Dominica is a small, fertile island in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Its closest neighbours are the French islands of Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante, to the north, and Martinique, to the south. The island was formed from volcanic activity. It has a range of high mountains covered in forests. It still has several active volcanoes. 

Key facts

• Region: Caribbean and Americas
• Population: 72,000 (2018) 
• Area: 750 square kilometres 
• Capital: Roseau 
• Joined Commonwealth: 1978, following independence from Britain 

Secretariat support for Dominica 

Elections 

Dominica received Commonwealth Election Professionals (CEP) Initiative training in May 2018. Its election officials improved their knowledge of campaign and party financing, women’s participation and new media. 

The Commonwealth sent a Commonwealth Observer Group to observer the 2019 elections in Dominica.

Human rights 

At a working session in April 2019, the Secretariat helped Dominica’s Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs improve reporting on human rights under the United Nation’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process. Dominica decided to set up an instrument for reporting and follow-up as a result of this assistance. 

Anti-corruption 

In 2018-19, the Secretariat gave training in leadership and management to senior officers from Dominica’s anti-corruption agency. 

Youth 

From July 2016 to January 2017, the Secretariat sent an expert to Dominica to help draft a new National Youth Policy. The Secretariat also helped Dominica improve its policies to encourage young people to set up businesses. 

Trade 

The Commonwealth’s Geneva office helped Dominica build skills in international trade talks. 

Blue Charter

Dominica is a member of the Marine Protected Areas Action Group.

Dominica and the Commonwealth

The current Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, is the 6th Commonwealth Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General was born in Dominica and was their candidate for the post at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta in 2015.

She is the 2nd Secretary-General from the Caribbean and the 1st woman to hold the post.

Before being discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493, Dominica’s mountainous natural beauty was originally enjoyed by the Carib Indians who made the island their home in the 14th century. The Caribs called their sunny isle Waitukubuli, meaning ‘Tall is her body, and some Carib descendants remain in Dominica today – the last surviving community of this indigenous group.

Following Columbus’ arrival, the island became known as Dominica, taking its name from the day he landed (Dominica is Latin for Sunday). France colonised it in the 1600s, before, in 1805, the island became a British possession, remaining under British rule until the late 1960s. During both world wars thousands of Dominicans volunteered to fight in Europe for the Allies and the country provided a place of safety for Free French refugees fleeing the Vichy-controlled French islands.

Dominica has been nicknamed the ‘Nature Isle of the Caribbean’ on account of its stunning natural features, not least Boiling Lake, the appropriately named hot spring – the second largest in the world.

Since 1978, the island has enjoyed full independence although self-rule has been somewhat stormy, with two coup attempts by leftist members of the island’s Defence Force during the early 1980s.

The arrival of Hurricane David in 1979 brought mass chaos as 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.

After the 1980 elections Dominica appointed Eugenia Charles, the Caribbean’s first female prime minister.

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.

In recent years, Dominica has developed a close, if controversial, relationship with Japan, which has provided extensive development aid including a modern fisheries complex. In exchange, Dominica now supports Japan’s much criticised efforts to undermine international controls on whaling. Nevertheless, given the island’s serious economic problems, the deal enjoys wide popular support.

Did you know?

• Dominica’s national bird is the Sisserou parrot, which features on the national flag.

• The Commonwealth of Dominica has emerged as a major international offshore financial centre thanks to its low-tax regime.

• Playwright and novelist Jean Rhys was born in Dominica, which features as the ‘honeymoon island’ in her best known work, Wide Sargasso Sea.