A
GUIDE TO THE INTERNATIONAL SHIP REGISTRIES
THE COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA
Located
between the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, Dominica
is well deserving of its status as the Nature Island of the
Caribbean, with the lush tropical rainforests and 365 rivers
coursing over 290 square miles of breathtaking terrain. An
environmental mindset (The national motto is " After
God, the Earth") has preserved the beauty of this island,
which is popular ecotourism destination that remains unspoiled
by the commercialism that has overrun other Caribbean countries.
Twenty-nine
miles long and sixteen miles across at its widest point, the
island is home to 89,000 residents, including 3,000 Carib
Indians, descendants of the island's original inhabitants.
European eyes first sighted Dominica on a Sunday in 1493.
Later, the English and the French alternately owned the island.
A British colony until 1967, Dominica was granted full independence
November 3, 1978.
As
a commonwealth, it operates on a parliamentary system, with
the prime minister, chosen with the majority party, as a chief
executive; the president serves as ceremonial head of state.
Its capital is the port city of Roseau; Portsmouth is a second
active port.
Agriculture
is the mainstay of the Dominica economy, with bananas as the
chief crop, along with citrus, mangoes, root crops, and coconuts.
Its manufacturing industry produces soap, coconut oil, copra,
furniture, cement blocks, and shoes. Major trading partners
are the United Kingdom, the United States, Netherlands, and
Canada.
Dominica's
political stability, lack of corporate or capital gains taxes,
open trade and payments systems, and superior communications
systems are among its most appealing draws for investors.
