The Caribbean
Island Of Dominica
Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-eek-a) sits midway along the
Eastern Caribbean archipelago, just a few miles from Martinique
to the south and Guadeloupe to the north. Its location is 15
degrees North latitude and 61 degrees West longitude.
The island's official name is the Commonwealth of Dominica,
which is mostly referenced in official communiqué and to
distinguish the island from its northerly Caribbean sister, the
Dominican Republic. The indigenous Carib Indians named
the island Waitukubuli which means "tall is her body" in
the carib language.
The island is sparsely populated with around 70,000 people
inhabiting its 289.5 square miles. A significant portion of the
population lives in and around the capital city, Roseau.
Dominica is an arcadia of unspoiled nature. Tropical forest
coats two thirds of the island, which nourishes 1,200 plant
species. Rivers, lakes, streams, and waterfalls abound, fed by
the islands high annual rainfall. Its volcanic physique points
to extensive geothermal activity above and below sea level.
Dominica's Morne Trois Pitons National Park was the first
UNESCO World Heritage Site in the eastern Caribbean.
The island is one of only a couple in the Caribbean still with
populations of the pre-Columbian Carib Indians. About 80% of
the population is Roman Catholic. English is the official
language, spoken with a melodic French lilt, but a large
portion of the population speaks Kwèyòl (Creole), with a few
northern villages speaking Kokoy.
Dominica's History
As an island, Dominica is in relative puberty. It is only 26
million years old and is still evolving with continuous
geothermal activity. It is one of the youngest islands in the
Caribbean chain, formed by the shift of two tectonic
plates.
After the Ortoroids vanquished, the Arawaks came.
Thereafter, the Caribs arrived and wiped them out; but when
Columbus introduced colonization to Dominica in 1493, the same
fate that befell the Arawaks was threatening the Caribs.
Ignoring Waitukubuli, the Carib name for the island, the
Spanish explorer renamed it Dominica because he landed on
a Sunday. By the time the British and French had begun the
battles for the island in the 1600s the Caribs' grip on the
island had already begun to slide. They fought valiantly to
keep it, and temporarily did so successfully, but the gunpowder
assaults eventually drove them into the hills.
The British and French fought repeatedly for control of
Dominica. The island eventually escaped colonial fangs on
November 3rd 1978, when it gained independence. Its embryonic
independence era brought increased challenges, none the least
was the complication of its political struggles. By the
mid-1980s though, Dominica had settled down as a stable and
peaceful country. The success of the banana trade, which was
the island's major export, brought economic buoyancy to the
island. Starting in 1992 however, Dominica saw sharp declines
in banana export earnings with the loss of its preferential
access on the UK market.
Today, the Government of Dominica is investing heavily in
tourism as the sector to drive the island's economic
development.
In 1802, the 8th West India regiment revolts at the Cabrits and
takes over the garrison for three days before being defeated
and disbanded by Governor Cochrane.
Dominica's Culture &
Heritage
Dominica's rich culture comes from its mix of English, French,
African, and Carib peoples. This is evident in Dominica's food,
music, dance, language, and hospitality.
World Creole Music
Festival
Dominica establishes its place
as a centre of World Creole Music and Culture every year in
October.
History of Dominica
Caribs
The indigenous people of the Caribbean still live here.
Independence Celebrations
No time better represents Dominica's culture than the
month-long events leading up to Independence Day on
November 3
Architecture
Dominica's Creole architecture displays a unique mix of French,
English and Caribbean styles.
Carnival
Experience
Dominica's Carnival- Two Days of 'Jumping Up ' and
celebrating.
Hiking &
Adventure
For the Adventurer, there are more
attractions than points on a compass. Every day is an excursion
to new heights.
Culture, Heritage &
Festivals
Meet the last indigenous tribe in the Caribbean;
Join Dominica's Carnival & Festivals .
Diving &
Watersports
Everything from river tubing
& kayaking to spectacular diving & whale
watching.
Whale & Dolphin
Watching
Dominica is known as the Whale
Watching Capital of the Caribbean.
Canyoning
Adventures
A unique & exciting way to explore the hidden depths of
Dominica's natural wonders.
Creole food is Dominica's specialty - fresh tropical fruits
& vegetables, local fish, island herbs & spices.
Flora &
Fauna
Dominica's natural beauty springs from its rich & varied
vegetation.
Those who love to bask in fresh water can bathe in one of the
island's 365 rivers, wallow in the Emerald Pool, or frolic at
the Trafalgar, Victoria, Sari Sari, or Middleham Falls.
Sea lovers can snorkel or scuba dive along several reefs of the
one of the world's top marine destination, or take a Whale
Watching excursion just off the island's coast.
Visitors with a geological interest can hike to the Boiling
Lake, the Cold Soufriere, or the Soufriere and Watten Waven
Sulphur Springs.
Those who prefer jungle adventures can hover above the
rainforest on the 4,600 foot-long Aerial Tram, ride horses
or ATVs in the forest, discover the Boeri and Freshwater
Lakes, bird-watch at Syndicate, or trek across the island's
interior.
For visitors interested in cultural anthropology, a tour of
Fort Shirley at the Cabrits National Park or the Kalinago
Barana Autê at the Carib Territory is a fascinating experience.
The historic architecture surrounding the Old Market in Roseau,
including the Dominica Museum also reveals poignant information
of the island's history. There are several tour operators on
the island who can arrange a specific tour to match the
visitor's interest.
Climate: Daytime
temperatures vary between 75 & 90 degrees F. Temperataures
may drop in the evenings and at higher altitudes. Coolest
months are December to March.
Dining:
Restaurants available-Local. Gourmet.
International. Fast food. Tipping is at the discretion of
clients. Dress code is casual.
Language:
English is the official language. Creole or French based
patois is spoken by many.
Night
life: Entertainment includes -
Discos. Occasional Dinner/Dances. Occasional
Theater. Occassional village feasts and cultural
fesitvals. Live Music.
Getting Married In
Dominica
If You want to make your wedding a day that you will always
remember and your honeymoon a vacation that you will never
forget. The Caribbean Island of Dominica, will make
all your dreams come true.
You can make that promise to spend your lives together, or
renew your vows, in a forest, at a historic site, or to the
sound of waves gently lapping on the beach. Some couples have
have know to married underwater, complete with aquatic
wedding outfits and scuba-diving gear.
Whatever your choice of ceremony, Dominica's natural
sense of fun and love for lovers will help your
celebration to go with a relaxed swing, against a backdrop of
the most romantic location in the world.
Marriage
requirements
Dominica Marriage License Laws: Statutory declaration
on marital status
1. obtained in Dominica in a lawyer’s presence
2. Waiting period: 2 days before intended wedding date
3.The completed application form, obtainable from the Ministry
of Community Development, Government Headquarters, must be
presented to the registrar at the time of the marriage
ceremony
4. Dominica Marriage License Fee: US $110 for a marriage
license; US $184 legal fees for the statutory declaration on
marital status (inclusive of affidavit)
5. Marriages performed within the registrar’s office is an
additional US $11; Outside the registrar’s office is an
additional US $48 plus transportation; and a church wedding is
an additional US $40-$60
6. Identification Needed for a Dominica Marriage License :
Birth certificate and proof of citizenship
7. In the case of a divorced couple, a certified copy of
the decree absolute (divorce decree) must be presented
8. A widow or widower must present the death certificate
of a deceased spouse
9. Two witnesses present at the ceremony
Travel To
Dominica
Travel by
Air
Dominica has two airports: the Canefield Airport and the
Melville Hall Airport. The Canefield Airport, which is 15
minutes from Roseau, is only 3,100ft long and accommodates
small aircrafts offering intra-regional flights. Although
Melville Hall, which is one and a half hours from the city, is
much bigger, it is not an international airport. International
flights from US and Europe are connected to the island through
hubs in Antigua, Barbados, St. Maarten, Guadeloupe and
Martinique. Leeward Island Air Transport (LIAT) usually
completes the Dominican leg of these flights. LIAT and American
Eagle also provide connecting flights to the island out of
Puerto Rico.
Travel by
Sea
A 300-seat catamaran operated by
L'Express des Îles ferries passengers between Dominica,
Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Lucia. Every year, hundreds of
thousands of visitors arrive on the island from Cruise Ships
berthed at the Bayfront, Woodbridge Bay, and Cabrits. Captains
of Yachts and Sailboats can also anchor their private yacht at
any of the island's official ports, but they should check in
with customs and immigration on arrival.
Passport &
Immigration
Immigration officials require most visitors to Dominica to
present a valid passport on arrival. All need to show a return
ticket and some need to have a visa. Canadian citizens can show
documents certifying proof of citizenship that also bears a
photograph, and French nationals can stay for up to two weeks
by presenting a valid identification card. Visitors coming from
a specified list of countries, who intend to stay for 21 days
or less, do not require a visa. Click here for a list of these
countries.
Taxi
Taxis are available at the airports and in Roseau, and can be
arranged all over the island. They are easily identified by the
letters, H, HA or HB preceding the registration numbers on the
number plates. There are standard fees from the city to both
airports.
Car
Rentals
There are a number of car rental agencies on the island
offering vehicles for rent. But before you get on the road, you
will need to obtain a driver's license which cost $30 (US$12).
You must be between 25 and 65 years old, with two years'
driving experience to qualify for a driver's permit. Traffic
use the left side of the road, most of which are well
maintained.
Bus
Service
Dominica has a reliable public transportation system consisting
of primarily private minibus operators. Bus stops can be found
at designated points throughout the city depending on your
destination. The bus fares are standardized and ranges from
EC$1.50 to EC$10.25 according the specific route. Bus rotation
is fairly frequent throughout the day, but this method of
transportation is not suitable for night travel.
Language
English is
the official language of Dominica; however a large portion of
the population speaks Kwéyòl, which is based primarily on
French and Carib vocabularies and a syntax burrowed from a
variety of West African indigenous languages. A few Northern
villages use a distinctive English dialect called Kokoy.
Currency
The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar
(EC$), everywhere on the island businesses accept United
States Dollars, British Pounds, and Euros.
Credit
Cards
Most tourism related business,
such as hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and car rental
agencies accept Master Card, Visa and American Express credit
cards, including Traveller's Cheques.
Business
Hours
Businesses open from 8:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday with a lunch break from 1:00
p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Banking hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
from Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on
Fridays. On Saturdays, the banks are closed but merchants open
their enterprises from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
Banks
The following are a list of the banks found in Dominica:
• Dominica Agricultural
Industrial & Development Bank
• The Bank of Nova
Scotia
• The Eastern Caribbean
Central Bank
• First Caribbean
International Bank
• Griffon Bank
• National Bank of
Dominica
• Royal Bank of
Canada
Telecommunications
Dominica has a modern and reliable telecommunications system.
It is easy to find public phones in the city and in most
communities. Hotels offer International Direct Dialing from
their rooms, and there are three major mobile service providers
on the island: Cable & Wireless, Digicel, and Orange
Cariabe. The island's area code is 767.
Electrical
Dominica's electrical services use 220/240 volts. American
appliances are quite popular, but their users utilize
transformers for voltage conversion. Many accommodations offer
both outlets, but it would be wise to receive confirmation from
the specific establishment.
Medical
Facilities
There are three public
hospitals on the island: the Marigot Hospital, the Portsmouth
Hospital, and the premier Princess Margaret Hospital. Intensive
care units are available at the Portsmouth Hospital and the
Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). The PMH also has a Hyperbaric
Chamber. Several specialists and general practitioners operate
private clinics.
Emergency
The emergency contact for the Police, Ambulance, and Fire
Department is 999.
Personal
Safety
Dominica enjoys one of the lowest crime rates in the entire
Caribbean; however visitors are encouraged to practice common
sense in their deportment and the protection of their
property.
Time
Zone
Dominica Time is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-4),
which is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time and the same
as eastern Daylight Time.
Climate
Visitors to Dominica
should expect plenty of sunshine interjected by intermittent
rainfall. The island's annual temperature averages at 27 C.
Frequent rainfall cools the tropical heat, nourishes the
island's extensive rainforest, and feeds its rivers, lakes, and
waterfalls. On the coast, average rainfall registers 1,780 mm,
but in the interior that figure is triple.
Departure
Tax
Visitors will need to pay an EC$55
departure tax when exiting the island.
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