The World Factbook (1982)/Dominica

by the Central Intelligence Agency

DOMINICA

(See reference map II)

LAND

790 km² ; 24% arable, 2% pasture, 67% forests, 7% other

WATER

Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 3 nm (fishing 12 nm)

Coastline: 148 km

PEOPLE

Population: 80,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 0.6%

Nationality: noun—Dominican(s); adjective—Dominican

Ethnic divisions: mostly of African Negro descent

Religion: Roman Catholic, Church of England, Methodist

Language: English; French patois

Literacy: about 80%

Labor force: 23,000; about 50% in agriculture; 24% unemployment

Organized labor: 25% of the labor force

GOVERNMENT

Official name: Commonwealth of Dominica

Type: independent state within Commonwealth as of 3 November 1978, recognizes Elizabeth II as Chief of State

Capital: Roseau

Political subdivisions: 10 parishes

Legal system: based on English common law; three local magistrate courts and the British Caribbean Court of Appeals

Branches: legislature, 11-member popularly elected House of Assembly; executive, Cabinet headed by Premier

Government leader: Prime Minister (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES

Suffrage: universal adult suffrage over age 18

Elections: every five years; most recent 21 July 1980

Political parties and leaders: Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Michael Douglas; Dominica Freedom Party (DFP),

Mary Eugenia Charles; Dominica Democratic Labor Party (DDLP), Oliver Seraphin; Dominica Liberation Movement Alliance (DLMA), William Riviere

Voting strength (1980 election): House of Assembly seats—DFP 17 seats, DLP 2 seats, independent 2 seats

Communists: negligible

Member of: CARICOM, FAO, GATT (de facto), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMCO, IMF, OAS, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WMO

ECONOMY

GNP: $35 million (1980 est. in 1977 prices), $430 per capita; 1980 real growth rate, —1.4% (est.)

Agricultural products: bananas, citrus, coconuts, cocoa, dasheen

Major industries: agricultural processing, tourism

Electric power: 7,000 kW capacity (1981); 15 million kWh produced (1981), 189 kWh per capita

Exports: $8.9 million (f.o.b., 1980 proj.); bananas, lime juice and oil, cocoa, reexports

Imports: $49 million (c.i.f., 1980 proj.); machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured articles, cement

Major trade partners: exports—56% UK, 14% East Common Market, 17% rest of CARICOM, 6% other Caribbean, 4% US (1979); imports—25% UK, 12% ECC, 16% rest of Caribbean, 14% US

Aid: economic—bilateral ODA and OOF (1970-79), from Western (non-US) countries, $22.6 million; no military aid

Budget: revenues, $28 million (including grants); expenditures, $30 million (excluding grants) (1980/81)

Monetary conversion rate: 2.70 East Caribbean dollars=US$1

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

COMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: none

Highways: 630 km total; 360 km paved, 270 km gravel and earth

Ports: 2 minor (Roseau, Portsmouth)

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airfields: 1 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: 4,000 telephones in fully automatic network (5.1 per 100 popl.); VHF and UHF link to St. Lucia; 2 AM stations and 1 TV station