SAT Test Centers and Dates in Dominica

Politics and law

Politics

According to the constitution, which came into force on November 3, 1978, Dominica is a parliamentary republic in the Commonwealth. The head of state with predominantly representative tasks is the president. He is nominated by the Prime Minister in coordination with the opposition leader and elected by the Parliament (House of Assembly) for five years. He appoints the leader of the majority party in parliament as head of government. Of the MPs, 21 are elected by majority vote and 9 are appointed by the President (5 on the proposal of the Prime Minister and 4 on the proposal of the opposition).

National symbols

The national flag consists of green cloth, which is divided into four equal parts by a three-colored straight central cross in yellow, black and white. The center of the flag is covered with a red circle, on the edge of which there are ten green stars for the administrative districts; in the middle of the disk a Sisseron Parrot (Psittacus imperialis).

The coat of arms, officially introduced in 1961, is divided and split by an alternating blue and gold colored cross ribbon. In the golden fields it shows native palm trees (in the first field a coconut palm, in the fourth a fruit-bearing banana tree), in the second (blue) field a Dominica toad, in the third field a sailing canoe. The upper coat of arms consists of a blue-silver bead, on which is a brown island on which the British lion stands. Shield holders are two Sisseron parrots; under the coat of arms a band with the motto in Creole French: “Après Bondie c’est la ter” (Next to God the earth).

The national holiday is November 3rd. It commemorates independence in 1978.

Parties

As part of the multi-party system, the United Workers’ Party (UWP; social democratic), the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP; moderate-conservative) and the Dominica Labor Party (DLP; founded 1959) face each other.

Military

After the Dominica Defense Force was disbanded in 1981, the paramilitary police forces, which include around 300 men including the coast guard, also take on security tasks.

Administration

Dominica consists of 10 administrative districts. The capital and the reservation of the Caribs established in 1903 have limited self-government.

Law

The jurisprudence follows the English common law. At the head of the judiciary is the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, which is made up of the Court of Appeal and the High Court. A Court of Summary Jurisdiction is responsible for minor criminal cases. There are also District Courts as sub-courts. In 2005, the Royal Privy Council in London was replaced by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), based in Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago), as the highest appeal body.

Education

The education system was restructured by the Education Act passed in 1997. School attendance is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 15, and state schools are free of charge. Tertiary education is provided through the University of the West Indies, Clifton College, Teacher Training College, and the Princess Margret Hospital School of Nursing.

Media

The weekly newspapers “The Chronicle” (founded in 1909), “The Sun” (founded in 1998) and “The Times” (founded in 2004) as well as the government-run “Official Gazette” appear in Roseau. The state-run Dominica Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts radio programs in English. There are also private radio stations. There is no national television company, but there is commercial cable television.

Country facts

• Official name: The Commonwealth of Dominica
• License plate: WD
• ISO-3166: DM, DMA (212)
• Internet domain:.dm
• Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC $) = 100 cents
• Area: 750 km²
• Population (2018): 71 600
• Capital: Roseau
• Official language (s): English
• Form of government: Parliamentary republic in the Commonwealth
• Administrative division: 10 districts (Parishes)
• Head of State: President Charles A. Savarin (since October 2, 2013)
• Head of Government: Roosevelt Skerrit (since 8.1.2004)
• Religion (s) (2001): Christians (61.4% Catholics; 28.6% Protestants), 6% non-denominational, 4% other / n / a
• Time zone: Central European Time -5 hours
• National Day: November 3rd

Location and infrastructure

• Location (geographical): Caribbean
• Location (coordinates): between 15 ° 13 ‘and 15 ° 38’ north latitude and 61 ° 15 ‘and 16 ° 29’ west longitude
• Climate: Humid tropical climate
• Highest mountain: Morne Diablotins (1,447 m)
• Road network (2018): 762 km (paved), 750 km (unpaved)

Population

• Annual population growth (2020): 0.1%
• Birth rate (2020): 14.5 per 1000 residents.
• Death rate (2020): 8 per 1000 residents.
• Average age (2020): 34.9 years
• Average life expectancy (2020): 77.7 years (men 74.7; women 80.9)
• Age structure (2020): 21.4% younger than 15 years, 12.1% older than 65 years
• Literacy rate (15 year olds and older): N / A
• Mobile phone contracts (pre-paid and post-paid) (2017): 102 per 100 residents
• Internet users (2017): 70 per 100 residents

Economy

• GDP per capita (2018): US $ 6,977
• Total GDP (2018): $ 0.494 billion
• GNI per capita (2018): US $ 7 090
• Education expenditure (2015): 3.4% of GDP
• Military expenditure: k. A.
• Unemployment rate (15 years and older): n / a