Dominica
was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans,
due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs. France
ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which made the island
a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence, Dominica's
fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical administration was
replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the first female prime
minister in the Caribbean, who remained in office for 15 years.
Economy
- overview: The economy depends on agriculture and is highly vulnerable
to climatic conditions, notably tropical storms. Agriculture, primarily
bananas, accounts for 21% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force.
Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of
the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the lack of an international
airport. Hurricane Luis devastated the country's banana crop in
September 1995; tropical storms had wiped out one-quarter of the
crop in 1994 as well. The subsequent recovery has been fueled by
increases in construction, soap production, and tourist arrivals.
The government is attempting to develop an offshore financial industry
in order to diversify the island's production base.
Population:
70,786 (July 2001 est.)
Government
type: parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth.
Capital: Roseau
Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David,
Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark,
Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Pete
Independence: 3 November 1978 (from UK
We
decided to go on a whale watch, but there was another hike you could
take to boiling lake. It was an 8 mile strenuous hike, so we'll
save that for next time!. I found this link at Google about the
boiling lake. It has pictures and stories: http://www.avirtualdominica.com/thelake.htm
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