• Dominica:
• Society

Dominica - Society

Population: 79,000 (2004); 72% lives in urban areas; growth 0.1% p.a. 1970–90 and 0.6% p.a. 1990–2004, remaining low due mainly to the emigration of young people; birth rate (2005) 16 per 1,000 people (26 in 1970); life expectancy 75 years (2004).

The population is mostly of African and mixed African/European descent, with European, Syrian and Carib minorities. There is a Carib reserve on part of the east of the island, referred to as the Carib Territory.

Religion: Mainly Christians (about 70% Roman Catholics).

Language: The official language is English; French-based Creole is spoken by most of the population.

Media: There are no daily newspapers or national TV service on the island but a private cable network run by Marpin Telecom and Broadcasting covers part of the country. DBS Radio is operated by the state-run Dominica Broadcasting Corporation.

The Chronicle (founded in 1909), The Tropical Star and The Sun are all weekly. There are 180 personal computers per 1,000 inhabitants (2004) and 12,500 internet users (2002).

Education: There are 12 years of compulsory education starting at age five. Net enrolment ratios are 84% for primary and 92% for secondary (2005). The pupil–teacher ratio for primary is 18:1 and for secondary 15:1 (2005). The school year starts in September.

Further education is provided at a teacher-training college, a nursing school and at the regional University of the West Indies, which has a branch in Dominica and main campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Health: The health system operates through local clinics, larger health centres, a polyclinic in Roseau, and the national referral hospital, the Princess Margaret Hospital. There is a smaller hospital at Portsmouth, and cottage hospitals at Marigot and Grand Bay. 97% of the population uses an improved drinking water source and 83% adequate sanitation facilities (2004/2005). Infant mortality was 13 per 1,000 live births in 2005.

Communications: Country code 1 767. TDMA mobile network with roaming is available and visitors with TDMA handsets can make calls without registering, although they will need to provide credit card details. Handsets can be hired.

Internet access is available at some hotels and visitors can also go online at the offices of Cable and Wireless in Roseau. The main post office is in Roseau.

There are 294 main telephone lines and 587 mobile phones per 1,000 people (2006).

Public holidays: New Year’s Day, Carnival (two days in February/March), May Day (first Monday in May), August Monday (first Monday in August), Independence Day (3 November), Community Service Day (4 November), Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Religious festivals whose dates vary from year to year include Good Friday, Easter Monday and Whit Monday.