CeHuNews 19/03
ABOUT
DOMINICA
Our
Island
Dominica (Pronounced Dom-in-ee-ka) is an
Independent nation, the Commonwealth of Dominica and is not to be confused
with the Dominican Republic
Location
Eastern Caribbean; 15.30 N longitude and
61.20 W latitude North of Martinique and South of
Guadeloupe
Size
Dominica is the Largest and most mountainous of the
Windward Islands, with an area of 289.5 Sq. miles (790sq.km). It is 29
miles long (49km) and 16 miles (25km) at its
widest.
Capital
Roseau (pronounced rose-oh)
Climate
Due to Dominica's topography and vegetation, the
climate and temperatures can vary drastically dependent upon the season,
or one's location/altitude on the island. Generally temperatures can vary
as much as 10 degrees-33 degress C/50 degrees-92 degrees F, from the
mountain slopes at night to the coastline at midday. Dominica's rainfall
patterns vary as well, depending where on the island one is. Rainfall in
the interior can be as high as 300 inches per year with the wettest months
being July to November and the driest being February to
May.
Other
major towns and communities
Carib
Territory, Portsmouth, Marigot, Grand Bay
Official language
English. A french based Creole is widely spokne by
residents.
Clientele
Dominica is for the Nature Enthusiasts. Those seeking
Adventure in nature and who want to get-away-from-it
all!
Main
Activities
A
number of nature oriented activities are offered on the island, these
include: Hiking, Trekking, River Bathing, Bird watching, Whale Watching,
Scuba Diving, Botany Explorations.
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History
Throughout it’s History, the fertile land of Dominica has attracted
settlers and colonizers and has been the subject of the military, and often
bloody squabbles of European powers. At the time of Columbus’s visit in November
1493, the island was a stronghold of the Caribs from South America who were
driving out the Arawaks. In 1627 the English took theoretical possession without
settling, but by 1632 the island had become a de facto French colony; it
remained so until 1759 when the English captured it. In 1660 the English and
French agreed to leave the Caribs in undisturbed possession, but in fact French
settlers went on arriving, brining enslaved Africans with them. Dominica changed
hands between the two European powers, passing back to France (1778) and again
to England 917830. The French attempted to invade in 1795 and 1805 before
eventually withdrawing, leaving Britain in
possession.
In 1833 the
island was linked to Antigua and the other Leeward Islands under a Governor
General at Antigua, but subsequently became part of the Federation of the
Leeward Islands Group (1940-60). Dominica joined the West Indies Federation at
its foundation in 1958 and remained a member until differences among larger
members led to its dissolution in 1962.
Dominica
became an Associated state of the United Kingdom in 1967, with full internal
self-government, but Britain remained responsible for foreign policy and
defence.
Full
Independence was achieved on November 3,
1978.
Dominica is
a Republic with a non-executive presidency and parliamentary government. It has
a unicameral House of assembly with 30 members (21 elected, 9 appointed).
Elections are held every five years, with universal suffrage for adults (18
over). The House of assembly elected the President for not more than two terms
of five years. He or she appoints the prime Minister who consults the President
in appointing other ministers
Last
Election: January 2000
Next
elections: by 2005
Head of
State: The President, His Excellency, Mr Vernon L.
Shaw
Head of
Government: The Prime Minister, the Honourable Pierre
Charles
What is
Culture?
by
RAYMOND LAWRENCE
When we
speak about national culture total of material and spiritual values created,
accumulated, strengthened and developed by a given a nation in the course if its
history. The development of these values is conditioned by economic, social,
political and technological circumstances.Culture however is never singular and
univocal. It is multi-faceted and it comprises various factors which make up a
complex whole. These factors include race, language, the arts, cuisine, dress
and traditional customs.There is a distinct importance of national culture in
the life of any country. It gives citizens a sense of belonging, a sense of
identity and a sense of pride in the realization that their country holds their
roots, their heritage, their traditions and a way of life with which they can
easily identify.There are also tangible and intangible elements which make up
the culture of any country. The tangible part of our cultural heritage consists
of artifacts such as a cannon, an historic house, a book on a library shelf, or
machinery in an old sugar mill.Th intangible elements on the other hand are our
stories, songs, tunes, dances and knowledge of processes, beliefs and
languages.This difference does not give one type of evidence more importance
than the other. In fact, the tangible and intangible are different aspects of
the same cultural item. So in order to understand a physical artifact like a
pot, it is necessary to consider the traditional intangible associations - the
processes by which it was made, the symbolism of the designs in its decoration,
and the ways in which it was and is used.Culture also encompasses both the
traditional and the contemporary expressions of a country - not either/or but
both. The traditional and contemporary are two sides of the same coin.Culture
can also be described as a process - a continual process, of defining and
redefining all the various aspects which make a country's culture unique and
identifiable. At the same time the process helps individual countries to see how
similar or different they are to other countries and how important it is to
share one's culture with others in an effort to create greater cooperation and
goodwill.Culture can be compared to the roots and branches of a tree. The roots
are the traditions of a country by which the culture is grounded and rooted and
the branches are all the creative, innovative and modern expressions which
emerge as the culture evolves. Culture is dynamic and it changes, but then our
history and heritage are what give texture and direction to the changing modern
day expressions.
Did you know?
On December 15th 1997 UNESCO enlisted our MorneTrois PitonNational Park as a World
Heritage Site. Dominica joined an ‘elite’ group of countries around the world as
being custodians to world Heritage Sites. The park is the first and only
enlisted natural site in the Eastern Caribbean. The Official Inscription
Ceremony took place on August 4th 1998.
128 year old Ma
Pampo is the oldest person
ever documented in Dominica(see birth certificate) human, currently
resides in Glanvillia, Dominica, W.I
Dominica
has 20 and over centenarians in our small populated island and the list
keeps growing
view list of
centenarians
The monthly
magazine "Caribbean World" has nominated Dominica one of the best
destination for the ecotourists.
Two thirds
of Dominica is covered by protected rain forest.
There are
365 rivers and you will also find the largest boiling lake in the
world.
There are
no poisonous insects or snakes on Dominica.
Sport-magazines have nominated Dominica as one of the
best locations in the world for sports diving.
Dominica
has the lowest crime-rate in the Caribbean
Did you
know... that Dominica has been designated as the first Caribbean Green Globe
destination. This is the first step of the World Travel and Tourism
Council's proposal to carry out a program through its Environmental
Research Arm and its GREEN GLOBE program for environmental
management
Dominica has the
highest mountains in the Eastern Caribbean, Morne Diablotin - 4747
feet
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