Dominica
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Commonwealth of Dominica | |||||
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| National information | |||||
| National motto: | Après Bondie, C'est la Ter (French); After God, the Earth (English) | ||||
| National anthem: | Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendour | ||||
| About the people | |||||
| Official languages: | English (Kweyol is spoken by many locals) | ||||
| Population: (# of people) |
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| Geography / Places | |||||
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| Capital city: | Roseau | ||||
| Largest city: | Roseau | ||||
| Area | |||||
| Politics / Government | |||||
| Established: | Independence: November 3, 1978 (from United Kingdom) | ||||
| Leaders: | President of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Nicholas Liverpool; Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit |
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| Economy / Money | |||||
| Currency: (Name of money) |
East Caribbean Dollar (XCD) | ||||
| International information | |||||
| Time zone: | -04:00 | ||||
| Telephone dialing code: | +1-767 | ||||
| Internet domain: | .dm | ||||
The Commonwealth of Dominica is an island nation that is located in the Caribbean Sea, between the French-speaking territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique. The island measures 751 km2 (290 mi2) in area. Roseau is its capital; Portsmouth is another main town. Close to seventy thousand people live on the island.
The currency of the island is the East Caribbean Dollar.
The island's name comes from the Latin for Sunday, Dies Dominica. It is not to be confused with the Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic in the Greater Antilles.
Because of the lush beauty and untouched splendour it boasts (also seen in its rainforests), it is nicknamed the Nature Island of the Caribbean.
The President of Dominica is Nicholas Liverpool; its prime minister is Roosevelt Skerrit.
Dominica was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. In 1763, it became a territory of the United Kingdom from which its independence was received on November 3rd, 1978.
In August 1979, Hurricane David, the most powerful storm to hit the island, wiped out its entire infrastructure.
In 1980, Dame Eugenia Charles became its prime minister, and the first one of her kind in the West Indies.
On November 21, 2004, the island was hit by its most destructive earthquake in history; Portsmouth and the northern area were deeply affected.
Dominica is most famously depicted in Jean Rhys' classic prequel to Jane Eyre, Wide Sargasso Sea.
[edit] External links
| Countries and territories of North America | |
|---|---|
| Independent | Antigua and Barbuda | Bahamas | Barbados | Belize | Canada | Costa Rica | Cuba | Dominica | Dominican Republic | El Salvador | Grenada | Guatemala | Haiti | Honduras | Jamaica | Mexico | Nicaragua | Panama | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Trinidad and Tobago | United States |
| Governed by other countries | Anguilla | Aruba | Bermuda | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Greenland | Guadeloupe | Martinique | Montserrat | Navassa Island | Netherlands Antilles | Puerto Rico | Saint-Pierre and Miquelon | Turks and Caicos Islands | U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Countries and territories in the Caribbean (West Indies) |
|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | Bahamas | Barbados | Cuba | Dominica | Dominican Republic | Grenada | Haiti | Jamaica | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Governed by other countries: Anguilla | Aruba | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Guadeloupe | Martinique | Montserrat | Navassa Island | Netherlands Antilles | Puerto Rico | Turks and Caicos Islands | U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Caribbean Community (CARICOM) |
|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | Bahamas¹ | Barbados | Belize | Dominica | Grenada | Guyana | Haiti | Jamaica | Montserrat | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Suriname | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Associate members: Anguilla | Bermuda | Cayman Islands | British Virgin Islands | Turks and Caicos Islands |
| Observer countries: Aruba | Colombia | Dominican Republic | Mexico | Netherlands Antilles | Puerto Rico | Venezuela |
| ¹ Member of the community but not the Caribbean (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy. |
