The island of Hispaniola, of which the Dominican Republic (DR) forms the eastern two-thirds and Haiti the remainder, was originally occupied by the Tainos, an Arawak speaking people. The Tainos welcomed Colombus in his first voyage in 1492, but subsequent colonisers were brutal, reducing the Taino population from about one million to a few thousand in 50 years. To ensure adequate labour for plantations, the Spanish brought African slaves to the island beginning in 1503.

In the next century, French settlers occupied the western end of the island, which Spain ceded to France in 1697, In 1804, forces led by Juan Pablo Duarte, the hero of Dominican Independence, drove out the settlers and established the Dominican Republic as an independent state. Britain was the first country formally to recognise the DR in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire; in 1865, independence was restored. Economic difficulties, the threat of European intervention, and ongoing internal disorders led to a US occupation in 1916 and the establishment of a military government in the Dominican Republic. The occupation ended in 1924, with a democratically elected Dominican government. In 1930, Rafael L. Trujillo, a prominent army commander, established absolute political control. Trujillo promoted economic and infrastructure development, from which he and his supporters benefited. Mismanagement and corruption resulted in major economic problems, under a regime that paid scant regard to its citizens' human rights, brutally repressing them and Haitian migrants on occasion. In August 1960, The Organisation of American States (OAS) imposed diplomatic sanctions against the Dominican Republic as a result of Trujillo's complicity in an attempt to assassinate President Romulo Betancourt of Venezuela. These sanctions remained in force after Trujillo's death by assassination in May 1961. In November 1961, the Trujillo family was forced into exile.

In January 1962, a council of state that included moderate opposition elements with legislative and executive powers was formed. OAS sanctions were lifted on 4 January and, after the resignation of President Joaquin Balaguer on 16 January, the council under President Rafael E. Bonnelly headed the Dominican Government. In 1963, Juan Bosch was inaugurated President. Bosch was overthrown in a military coup in September 1963.

Another military coup, on 24 April 1965, led to violence between military elements favouring the return to government by Bosch and those who proposed a military junta committed to early General elections. On 28 April, US military forces landed to protect US citizens and to evacuate US and other foreign nationals. Additional US forces subsequently established order.

In June 1966, President Balaguer, leader of the Reformist Party (now called the Socialist Christian Reformist Party - PRSC), was elected and then re-elected to office in May 1970 and May 1974, both times after the major opposition parties withdrew late in the campaign. In the May 1978 election, Balaguer was defeated in his bid for a fourth successive term by Antonio Guzman of the PRD. Guzman's inauguration on 16 August marked the country's first peaceful transfer of power from one freely elected President to another.

The PRD's presidential candidate, Salvador Jorge Blanco, won the 1982 elections, and the PRD gained a majority in both houses of Congress. In an attempt to cure the ailing economy, the Jorge administration began to implement economic adjustment and recovery policies, including an austerity programme in co-operation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In April 1984, rising prices of basic foodstuffs and uncertainty about austerity measures led to riots.

Balaguer was returned to the presidency with electoral victories in 1986 and 1990. Upon taking office in 1986, Balaguer tried to reactivate the economy through a public works construction programme. From 1988 the country suffered a 2-year economic depression, characterised by high inflation and currency devaluation. Economic difficulties, coupled with problems in the delivery of basic services, eg electricity, water and transportation, generated popular discontent that resulted in frequent protests, occasionally violent, including a paralysing nation-wide strike in June 1989.

In 1990, Balaguer instituted a second set of economic reforms. After concluding an IMF agreement, balancing the budget, and curtailing inflation, the Dominican Republic is experiencing a period of economic growth marked by moderate inflation, a balance in external accounts, and a steadily increasing GDP. The voting process in 1986 and 1990 was generally seen as fair, but allegations of election board fraud tainted both victories. The elections of 1994 were judged by the international community to have been flawed. Following a compromise calling for constitutional and electoral reform, President Balaguer assumed office for an abbreviated term. In June 1996, Leonel Fernandez Reyna was elected to a 4-year term as President. In May 2000 Hipolito Mejía was elected to a 4-year term as President, and then in May 2004, Leonel Fernandez was again elected as President.

Flag

The national Flag of the Dominican Republic has a centered white cross that extends to the edges. It divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross. The national coat of arms is in the center of the cross. This emblem is similar to the flag design and shows a bible, a cross of gold, 4 Dominican flags and two spears on a pattern from the flag. there are bracches of olive and palm around the shield and above on a ribbon is the motto "Dios, Patria, Libertad" meaning "God, Fatherland, Liberty." The blue is said to stand for Liberty, red for the fire and blood of the independence struggle and the white cross is a symbol of sacrifice. Below the shield is another ribbon bearing the name of the country "Republica Dominicana".

Coat of Arms

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Himno Nacional Dominicano

Quisqueyanos valientes, alcemos
Nuestro canto con viva emoción,
Y del mundo a la faz ostentemos
Nuestro invicto, glorioso pendón

¡Salve! el pueblo que, intrépido y fuerte,
A la guerra a morir se lanzó,
Cuando en bélico reto de muerte
Sus cadenas de esclavo rompió.

Ningún pueblo ser libre merece
Si es esclavo, indolente y servil;
Si en su pecho la llama no crece
Que templó el heroísmo viril,

Más Quisqueya la indómita y brava
Siempre altiva la frente alzará;
Que si fuere mil veces esclava
Otras tantas ser libre sabrá.

Que si dolo y ardid la expusieron
De un intruso señor al desdén,
Las Carreras! Beller!... campos fueron
Que cubiertos de gloria se ven.

Que en la cima de heroico baluarte
De los libres el verbo encarnó,
Donde el genio de Sánchez y Duarte
A ser libre o morir enseñó.

Y si pudo inconsulto caudillo
De esas glorias el brillo empañar,
De la guerra se vió en Capotillo
La bandera de fuego ondear

Y el incendio que atónito deja
De Castilla al soberbio león,
De las playas gloriosas le aleja
Donde flota el cruzado pendón.

Compatriotas, mostremos erguida
Nuestra frente, orgullosos de hoy más;
Que Quisqueya será destruida
Pero sierva de nuevo, jamás!

Que es santuario de amor cada pecho
Do la patria se siente vivir;
Y es su escudo invencible, el derecho;
Y es su lema: ser libre o morir.

¡Libertad! que aún se yergue serena
La Victoria en su carro triunfal,
Y el clarín de la guerra aún resuena
Pregonando su gloria inmortal

¡Libertad! Que los ecos se agiten
Mientras llenos de nobles ansiedad
Nuestros campos de gloria repiten
Libertad! Libertad! Libertad!

National Flower

Mahogany Tree Flower (Swietenia mahagoni)

The Mahogany flower was declared the National Flower on July 16, 1957, by decree 2944, issued by the Héctor Bienvenido Trujillo Molina government. The flower is from the mahogany tree, Swietenia mahogani, considered to be native, and one of the most prized in the world for the quality of its wood.

The mahogany originates from the semi-wet forests of the Antilles and Central America. From the moment they touched the Antillean soil of the old Hispaniola, Christopher Columbus and the artisans accompanying him used this wood in churches, palaces and houses.

The small flowers were featured in the print of the paper money of 1957. They bloom in copious plateaus from April to June in delicate yellow and white.

National Bird

Cigua Palmera (Dulus dominicus)

From the Dulidae family, the Palm Chat is endemic to Hispaniola and is not related to other species. It lives in flocks and raises its young in a large nest that has various compartments. Fruits, flowers and small insects serve as its food.

Its size, on average, is 20 centimeters in length. Its body is olive colored, while its wings tend to be green. Its underbelly is the color of café latte or a pale yellow, with brown stripes. The head has a darker color and the beak is strong. Both sexes are similar.

The Palm Chat lives in open fields, but prefers palms, in low elevations. To make its nest, it gathers dry twigs, which it places in the top of a palm or other tree. The bed can reach up to two meters wide by one meter high. Various couples undertake the large construction job, which features tunnels and multiple nests.

National Stone

This plant resin converted into rock comes from thousand year old trees and narrow tunnels, and is named amber. The petrified bits that preserve fossilized insects abound in the Cibao area, in the island's central region.

Scientists that search for the quality of amber deposits in the Middle East, Australia, Canada, China, Mexico and the Dominican Republic grant greater value to the Dominican gems, due to their fossil preservation.

A 30 million year old gecko, a 20 million year old mosquito or a species that ceased to exist on the planet several million years ago still exhibit their forms as small museum pieces in an iridescent gem. The majority of the rocks extracted and sold are of yellow and brown colors. A few reddish gems have been found. Also, thanks to local nature, there are some with blue undertones, but they are extremely scarce and therefore very valuable. They have only been found in the Cibao region, while in the East, many pieces have an almost white hue.

National Holidays

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Youth (15-24 years) literacy rate, 2000-2006*, male

93

Youth (15-24 years) literacy rate, 2000-2006*, female

95

Number per 100 population 2005: phones

51

Number per 100 population 2005: Internet users

17

Primary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, gross, male

116

Primary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, gross, female

110

Primary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, net, male

87

Primary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, net, female

88

Primary school attendance ratio (2000-2006*) ratio, net, male

84

Primary school attendance ratio (2000-2006*) ratio, net, female

88

% of primary school entrants reaching grade 5 2000-2006*, admin. data

86

% of primary school entrants reaching grade 5 2000-2006*, survey data

91

Secondary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, gross, male

64

Secondary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, gross, female

78

Secondary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, net, male

47

Secondary school enrolment ratio 2000-2006*, net, female

59

Secondary school attendance ratio (2000-2006*), net, male

27

Secondary school attendance ratio (2000-2006*), net, female

39

The Dominican Republic is a representative democracy whose national powers are divided among independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The President appoints the cabinet, executes laws passed by the legislative branch, and is commander in chief of the armed forces. The President and Vice-President run for office on the same ticket and are elected by direct vote for 4-year terms.

Legislative power is exercised by a bicameral congress - the senate (32 members) and the chamber of deputies (120 members). Under the constitutional reforms negotiated after the 1994 elections, the 16-member Supreme Court of Justice is appointed by a National Judicial Council, which is nominated by the 3 major political parties. The Court has sole jurisdiction over actions against the President, designated members of his cabinet, and members of Congress.

The Supreme Court hears appeals from lower courts and chooses members of lower courts. A Presidentially appointed governor heads each of the 31 provinces. Elected mayors and municipal councils administer the National District (Santo Domingo) and the 103 municipal districts.

Following an intense period of political activity and a 1994 election pronounced flawed by the international community, the competing political parties signed a Pact for Democracy on 10 August 1994, reducing President Balaguer's term of office from 4 to 2 years, setting early elections, and reforming the constitution. A new Central Electoral Board was named to work on electoral reform. The main candidates in 1996 were Vice-President Jacinto Peynado (PRSC), Jose Francisco Pena Gomez (PRD), and Leonel Fernandez (PLD).

Ultimately, domestic and international observers saw the 1996 election as transparent and fair. After the first round in which Jacinto Peynado (PRSC) was eliminated, President Balaguer endorsed the PLD candidate Leonel Fernandez.

Fernandez won the second round with 51% of the vote, the result was deemed a fair one and the transition from incumbent administration to incoming administration was smooth and ushered in a new, modern era in Dominican political life.

The Fernandez government placed a greater emphasis on trade liberalisation and the need to attract foreign investment. Their priorities also included education, health and social services, sectors badly under-funded in earlier years. To fund this ambitious programme, Fernandez became committed to a programme of privatisation, though he faced considerable opposition from a reluctant Congress, where his party was in the minority. Under the terms of the cross party agreement following the flawed 1994 elections, Fernandez was not allowed under the Constitution to stand again. On 16 May 2000, the Vice-President of the opposition Partido Revolucionario Dominicano (PRD) Hipolito Mejía, was elected President in another free and fair election. He defeated Dominican Liberation Party candidate Danilo Medina 49.8% to 24.84%. Former president Balaguer garnered 24.68% of the vote. Although Mejía officially needed 50% plus one vote to gain outright victory opponents conceded, influenced by Balaguer, as the margin was so narrow.

A combination of external (11 September 2001, rising oil prices) and internal (mainly rising internal and external indebtedness born of slack control of public finances) factors affecting the DR economy from 2000-2004 resulted in inflation and interest rates rising, the peso weakening drastically against the US Dollar, and the first negative GDP growth figure for over a decade by the end of the Mejía government in May 2004.

Against this background, Leonel Fernandez won the May 2004 election with 57% of the popular vote, against Mejía's 33%. With this outright victory in the first round, Fernandez used the three-month period before taking up office on 16 August 2004 to travel abroad with a view to re establishing international investor confidence in a market whose international credit rating had plummeted during the Mejía government. Fernandez included a 3-day visit to the UK in his itinerary, where he talked to a gathering of British business representatives at the CBI.

In his 2004 acceptance speech, Fernandez sent a strong message to the international community that he intended to tackle the country's debt problems and fight against corruption in the Dominican public and private sectors, and get the country back on track with the IMF. He has proven true to his word and under his administration GDP growth has rebounded sharply (9.3% year on year growth in 2005), interest rates and inflation have fallen considerably; and the country has been commended for its progress by the IMF.