Dominica - Burnet Middle School

TM
CultureGrams
World Edition
2014
Dominica
History
Dominica was originally inhabited by people of the Arawak
tribe. In roughly AD 1000, they were displaced by Carib
migrants from South America. The Caribs, or Kalinago,
called the island Wai'tukubuli (“tall is her body”) after the
high mountains they encountered there. Christopher
Columbus spotted the island on a Sunday in 1493 and named
it Dominica (meaning “Sunday” in Latin). Dominica's rugged
terrain initially inhibited colonization, as did the fierce
defenses of the Caribs. In fact, as surrounding islands
underwent colonization, some of their indigenous peoples
sought refuge in Dominica's mountainous interior.
During the 17th century, both France and England laid
claim to Dominica. Starting in the early 1600s, French
planters cultivated small plots of land, where they grew
cotton, coffee, cacao, and bananas. Toward the end of the
century, the British established large sugar plantations. These
plantations were extremely labor intensive, and the British
imported many more African slaves than the French had
brought with them. France and Britain fought each other and
the Caribs for control of Dominica until 1805, when the last
French attempt to recapture Dominica from the British failed.
Slavery was abolished on the island in 1834. An economy
based on subsistence farming emerged, as former slaves fled
the plantations and developed their own land.
Dominica became part of the Leeward Islands colony in
1871 before returning to Crown Colony status in 1896. In
1903, the British reserved about 3,700 acres of land (called
the Carib Territory) for the Kalinago people. Dominica
gained independence from Britain in 1978. Patrick John of the
Dominica Labour Party (DLP) became the first prime
BACKGROUND
Land and Climate
Area (sq. mi.): 290
Area (sq. km.): 751
Part of the Caribbean's Lesser Antilles, Dominica
(pronounced “dom-in-EE-ka”) is located between the French
islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. It lies between the
Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. At 16 miles wide and
29 miles long, Dominica is about the size of Bahrain, or four
times the size of Washington, D.C. Evidence of Dominica's
volcanic origins can be seen in Boiling Lake, the second
largest thermally active lake in the world.
Nicknamed the Nature Island of the Caribbean, Dominica
has few easily accessible beaches. Instead, it is known for its
large waterfalls and rugged mountains, the highest of which,
Mount Diablotin, reaches an elevation of 4,747 feet (1,447
meters). Because the interior of the island is hard to access
and contains little agricultural land, Dominica is far less
developed than other Eastern Caribbean islands. It has
retained a large portion of its virgin subtropical forests, which
house hundreds of plant and bird species. It is said that
Dominica has 365 rivers, one for each day of the year.
The rainy season lasts from June to October. Annual
rainfall varies with elevation. The coast receives at least 70
inches (178 centimeters) of annual rainfall, while well over
250 inches (635 centimeters) of rain falls in the mountainous
interior, which is often enveloped in clouds. Temperatures
range between 70° F (21°C) and 90°F (32°C) year-round.
1
TM
CultureGrams
Dominica
minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Hurricane David
hit the island in 1979, leaving roughly 75 percent of the
population homeless. Reconstruction was hampered when
Hurricane Allen followed a year later.
General elections in 1980 brought Dominica's—and the
Caribbean's—first female prime minister, Dame Mary
Eugenia Charles of the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), to
office. Surviving two coup attempts by Patrick John, Dame
Charles oversaw the island's recovery from hurricane damage
while working to increase ties with neighboring islands and
strengthen the struggling economy. Dame Charles retired in
1995. Dominica's next two prime ministers, Rosie Douglas
and Pierre Charles, both died of heart attacks. After Pierre
Charles died in 2001, cabinet member Roosevelt Skerrit took
office and subsequently won the 2005 elections. Prime
Minister Skerrit and the Dominican Labour Party were
reelected in 2009. Skerrit’s government has strengthened ties
with China, Venezuela, and Cuba and seeks to strengthen the
economy.
In 2004, China pledged over US$100 million in aid to
Dominica in exchange for Dominica breaking off diplomatic
ties with Taiwan. The aid helped make up a shortfall from
Dominica's small banana industry, which has struggled to
compete with much larger operations in Latin America and
was virtually wiped out in 2007 by Hurricane Dean.
Dominica, as a member of a trade group of left-wing Latin
American governments, also received grants from Venezuela
in 2009. Tourism has brought in much needed revenue but
risks marring the undeveloped landscapes that attract tourists
in the first place. In March 2012, in an effort to tap into
climate change funds from the international community, the
government launched a development strategy that would
maintain Dominica’s carbon neutral status and increase the
island’s reliance on renewable energy, among other things.
among older generations, French patois is more commonly
spoken. During the colonial era, slaves developed this patois
from French and various African languages. Today, the
speaking of patois is encouraged and seen as a marker of
Dominican cultural identity. Patois is used on some television
and radio programs and occasionally in commerce with
neighboring Guadeloupe and Martinique. In school, classes
are taught in English. Students are required to learn French or
Spanish in high school as well.
Religion
Most Dominicans are Christian. The majority of the
population (61 percent) is Roman Catholic, the religion that
French missionaries brought to the island as early as the 17th
century. Members of Protestant churches, including
Methodists, Pentecostals, Seventh-Day Adventists, and
Baptists, comprise another 30 percent. There are two
coalitions on the island that aim to increase understanding and
cooperation between sects of the island's Christian
community. Minority religions include the Baha'i Faith,
Islam, and Rastafarianism.
Religion is woven into many aspects of everyday life:
meetings, school days, and meals typically begin with a
prayer, and major state events often include some type of
religious ceremony. Nearly all businesses are closed on
Sunday, when church services are held. Attendance at these
services is high.
General Attitudes
Dominicans are known to be friendly, fun-loving, and
generally easygoing. They tend to be relaxed about time; most
people arrive around 15 minutes late to scheduled events.
People usually trust in God to take care of their needs. A
friendly smile, patience, and casual small talk are keys to
social integration. Society highly values dedication to family
and country, self-reliance, and industriousness. Idleness is
strongly discouraged. Youth are urged to develop a strong
work ethic and to become thrifty and self-sustaining.
Emphasis is placed on education as a means to attaining those
qualities. Respect goes to individuals of “strong character,”
meaning those who demonstrate intelligence, an independent
will, and moral fiber. People also tend to be very
community-minded. Dominicans say that it is impossible to
go hungry on the island because neighbors are always willing
to help each other. The feeling is that the more one gives, the
more one receives.
People who emigrate are usually those who have no other
choice but to leave the island in order to improve the family's
economic standing; however, emigration (usually to
elsewhere in the Caribbean or to North America) is common
because college graduates often have a hard time finding
employment. Many inhabitants of Dominica rely on money
sent home from abroad. Dominicans lament the fact that
emigrants may lose some of their cultural identity. On the
island, great emphasis is placed on maintaining cultural
traditions through dance, dress, and food.
THE PEOPLE
Population
Population: 73,286
Population Growth Rate: 0.22%
Urban Population: 67%
Dominica has a nearly stagnant growth rate due to emigration
and a trend toward smaller families. Approximately 87
percent of the population is black, 9 percent is of mixed
African and European ancestry, and 3 percent is Kalinago.
The Kalinago tribal population, concentrated in the Carib
Territory, is the only such community in the Eastern
Caribbean. Small minority groups of Europeans, North
Americans, East Indians, Syrians, Lebanese, and Chinese also
live on the island. Roseau, the capital city, is home to roughly
20 percent of Dominicans, making it the most densely
populated area on the island. Portsmouth is the next largest
city but trails significantly behind Roseau in size.
Language
English is the official language. Most people speak English in
their daily lives, though in some regions and especially
Personal Appearance
Neatness in personal appearance is important to Dominicans.
2
TM
CultureGrams
Dominica
Men are expected to be clean-shaven and to keep their hair
cut short or combed flat. Women's hairstyles vary from short
styles to Afro-Caribbean braids. Some women dye or perm
their hair. Jewelry made from gold, silver, wood, and other
materials is common.
People generally wear light cotton clothing, including
dresses or blouses with skirts or pants for women and collared
shirts and pants for men. For formal wear, men might don a
suit and tie or a shirt-jack (a square-cut cotton shirt worn over
pants). In casual situations, shorts and T-shirts are popular for
both sexes. Government employees and some businesspeople
wear uniforms. Youth who can afford to do so follow the
latest U.S. American styles. Most people dress modestly;
revealing clothing and bathing suits are considered
inappropriate if worn away from resorts, hotels, and beaches.
Costumes worn during Carnival are an exception and tend to
be quite revealing.
The national dress, worn during the October celebration of
Dominica's Creole heritage, includes Victorian-era colorful
plaid skirts (madras), white lace-trimmed petticoats, satin or
silk scarves, and white blouses for females. The male
equivalent consists of black pants, a white long-sleeved shirt,
a red cummerbund, and occasionally a colorful plaid vest or
tie.
and friends, disagreement is sometimes shown with a steups
sound, made by blowing air through clenched teeth, followed
by a glare.
Visiting
During the week, Dominicans often visit relatives, friends,
and neighbors unannounced. Visitors may stop to converse
with people sitting on their verandas or working in their
yards. Rather than knocking on the front door, some people
announce themselves by saying “Hello” or the last name of
the family they're visiting. Hosts will stop whatever they are
doing and welcome visitors inside, where conversations may
last up to several hours. Hosts may serve visitors drinks or
offer them food if it is mealtime. Advance notice is generally
given for weekend stays and for special occasions such as
holidays and birthdays. Parties are thrown to celebrate special
occasions or just to provide a chance to socialize; they start
well after dusk and, especially among youth, can last
throughout the night. In the evening, men socialize at bars and
play heated but friendly games of dominoes or cards.
Eating
Families tend to eat breakfast and dinner together. Those who
must be to work in the morning rise early and eat by 7 a.m.,
while the rest of the population eats later. Bread is a staple
food at breakfast and may be accompanied by eggs, cheese,
and sausages. Bananas and mangos are also common
breakfast foods. In urban and suburban areas, people also eat
breakfast cereals. Later in the day, people may snack on bakes
(fried dough eaten plain or stuffed with cheese or fish), pizza,
meat pies, or sandwiches.
Lunch, eaten between noon and 2 p.m., is the main meal of
the day and generally includes fish or chicken (fried, stewed,
or baked), fried or boiled plantains, ground provisions
(various root vegetables), vegetables, and rice. Schoolchildren
eat lunch at home, at school, or at a parent's place of work.
Professionals usually bring their lunches from home. Blended
drinks made from bananas, soursop (a football-sized lumpy
green fruit), mango, pineapple, and other fruits can be
purchased fresh to accompany lunch or are made at home.
Dinner may consist of leftovers from lunch, though often
Dominicans eat a lighter fare of tea with bakes or bread and
cheese. Callalo is a national dish made from taro leaves and
salted meat. A small Rastafarian population observes a vegan
diet.
CUSTOMS AND COURTESIES
Greetings
Dominicans greet close friends and acquaintances alike.
Morning, Afternoon, Good evening, and Good night are
common greetings. Sometimes the words are repeated, as in
Morning, morning. Informally, male friends might knock
each other's fists upon meeting (a greeting adopted from the
urban United States). A handshake is more common among
people meeting for the first time. Physical contact such as
kissing is generally avoided in public, though families
influenced by French customs are more publicly
demonstrative.
In conversation, people often refer to friends or family
members by nickname only. Children sometimes refer to
adult cousins and close family friends as uncle and auntie. To
show respect, Mr., Mrs., or Miss are used in conjunction with
a last name. Some married women replace the title Mrs. with
Ma. (derived from Madam).
Gestures
Displays of affection, such as friendly hugs and pats on the
back, are common among Dominicans. Couples and friends
alike may hold hands while walking. Discussions may be
punctuated with nods and facial expressions. If someone says
“Yes, yes” during a conversation, it may indicate genuine
agreement or merely a desire to finish the conversation.
Yawning and chewing gum in public are considered rude, as
is slouching in one's chair during a business meeting. Young
people are expected to treat elders with respect by
maintaining eye contact during a conversation and giving
verbal responses to questions, rather than simply nodding or
shaking the head, which is seen as rude. Among neighbors
LIFESTYLE
Family
Families range in size from an average of two children in
urban areas to four in rural areas. Several family structures
are found in Dominica, including married or cohabitating
couples, single parents, and—most common—extended
families living as one unit, usually in separate houses in the
same yard. These extended families share meals and help
each other with house and garden work. Many families are
matriarchal, as a large number of households are headed by
single mothers—most unwed, some divorced. Though it is not
3
TM
CultureGrams
Dominica
uncommon for men to have outside partners while in a
relationship, this practice is becoming increasingly
unacceptable.
Whatever their makeup, families offer an important source
of support in Dominica. This is true not only in times of
crisis, such as natural disasters, when people pitch in to help
family members whose houses have been damaged, but also
in everyday life. One parent might represent many children of
an extended family at parent-teacher meetings, for example,
and grandparents often tend their grandchildren after school
until parents return home from work. Some grandmothers
offer long-term care to grandchildren whose parents emigrate
abroad in order to find better jobs. Children living overseas
generally send their parents money every month or two and
send groceries in bulk at least twice a year. Extended families,
including those living throughout the world, typically gather
together every few years for family reunions in Dominica.
Sometimes bonds between neighbors are so close that they
function like a family; neighbors might share meals and
watch each other's children, for example, and children may
call a good family friend auntie or uncle.
Children are given chores as early as age five, some of
which include washing their socks or school uniforms,
sweeping the yard, purchasing an item at a nearby shop,
clearing the table, washing dishes, taking out the garbage, and
going to a neighbor’s house to pass on a message. Parents are
responsible for nurturing their children and ensuring their
overall well-being by providing them with housing, food,
clothing, and education. Mothers generally help children with
homework and serve as a primary role model. Fathers provide
financially and serve as an example to their sons. Until they
can fully support themselves, children usually live with their
parents (or parent). When they reach adulthood, they are
expected to contribute financially to the household. However,
parents may give financial assistance to single or married
children who have moved out of the house and are struggling
to make ends meet. In turn, children financially support their
elderly parents when they are able to do so. Much of
Dominica's elderly population lives with or near relatives who
care for them.
Dominican women tend to be independent and ambitious
and are increasingly obtaining advanced educations. Most
women are employed outside the home and many provide the
primary incomes for their families. They may be found in
professions such as law, medicine, education, and business.
They also work in government, where they hold leadership
roles. Dominican Dame Mary Eugenia Charles was the first
woman in the Caribbean to become a prime minister, a
position she held from 1980 to 1995. Those women who are
not formally employed often run small businesses, selling
sweets, food, or crafts out of their homes, in markets, and on
the street.
ti kais. Houses in rural, mountainous areas are often built on
reinforced concrete stilts to forgo the expense of a foundation.
Housing with multiple storeys is common in more densely
populated urban areas.
Exterior walls are painted in bright colors such as orange,
blue, and pink; contrasting colors accent window sills and
verandas. The majority of Dominican homes have views of
the ocean or mountains. Many, especially those in more rural
areas, are surrounded with greenery, including lawns and
tropical flower gardens. Flower beds are often outlined with
smooth, white sea stones and are connected to the house by
stone or paved paths. Families with sufficient land may have
patios and (among the wealthy) water fountains outside their
homes. Some have streams or waterfalls in their backyards.
Most people own their homes, which may have been
passed down through many generations. Mortgages are
available through banks and credit unions; however, rather
than buy a new house, most people prefer and can better
afford to build their own if they have land on which to do it.
The typical middle-class house contains a living room, dining
room, kitchen, and laundry room. In some lower-class homes,
kitchens are located outside. Though houses usually start out
with two bedrooms, as families grow in size and income they
typically add on one or two more. Urban houses have one or
two bathrooms, and the majority of rural homes now have
access to indoor plumbing.
Most houses are equipped with modern conveniences such
as washers, computers, entertainment systems, and satellite or
cable. Interior walls may be painted in bright or neutral tones.
Decorations include tropical flowers, ornaments, and colorful
curtains, which may change with the season. Pictures and
plaques are hung on walls. Standing and ceiling fans are
common, but air conditioning is rare. Furniture tends to be
constructed from wood, while plastic chairs are common on
porches.
While the Kalinago still erect traditional circular,
thatch-roofed buildings, these are mainly used to house crafts
sold to tourists. Most live in modern structures similar to
houses found in the rest of Dominica. The land that houses
are built on in the Carib Territory is not owned by individual
families but by the Kalinago people as a whole.
Dating and Marriage
Rather than pairing off for formal dates, young teenagers tend
to socialize in groups, beginning around age 13 or 14. Youth
enjoy nightclubs, beach parties, barbeques, sporting events,
comedy shows, Calypso music contests, and pageants.
Religiously active youth also attend events such as church
meetings and campouts, choir rehearsals and performances,
Bible school, and nature trips. When couples do become
serious, often around age 16, they enjoy spending time alone
doing things like watching movies, eating at restaurants, and
going on picnics. Dates may be initiated by young men (most
common) or young women; individuals generally pay for
themselves.
Views regarding romantic relationships vary with age.
Older generations generally believe that couples who are
dating seriously should marry quickly. However, younger
people see dating for 10 or more years as acceptable.
Housing
Dominican architecture is a mix of colonial and modern
styles. Nearly all houses have high-pitched roofs, verandas,
and hurricane shutters on windows and doors. Houses made
from concrete blocks topped with corrugated metal roofing
have largely replaced traditional small wooden homes, called
4
TM
CultureGrams
Dominica
Cohabitation is extremely widespread, as is common-law
marriage, which takes effect after a couple has lived together
for seven or more years. Common-law spouses are given all
the rights of traditionally married couples, including
inheritances. Because formal marriage is less common than
cohabitation, single-parent households are usually the product
of separation, not divorce. However, divorce is not looked
down upon.
People may marry as young as age 18 but typically wait
until their mid- to late twenties, if not thirties. Religiously
devout Christian parents usually expect their children to date
and marry others within their faith. After a man proposes,
couples may attend pre-marital counseling classes offered by
pastors of the church to which they belong. Couples are
usually married in a church by a pastor or priest. Following
the wedding ceremony, guests drive in a procession to the
reception site, which may be a hotel, a botanical garden, a
residential yard, or another open outdoor space. Festivities
begin with speeches and toasts, which are followed by cake
cutting, dancing, and eating. Meals resemble a heavy
Dominican lunch. Guests give gifts, such as household items
and money, to the newlyweds. Most newly married couples
go on honeymoons in Dominica or in a nearby country.
final remembrance of the deceased; bread and beverages such
as coffee, cocoa, and ginger tea are served. People may sing
and play games until dawn before ending the gathering with a
prayer. The primary mourning colors worn on the day of the
funeral include black, white, and purple. People visit the
graves of their loved ones on the anniversary of their deaths.
Diet
Ground provisions (root vegetables) and rice are staple foods.
Fresh fish such as tuna, marlin, and ballyhoo are abundant.
Minnow-sized fish called titeri are prepared in a spicy stew.
Another popular stew, callaloo, is made with taro leaves and
fresh vegetables with the occasional addition of meat, fish, or
crab. Fish broths and beef soups with flour dumplings are a
favorite. Both chicken and meat are fried, curried, baked, or
stewed. Mountain chicken (frog), or craupod, is a national
dish, though disease wiped out over half of the species in
2002. A hunting ban is in place to aid recovery of the species.
Giant river crayfish and yellow crabs are considered
delicacies. Garlic and spicy peppers are common seasonings.
Seasonal fruits include mango, passion fruit, sugar apple,
star apple, guineps (a small, round fruit with jelly-like flesh),
guava, limes, pawpaw (papaya), tamarind, oranges,
grapefruit, and watermelon. Bananas and plantains are eaten
year-round. Produce vendors serve fresh coconut water,
harvested daily from immature coconuts. Breadfruit is either
boiled or roasted in a fire pit. Dominicans love sweet desserts,
many of which are made from coconut, guava, tamarind, and
nuts.
Life Cycle
Pregnant women are usually thrown baby showers by their
friends and family. Guests bring gifts and may suggest names
for the baby if the parents have not yet decided on a name.
Births are usually celebrated with a visit from close relatives,
who bring a gift for the baby and a card for the mother and
child. Most babies of Catholic parents are christened and
baptized within a few months of birth. Members of other
Christian faiths take part in dedications, where a pastor prays
for the baby and parents. Catholic babies may be given the
name of a saint. Babies may also be given names passed
down through generations of a family or names associated
with the day or month of their birth. Names considered to be
unique are increasing in popularity, and some parents create
such names by joining their names together in creative ways.
For example, a father named Mervin and a mother named
Alisha may name their child Merlaisha.
Catholic youth participate in First Communion at age eight
or older; this event may mark the transition into teenage years
and is celebrated with a party that includes food, drinks, and
sometimes dancing. Dominicans are usually considered adults
when they leave their parents’ house. The eighteenth and
twenty-first birthdays are considered important; Dominicans
gain the right to vote at 18 and may legally consume alcohol
at 21.
Burials used to take place immediately upon death;
however, now that refrigeration is available, funerals may
take place up to two weeks after a death. Funerals consist of a
priest or pastor preaching for a short period of time, followed
by a eulogy and singing of hymns. After the burial (there are
no cremations), friends and family gather at the home of the
deceased for refreshments. A novena called Nine Nights is
held. This is a tradition with Catholic roots in which friends
and family meet for nine evenings following a death in order
to pray for the soul of the departed. The ninth night marks the
Recreation
Dominica is home to professional teams in football (soccer)
and cricket, which are the island's most popular sports. An
amateur women’s cricket league is gaining popularity on the
island. Chinese-funded construction of a cricket stadium in
Roseau was completed in 2007. Dominica occasionally hosts
international cricket matches, and thousands of the island’s
residents attend these popular events. People enjoy playing
cricket wherever they can find a place to do so. Equipment,
such as cricket bats and wickets, is expensive, and therefore
people often improvise substitutes; for example, a coconut
leaf stalk may be used for a bat. Other popular sports include
basketball for men, rounders (a game similar to baseball) for
women, volleyball for both men and women, and netball (a
game similar to basketball) for school-aged girls. Many
people belong to sporting associations, which are affordable
for most and organize various athletic events.
In the evening hours, Dominican men often play domino
games that can last for hours. Dominica is home to a yearly
domino championship. Others enjoy watching U.S. television
programs or listening to local talk radio shows. Nightclubs
offer attractions such as happy hour, karaoke, and live bands.
Dancing to calypso, soca, and dancehall music is popular. A
party boat that travels on the ocean from Roseau to
Portsmouth is popular among some young adults, while
ferries carry shoppers on excursions to neighboring islands
such as St. Lucia.
Dominicans love to spend time in nature. People picnic at
the beach, along rivers, or at other scenic locations such as
5
TM
CultureGrams
Dominica
waterfalls, lakes, and sulfur springs. They also enjoy hiking
and bird watching. Some take organized tours to remote areas
of the island, where they may go mountain climbing or ride
an aerial tram over the rainforest. Planting and maintaining
both vegetable and flower gardens are popular among
women.
Working Dominicans generally enjoy three to four weeks
of vacation a year in addition to public holidays. Families
typically vacation during the summer or around
Christmastime, when children are not in school.
Dominicans’ 1978 break from the British, is a major holiday
for Dominicans and one that attracts international visitors as
well. Celebrations begin the month before, with people
wearing portions of the national dress each Friday in October
and donning the entire costume on Creole Day, the last Friday
of the month. During Creole Week (the last week of October),
a variety of cultural performances showcase the national
costume and traditional dances, such as the Quadrille and
Belle. The week also includes folk story performances and
live bands that play in the World Creole Music Festival.
Independence Day (3 Nov.) is spent relaxing at home and
cooking traditional dishes such as breadfruit, saltfish (cod),
crabs in coconut sauce, green bananas, and callaloo (stew
made with taro leaves and fresh vegetables and sometimes
meat, fish, or crab). The day after Independence Day is the
nation-wide Community Day of Service, when neighbors
work together to weed, plant flowers and trees, repair roads,
and complete other community projects. Villages compete
against each other for a government-sponsored beautification
award, which is sometimes accompanied by money devoted
to further improvement efforts. The day ends with street
celebrations and late-night parties.
Christmas celebrations vary considerably by family. Some
families decorate Christmas trees, gather for family lunches,
throw parties, and exchange presents, while for others
Christmas Day celebrations do not extend past wishing each
other “Merry Christmas.” Christmas music is prevalent on
local radio stations and at many people’s houses during the
season.
The Arts
The Kalinago people still practice many traditional crafts,
making products such as etched calabash shells, carved
unhusked coconuts, woven-grass goods (hats, baskets, and
mats), seed necklaces, and flutes. These crafts are sold mainly
in Roseau's Old Market (a former slave trade market) and in
the Carib Territory. The Kalinago play drums and perform
dances that depict stories from their heritage.
Calypso music is popular on the island. The three-day
World Creole Music Festival, featuring street bands playing
traditional instruments, is held in Roseau during October. In
May, the Dominica Festival of Arts (called Domfesta) is
home to art exhibitions, plays, and concerts. Dominica has
produced painters Earl Etienne, Percy Agar, and Arnold
Toulon; authors Phyllis Shand Allfrey (The Orchard House,
1953) and Jean Rhys (Wide Sargasso Sea, 1996); and
musicians Ophelia Marie, Michel Henderson, and Nasio
Fontaine.
Holidays
National holidays include New Year's Day (1 Jan.), Carnival,
Easter (including Good Friday and Easter Monday), Labor
Day (first Monday in May), Whit Monday, Emancipation Day
(5 Aug.), Independence Day (3 Nov.), Community Day of
Service (4 Nov.), Christmas (25 Dec.), and Boxing Day (26
Dec.). Various Catholic saint days are celebrated with
barbeques held after Mass.
Carnival, observed during the two days before Ash
Wednesday, is the most festive time of year and brings many
emigrated Dominicans home for a visit. Preparations for the
holiday begin soon after Christmas. Celebrations include
jump up, when crowds of people in the street jump to the beat
of music blasted from loud speakers mounted on the trailers
of slow-moving vehicles. There are also Calypso Monarch (a
singing competition) and Carnival Queen (a beauty pageant)
events; the winners parade the streets of Roseau together on
Carnival Monday. Parades feature costumed Sensays (people
wearing masks, horns, and outfits of frayed material), Moko
Jumbies (individuals walking on stilts), devils, and celebrities.
Carnival participants dress in a variety of outfits, some made
from unique materials such as tree leaves. For most
Dominicans, Carnival ends on Tuesday evening; however, in
the Carib Territory and in the village of Petite Savan, events
continue until Wednesday afternoon, when revelers dressed in
black and white carry a coffin representing the Carnival
season through a street celebration, at the end of which the
coffin is burned in a large fire to signal the end of the holiday.
The season surrounding Independence Day, which marks
SOCIETY
Government
Head of State: Pres. Charles Savarin
Head of Government: PM Roosevelt Skerrit
Capital: Roseau
Structure
Dominica is a parliamentary democracy. The president is
head of state, mainly a ceremonial role. The president is
elected by the House of Assembly to serve a five-year term.
The prime minister is head of government and is appointed by
the president from the party that wins the majority in
legislative elections. The legislative branch consists of a
30-seat House of Assembly, to which 21 senators, including
one from the Carib Territory, are elected by majority vote and
9 are appointed by the prime minister. Four women hold seats
in the House of Assembly. The Kalinago tribal government is
composed of an elected six-member council and a chief.
Political Landscape
The House of Assembly consists of two major parties, the
Dominica Labour Party and the United Workers' Party. The
Dominica Labour Party holds the majority of seats in the
legislature and is widely supported. The United Workers'
Party is the only opposition group represented in the House of
Assembly. Some other minor parties also exist. One of the
government's most pressing priorities is increasing
opportunities for employment. While many Dominicans are
6
TM
CultureGrams
Dominica
satisfied by the government's progress on education, job
creation and job placement remain stagnant.
Government and the People
The constitution guarantees freedom of press, expression,
association, assembly, and religion. These rights are generally
respected in practice. Recent elections have been free and
fair. Voter turnout has steadily decreased over the last 30
years. Citizens 18 and older can vote.
popular for their talk shows and music. Several weekly
newspapers are available.
Education
Adult Literacy: 94%
Mean Years of Schooling: 7.7
The education system is adapted from the British model.
Education is mandatory and free from ages 5 through 16. In
the past, an exam taken at age 11 determined whether
students would attend a secondary institution; however, with
the introduction of universal education in 2005, all students
now have the opportunity to continue their studies.
Most schools are public, though private schools—many of
them religious—are available and affordable. Primary school
is comprised of kindergarten through sixth grade. Secondary
school offers five levels. During the first three years of high
school, students study a variety of subjects. Those who pass
an examination at the end of the third year are given a
certificate that can help them enter the workforce if they
choose to not continue their educations. Students spend the
fourth and fifth grades of high school pursuing a specialized
area of study, such as science or business, in order to lay the
foundation for higher education or a career.
Teachers aim to accommodate different levels of learners
in their classes with multi-level lesson plans. In addition to
using textbooks and photocopies, they incorporate multimedia
whenever possible. Lectures, discussions, group work,
presentations, and field trips are commonly used teaching
methods. Most secondary students have access to computer
labs. Cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated and may be
punished with a failing grade on the assignment or test and
detention. Relationships between teachers and students in the
classroom tend to be formal; however, teachers do interact
more casually with students during nature excursions at the
end of the school year and in after-school tutoring sessions.
For higher education, students remaining in Dominica
must choose between Dominica State College, a branch of the
University of the West Indies in Roseau, or online
universities. Distance learning programs are offered in
conjunction with several British universities. Wealthy
students, those who manage to get a scholarship, or those who
take out student loans may study at U.S. or British colleges
and universities.
Economy
GDP (PPP) in billions: $1.04
GDP (PPP) per capita: $14,600
Agriculture still accounts for the majority of Dominica's
GDP. The amount of produce grown on the island far
outweighs its consumption and sale and therefore goes to
waste or is used as fertilizer. Dominica's competitiveness on
the world market is hindered by its small size and an
environmental ban on using pesticides on agricultural land.
Bananas, the country's main export, are usually grown on
small tracts of land worked by families. Dominica's banana
industry—given preferential trade treatment by Britain since
the 1950s—has been struggling since 2005, when the World
Trade Organization (WTO) ruled against a European Union
(EU) banana quota system that had protected Caribbean
bananas from competition with large-scale Latin American
growers. Dominica has turned to ecotourism in an effort to
preserve its environment while generating jobs and income. It
is also working to develop an offshore financial sector. The
economy has grown only slightly since the global economic
downturn of 2008. Dominica receives aid from Venezuela,
Cuba, China, and Japan, the latter having built a fishing
complex on the island in exchange for whaling rights. The
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD, or EC$) is Dominica's
currency, but the U.S. dollar (USD) is accepted in many
places.
Transportation and Communications
Internet Users (per 100 people): 51
Cellular Phone Subscriptions (per 100 people): 164
Paved Roads: 50%
Major roads are a relatively recent development in Dominica;
the one linking Roseau and Portsmouth was not built until
1956. Public roads are paved and well maintained, though
private dirt roads are found in rural areas. People generally
travel on minibuses that stop at scheduled locations or when
waved down. Private minibuses, referred to as taxis, are
available 24-hours a day but are too expensive for most
locals. Those in professional or government occupations are
more likely to own their own cars. If going only a short
distance, most people walk. Ferries are used to travel to
neighboring islands. Two airports service Dominica; the one
in Marigot services international flights, while the Canefield
airport can only accommodate small aircraft.
Nearly all Dominicans have home phones, and some have
internet access, though access at internet cafés is more
common. Dominicans rely on a cable network that offers
news and local and U.S. programming. Radio stations are
Health
Public clinics and urban hospitals offer free or low-cost health
care, but most clinics and hospitals lack supplies and
advanced medical equipment. Better care is available from
private doctors for a fee, and many who can afford it leave the
country for major procedures.
Dominicans are known for their longevity, and the island
boasts a high number of centenarians. However, in recent
years, foreign foods (such as processed foods from the United
States) have disrupted their diets and contributed to a growing
number of chronic ailments, such as diabetes and obesity, and
shortened life expectancies.
7
TM
CultureGrams
Dominica
AT A GLANCE
Contact Information
Embassy of Dominica, 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20016; phone (202) 364-6781. Discover
Dominica Authority, phone (866) 522-4057; web site
www.dominica.dm.
Country and Development Data
Capital
Population
Area (sq. mi.)
Area (sq. km.)
Human Development Index
Gender Inequality Index
GDP (PPP) per capita
Adult Literacy
Infant Mortality
Life Expectancy
Currency
CultureGrams
Roseau
73,286 (rank=194)
290 (rank=184)
751
72 of 187 countries
NA
$14,600
94% (male); 94% (female)
11.99 per 1,000 births
NA
East Caribbean dollar
TM
ProQuest
789 East Eisenhower Parkway
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 USA
Toll Free: 1.800.521.3042
Fax: 1.800.864.0019
www.culturegrams.com
© 2014 ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. It is against the law
to copy, reprint, store, or transmit any part of this publication in any form by
any means without strict written permission from ProQuest.
8