Government and Politics of Dominica

Government Type

parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth

Administrative Divisions

10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter

Legal System

based on English common law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth: yes Citizenship by descent only: yes Dual citizenship recognized: yes Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (since October 2003) head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004); note - assumed post after death of Prime Minister Pierre CHARLES cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 2003 (next to be held October 2008); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Nicholas LIVERPOOL elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA%

Legislative Branch

unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21 elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 5 May 2005 (next to be held by 5 August 2010); note - tradition dictates that the election will be held within five years of the last election, but technically it is five years from the first seating of parliament (12 May 2005) plus a 90-day grace period election results: percent of vote by party - DLP 52.08%, UWP 43.6%, DFP 3.15%; seats by party - DLP 12, UWP 8, independent 1

Judicial Branch

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the Court of Appeal and the High Court (located in Saint Lucia; one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction)

Political Parties

Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT]; United Workers Party or UWP [Edison JAMES]

Head of State

President Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL

Head of Government

Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Elections

president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held on 1 October 2003 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister appointed by the president

Election Results

Nicholas LIVERPOOL consented to a second term in 2008 at the request of the prime minister and leader of the opposition

Constitution

3-Nov-78

Independence

3 November 1978 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Judith Anne ROLLE, Third Secretary chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791 consulate(s) general: New York

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica

Capital City

Roseau

Location

15 18 N, 61 24 W

Time Difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

The name is French for "reed"; the first settlement was named after the river reeds that grew in the area

U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown Wildey Business park Wildey St. Michael, Barbados Telephone: (246) 227-4399 Emergency after-hours telephone: (246) 227-4000 Facsimile: (246) 431-0179 Email: BridgetownACS@state.gov Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Barbadian and U.S. holidays.

Military Branches

No regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard)