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Country Name:	conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica conventional short form: Dominica
Capital:	name: Roseau geographic coordinates: 15 18 N, 61 24 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Background:	Spotted by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and named after the day of his discovery, a Sunday (Dominica in Latin), Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonised 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 1967 Dominica gained autonomy in internal affairs, and on 3 November 1978 Dominica became an independent republic within the Commonwealth. After a turbulent first year of independence, marked by a corrupt government and devastating hurricanes, Mary Eugenia Charles of the Dominica Freedom Party was elected Prime Minister, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean. She remained in office for 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.
Nationality:	noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Population:	72,514 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnic groups:	black 86.8%, mixed 8.9%, Carib Amerindian 2.9%, white 0.8%, other 0.7% (2001 census)
Religions:	Roman Catholic 61.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 6%, Pentecostal 5.6%, Baptist 4.1%, Methodist 3.7%, Church of God 1.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.2%, other Christian 7.7%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.6%, none 6.1% (2001 census)
Languages:	English (official), French patois

» NATIONAL SYMBOLS

Flag

flag

The Flag of the Commonwealth of Dominica consists of a circular emblem of red bearing a Sisserou Parrot (Amazona imperials) standing on a twig encircled by ten lime green stars. This is superimposed on three vertical and three horizontal stripes of yellow, black and white forming a triple coloured cross against a general back-ground of forest green.

The central emblem presents the National Bird of Dominica, the Sisserou parrot, also a symbol of flight toward greater heights and fulfilment of aspiration. The Parrot also comes from the Dominica Coat of arms, thus symbolizing the official Seal of the country.

The ten lime green stars – the traditional symbol of hope – represent the ten parishes of the country, each with equal status, thus the equality of our people. The red central emblem symbolizes Dominica’s commitment to social justice.

The yellow, black and white stripes form a triple coloured cross representing the Trinity of God. The cross itself demonstrates belief in God since the Commonwealth of Dominica is founded upon the principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God.

The yellow stripe represents the sunshine of our land, our main agricultural produce: Citrus and Bananas; and is also a symbol of the Carib and Arawak people, the first inhabitants of the Island.

The white stripe represents the clarity of our rivers and waterfalls and the purity of aspiration of our people.

The black stripe represents the rich black soil of our island on which or agriculture is based as well as our African heritage.

The general background of dark green symbolizes our rich verdant forest and the general lushness of the island.

Coat of Arms

flag

The Coat of Arms of Dominica bears the inscription ‘ Apres Bondie C’est La Ter’, (after God the Earth), which emphasizes the importance of the soil in the island with its economy based on agriculture.

The design depicts a shield divided into four quarters of a cross, referring to the Island’s name, because of its discovery on a Sunday. In first quarter on the top left, you see the black volcanic soil of Dominica supporting a coconut tree, and in the fourth quarter on bottom right a fully developed banana stem bearing a mature bunch of fruits is shown. Our Crapaud, the second quarter, while in the third quarter, a canoe under sail glides on the Caribbean Sea. A wreath of silver and blue bears the crest, a golden lion standing upon a black rocky mount with the Sisserou parrot (Amazona imperialis) as supporters.

National Anthem

Download Anthem

The Dominica National Anthem, popularly referred to as “The Isle of Beauty” was retained on achieving Independence; during the period proceeding Associated Statehood with Britian, it was referred to as the National Song. The words were composed by the late Reverend W.O.M. Pond and put to music by L.M. Christian.

Isle of Beauty

Isle of beauty, isle of splendour,
Isle to all so sweet and fair,
All must surely gaze in wonder,
At thy gifts so rich and rare,
Rivers, valleys, hills and mountains,
All these gifts we do extol,
Healthy lands so like all fountains,
Giving cheer that warms the soul.

Dominica God hath blest thee,
With a clime benign and bright,
Pastures green and flow’rs of beauty,
Filling all with pure delight,
And a people strong and healthy,
Full of Godly reverent fear,
May we ever seek to praise thee,
For these gifts so rich and rare.

Come ye forward, sons and daughters,
Of this Gem beyond compare,
Strive for honour sons and daughters,
Do the right be firm be fair,
Toil with hearts and hands and voices,
We must prosper! Sound the call,
In which everyone rejoices,
“All for Each and Each for All”.

National Pledge

The National Pledge was written by Peter Israel.

Before God and all mankind,
I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the Commonwealth of Dominica
and to the Sovereign Republic for which it stands;
my love, my loyalty and skills,
in the service of Dominica and my fellow citizens.
I promise to work diligently and to help build
a prosperous and peaceful Nation.

National Prayer

The response is “WE GIVE THEE THANKS, O GOD.”

Let us pray

Let us give thanks for all God’s goodness and the wonderful heritage into which we have entered: For Dominica, our island home, the land of our birth –