There is no national television service, but a private cable TV network covers part of the island, and there is a mix of public and private radio stations. All media are free from Government interference.

Post

There are no Poste Restante facilities. The main post office is located at Bayfront, Roseau. Mail takes one to three weeks to arrive in Europe and the USA.Mon-Fri 0800-1600; smaller branches: 1500-1700.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
22 Apr Good Friday
25 Apr Easter Monday
2 May Bank Holiday
13 Jun Whit Monday
1 Aug August Monday
3 Nov Independence Day
4 Nov Community Service Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Apr Good Friday
9 Apr Easter Monday
7 May Bank Holiday
28 May Whit Monday
6 Aug August Monday
3 Nov Independence Day
4 Nov Community Service Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day
* Date to be confirmed.

Contact Information

Discover Dominica, Dominica

1st Floor Financial Center, Roseau
Tel: (767) 448 2045
Website: www.dominica.dm

Office for the High Commission for the Commonwealth of Dominica in the UK

1 Collingham Gardens, Earls Court, London SW5 0HW, UK
Tel: (020) 7370 5194.
Website: www.dominicahighcommission.co.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1730.