1994 Edition

Administrative divisions

10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter

29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro De Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde

Agriculture

accounts for 30% of GDP; principal crops - bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts; bananas provide the bulk of export earnings; forestry and fisheries potential not exploited

accounts for 18% of GDP and employs 49% of labor force; sugarcane is the most important commercial crop, followed by coffee, cotton, cocoa, and tobacco; food crops - rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; animal output - cattle, hogs, dairy products, meat, eggs; not self-sufficient in food

Airports

total: 2 usable: 2 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1

total: 36 usable: 31 with permanent-surface runways: 12 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 8

Area

total area: 750 sq km land area: 750 sq km comparative area: slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

total area: 48,730 sq km land area: 48,380 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

Birth rate

20.46 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

24.87 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Branches

Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police

Budget

revenues: $70 million expenditures: $84 million, including capital expenditures of $26 million (FY91 est.)

revenues: $1.4 billion expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)

Capital

Roseau

Santo Domingo

Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

elections last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) PLD 44, PRSC 41, PRD 33, PRI 2

Climate

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall

Coastline

148 km

1,288 km

Constitution

3 November 1978

28 November 1966

Currency

1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents

1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos

Death rate

4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

6.2 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

exchange rate conversion - $110 million, 0.7% of GDP (1993 est.)

Digraph

DO

DR

Diplomatic representation in US

Dominica has no chancery in the US consulate(s) general: New York

chief of mission: Ambassador Jose del Carmen ARIZA Gomez chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 332-6280

Economic aid

recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $120 million

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $575 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $655 million

Electricity

capacity: 7,000 kW production: 16 million kWh consumption per capita: 185 kWh (1992)

capacity: 2,283,000 kW production: 5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 660 kWh (1992)

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; occasional hurricanes international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

current issues: water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation natural hazards: subject to occasional hurricanes (July to October) international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Ethnic divisions

black, Carib Indians

white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%

Exchange rates

East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)

Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1 - 12.841 (January 1994), 12.679 (1993), 12.774 (1992), 12.692 (1991), 8.525 (1990), 6.340 (1989)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO (since 25 October 1993) election last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998); results - President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO was elected by the House of Assembly to a five year term head of government: Prime Minister (Mary) Eugenia CHARLES (since 21 July 1980, elected for a third term 28 May 1990) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

chief of state and head of government: President Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, fifth elected term began 16 August 1990); Vice President Carlos A. MORALES Troncoso (since 16 August 1986); election last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 35.7%, Juan BOSCH Gavino (PLD) 34.4%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 22.9% cabinet: Cabinet; nominated by the president

Exports

$54.6 million (1992) commodities: bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges partners: UK 50%, CARICOM countries, Italy, US

$769 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa partners: US 56%, EC 22%, Puerto Rico 8% (1991)

External debt

$92.8 million (1992)

$4.7 billion (1993 est.)

FAX

(202) 265-8057 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Mobile, Ponce (Puerto Rico), and San Francisco

(809) 686-7437

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

calendar year

Flag

green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross

Highways

total: 750 km paved: 370 km unpaved: gravel or earth 380 km

total: 12,000 km paved: 5,800 km unpaved: gravel or improved earth 5,600 km; unimproved earth 600 km

House of Assembly

elections last held 28 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives) DFP 11, UWP 6, DLP 4

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe

Imports

$97.5 million (1992) commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals partners: US 25%, CARICOM, UK, Canada

$2.2 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals partners: US 50%

Independence

3 November 1978 (from UK)

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

Industrial production

growth rate 4.2% (1992); accounts for 7% of GDP

growth rate -0.1% (1991); accounts for 14% of GDP

Industries

soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes

tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco

Infant mortality rate

10.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

51.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.2% (1992 est.)

8% (1993 est.)

International disputes

none

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

2,250 sq km (1989)

Judicial branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)

Labor force

25,000 by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28% (1984)

2.3 million to 2.6 million by occupation: agriculture 49%, services 33%, industry 18% (1986)

Land boundaries

0 km

total 275 km, Haiti 275 km

Land use

arable land: 9% permanent crops: 13% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 41% other: 34%

arable land: 23% permanent crops: 7% meadows and pastures: 43% forest and woodland: 13% other: 14%

Languages

English (official), French patois

Spanish

Legal system

based on English common law

based on French civil codes

Legislative branch

unicameral

bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.96 years male: 74.12 years female: 79.95 years (1994 est.)

total population: 68.35 years male: 66.22 years female: 70.6 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

age 15 and over having ever attended school (1970) total population: 94% male: 94% female: 94%

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 83% male: 85% female: 82%

Location

Caribbean, in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about halfway between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago

Caribbean, in the northern Caribbean Sea, about halfway between Cuba and Puerto Rico

Major parties

Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo; Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Juan BOSCH Gavino; Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Jose Franciso PENA Gomez; Independent Revolutionary Party (PRI), Jacobo MAJLUTA

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 2,114,606; fit for military service 1,333,049; reach military age (18) annually 81,919 (1994 est.)

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Standard Time Zones of the World

Central America and the Caribbean, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or the outer edge of continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 6 nm

Member of

ACCT, ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, LORCS, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO

ACP, CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM (guest), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Merchant marine

1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT

Minor parties

National Veterans and Civilian Party (PNVC), Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic (PLRD), Andres Van Der HORST; Democratic Quisqueyan Party (PQD), Elias WESSIN Chavez; National Progressive Force (FNP), Marino VINICIO Castillo; Popular Christian Party (PPC), Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert; Dominican Communist Party (PCD), Narciso ISA Conde; Dominican Workers' Party (PTD), Ivan RODRIGUEZ; Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union (UPA), Ignacio RODRIGUEZ Chiappini; Alliance for Democracy Party (APD), Maximilano Rabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front (FID); however, they still retain individual party structures

Names

conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica conventional short form: Dominica

conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: none

National holiday

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $185 million (1992 est.)

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $23 billion (1993 est.)

National product per capita

$2,100 (1992 est.)

$3,000 (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

2.6% (1992 est.)

3% (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Natural resources

timber

nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

Net migration rate

-2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

-0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Note

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)

Other political or pressure groups

Dominica Liberation Movement (DLM), a small leftist group

Collective of Popular Organzations (COP), leader NA

Overview

The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture accounts for about 30% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Principal products include bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, and coconuts. Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline and the lack of an international airport.

Rapid growth of free trade zones has led to a substantial expansion of manufacturing for export, especially of wearing apparel. Over the past decade, tourism has also increased in importance and is a major earner of foreign exchange and a source of new jobs. Agriculture remains a key sector of the economy. The principal commercial crop is sugarcane, followed by coffee, cotton, cocoa, and tobacco. Domestic industry is based on the processing of agricultural products, oil refining, minerals, and chemicals. Unemployment is officially reported at about 30%, but there is considerable underemployment. Growth fell to a moderate 3% in 1993 because of power shortages in industry and political uncertainty which slowed down foreign investment.

Pipelines

crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km

Political parties and leaders

Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Brian ALLEYNE; Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Rosie DOUGLAS; United Workers Party (UWP), Edison JAMES

Population

87,696 (July 1994 est.)

7,826,075 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

1.32% (1994 est.)

1.8% (1994 est.)

Ports

Roseau, Portsmouth

Santo Domingo, Haina, San Pedro de Macoris, Puerto Plata

Railroads

1,655 km total in numerous segments; 4 different gauges from 0.558 m to 1.435 m

Religions

Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5%

Roman Catholic 95%

Senate (Senado)

elections last held 16 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30 total) PRSC 16, PLD 12, PRD 2

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

18 years of age; universal and compulsory or married persons regardless of age note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote

Telecommunications

4,600 telephones in fully automatic network; VHF and UHF link to Saint Lucia; new SHF links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 1 cable TV

relatively efficient domestic system based on islandwide microwave relay network; 190,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 120 AM, no FM, 18 TV, 6 shortwave; 1 coaxial submarine cable; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Terrain

rugged mountains of volcanic origin

rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

Total fertility rate

1.99 children born/woman (1994 est.)

2.8 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Type

parliamentary democracy

republic

Unemployment rate

15% (1992 est.)

30% (1993 est.)

US diplomatic representation

no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. PASTORINO embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, Santo Domingo; APO AA 34041-0008 telephone: (809) 541-2171 and 541-8100