DOMINICA | Nature Island of the Caribbean

In 2006 Dominica was chosen by movie producers as the backdrop for Pirates of the Caribbean I and II, and once off the ship you will soon learn why. This "Nature Island of the Caribbean" is 29 by 16 miles of rainforest, dense lush vegetation, waterfalls, freshwater pools and bubbling hot springs from the active underwater volcanoes surrounding the island. Dominica (pronounced Do-min-in-in-ee-kah) promises to be unlike any other stop on your itinerary. Be forewarned that this is a primitive, undeveloped island paradise for nature lovers and outdoor people who have a zest for adventurous and challenging experiences. The excursions here are probably not for the elderly or those with walking disabilities.es.

Dominica is an island nation and borderless country in the Caribbean Sea

GEOGRAPHY - Roseau (pronounce Ro-zo) is the capital of the Commonwealth of Dominica. The formal name Commonwealth of Dominica is often used to distinguish it from the Dominican Republic. Dominica is the largest, greenest and most mountainous of the islands in the Eastern Caribbean with an area of 289.5 sq. miles (754 sq. km). It is an island of volcanic origins located between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean, at approximately 15 degrees North latitude and 61 degrees West longitude. Twenty-nine miles long and 16 miles at its widest, it has several peaks of over 3,000', the tallest of which are Morne Diablotin (4,747') and Morne Trois Pitons (4,600'). This youngest of the islands in the Caribbean is also gifted with the world's second largest boiling lake. If you've ever wondered what an authentic Caribbean island was like, this is it.

HISTORY - Originally the island was populated by a Carib tribe of Indians in the 14th century, who called their island Waitikubuli, ("tall is her body"). Many of the remaining Carib people (Population 3,000) still live in Dominica's Carib Reserve, a 3,700-acre Territory on Dominica's east coast. A drive through this "Carib Territory" will give you a glimpse into life as it was for the native Indians a century ago and as it still is today.

Christopher Columbus named the island after the day of the week on which he spotted it - a Sunday ('Doménica' in Italian) - which fell on November 3, 1493. Daunted by fierce resistance from the Caribs and discouraged by the absence of gold, the Spanish did not settle the island.

In 1635, France claimed Dominica. Shortly thereafter, French missionaries became the first European inhabitants of the island. Carib incursions continued, though, and in 1660, the French and British signed a neutrality treaty in which both Dominica and St. Vincent should be abandoned by them and in possession of the Caribs. Dominica was officially neutral for the next century, but the attraction of its resources remained; rival expeditions of British and French foresters were harvesting timber by the start of the 18th century.

The French and British fought for control of the island. If you glance at a map of the island, it's clear by the town names that the French populated the South (Roseau, Soufrieres) while the British occupied the North (Portsmouth). Eventually, the British conquered the French portion of the island and maintained control until 1978 when Dominica gained independence.

ECONOMY - Dominica's economy is marked by low rates of employment and high rates of poverty. Bananas and other agriculture dominates it's economy; nearly one-third of the labor force works in agriculture. This sector, however, is highly vulnerable to weather conditions and to external events affecting commodity prices. In 2007, Hurricane Dean caused significant damage to the agricultural sector as well as the country's infrastructure, especially roads. In response to reduced European Union (EU) banana trade preferences, the government has diversified the agricultural sector by introducing coffee, patchouli, aloe vera, cut flowers, and exotic fruits such as mangoes, guavas, and papayas. Dominica has had some success in increasing its manufactured exports, primarily soap.

Because Dominica is mostly volcanic and has few beaches, development of tourism has been slow compared with that on neighboring islands. Nevertheless, Dominica's high, rugged mountains, rainforests, freshwater lakes, hot springs, waterfalls, and diving spots make it an attractive destination. Cruise ship stopovers have increased following the development of modern docking and waterfront facilities in the capital. And Dominica is attracting a stream of naturalists for land vacations who flock to the island to see 172 types of birds, 12 major waterfalls and peaks that rise to almost 5,000 feet. Divers and whale watchers also come in hordes to explore the waters that plunge to nearly 6,000 feet right off the coastline.

THE PEOPLE OF DOMINICA - Population is around 74,000 on the island; 20,000 in Roseau. Dominica is mainly of African descent, constituting over 90 per cent of the population. They are basically descendants of the slaves brought from Africa in the 18th century. A small group of Carib also inhabits the island. Though English is the official language, French Patois is also widely spoken. Majority of the population are Roman Catholics. Even though there is much poverty here, people living on the island are very laid back and happy. The island has one of the lowest crime rates in the Western Hemisphere. They also enjoy one of the longest life spans. Perhaps living off fish, fruits and nuts found in and around the island is why many live to be centenarians. (I assume the low crime rate could also lead to a longer life.)

SHOPPING - 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.

The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD), which trades at XCD$2.67 to USD$1.00. 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 Traveler's Checks.