Until as recently as 3 November 1978, the Constitutional Democratic Republic of Dominica was a British colony. The political and administrative systems borrow a lot from the British style of functioning, but certain changes adapted to local conditions are also apparent.

The Head and Chief Executive of the Government is the Prime Minister while the President is the Head of State. The Judicial system of Dominica comprises of:

- Magistracy
- Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court of Appeals
- Court of Final Jurisdiction (still affiliated to Privy Council in London!)

While the Magistracy comes under the Executive Branch and looks after minor civil and criminal matters under the onus of the Minister of Legal Affairs, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court administers justice for serious criminal and civil cases under the guidance of the Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean. If there are any appeals from this court, they are handled by the Eastern Caribbean Appeal Court and further by the Privy Council in London as the entire judicial structure is a combination of British Common Law and local statutes.

Dominica enjoys a healthy political environment. It offers a safe and secure political climate and gives its people many privileges. The people can elect their candidates. The right to self expression through speech and congregation is legalised, making it a comfortable, communicative haven.

Dominica has all the modern facilities one can think of. Electricity is dependable and abundant. Power is generated through non-conventional means such as hydro turbines - water is never in short supply on this lush island. The onus of providing electricity is shared by the private sector, the government and the Commonwealth Development Corporation in the form of Dominica Electricity Services Limited.

Most hotels provide 220/440 volts (60 cycles) of power. If you have any gadgets that require 110 volts, you will need to use a transformer. Remember to bring an adaptor plug, just in case.

Tourism is bound to be a major draw in a place as beautiful as Dominica. The island boasts of some of the most spellbinding locales, such as dense tropical rainforests, sandy beaches, azure sea shores, crystal clear rivers, whispering waterfalls, and a unique culture and ambience.

Portsmouth and the capital, Roseau, are two important port cities from where most people enter the country since they prefer to come here on a cruise. Both these cities have excellent cruise ship berths.

The cruise anchors for a day or so but you may want to stay longer, as there is a lot to do here. A variety of adventure sports challenge your skills and stamina - scuba diving, hiking, rainforest excursions, and wildlife watching. Dominica offers a vast range of unique flora and fauna; there are coral reefs and it is the natural habitat of many species of birds, mammals and amphibians.

You can soak in the local culture at exciting events like the Creole Music Festival held in October every year or sample the fresh and vibrant flavours of Creole cooking. You can even visit a lake of boiling water and bathe in the rejuvenating hot sulphur springs (there are many here).

No visa is required for citizens of Commonwealth countries and some countries of the European Union for a stay of up to six months. In the European Union, a few countries do not have this privilege. These are Hungary, Estonia, Poland, Austria, Slovenia, Latvia, Finland, Slovak Republic, Czech Republic and Lithuania.

Entry is also permitted to tourists from USA, Israel, Norway, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Venezuela for up to six months without any visa. People from all other countries can stay up to 3 weeks without a visa. The only requirement is that the passport should be valid for at least 6 months starting from the date of departure from Dominica. In fact Canadians, Americans and French nationals do not even require that. All they need is a proof of citizenship with a photograph on it or a National Identity Card for a visit of up to 14 days.

Types of Visas:

A Single Entry visa would cost you around US $45 and extensions have to be approved by the Immigration Department stationed at the Roseau Police Headquarters.

Does the idea of getting married in a unique, faraway land fascinate you? There's no better place than Dominica to embark on this blissful journey. Not only would the wedding be set amidst unsurpassed scenic beauty but you can also add a certain adventurous feel to the memorable day you take the plunge.

Before you set off to tie the knot on this beauteous island, a few legal requirements must be taken care of. Please ensure you have these documents in place:

- Passports of both the bride and the groom
- Birth Certificates
- An application form ‘G' duly filled and signed by the bride and groom.
- Marital status form with a $5 postage stamp.
- A death certificate of former spouse or a ruling of divorce in case you have been married earlier.

Please ensure either you or your fiancé should have spent at least 48 hours in Dominica before the commencement of the wedding. The whole event has to be approved by the Ministry of Community Development. Roman Catholics and followers of the Methodist Church need to fulfil some additional requirements.

Miscellaneous charges for weddings:

EC $150.00     Church Wedding Cost
EC $ 300.00    Marriage License Fee
EC  $30.00      Marriage Registered at the Registrar's Office
EC $500.00     Lawyer's Fee for Statutory Declaration on Marital Status 
EC $100.00     Marriages Held outside the Registrar's Offices

*All the above rates may change.

You can send in your request for a wedding ceremony by getting in touch with:

Ministry of Community Development & Women's Affairs
Government Head Quarters
767 448 2401

The Eastern Caribbean Dollar is the currency used in Dominica. It has a good conversion rate, with one US dollar being equivalent to EC$ 2.70. This has been maintained for over thirty years now. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank holds the power to issue and process this currency. The current rate can be found by going to Oanda.com, the currency site.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are a good mode of payment as they are accepted almost everywhere, from restaurants and hotels, to shopping arcades and travel agents. So there is not much need to carry unnecessary cash; just depend on Master card, American Express or VISA wherever you go.

Driving is a pleasure on roads that offer many breathtaking scenes. The minimum driving age is a little on the high side (minimum 25 years). You can get a local driver's permit issued at any car rental agency, airport or Traffic Department office. But you must have a driving licence of your own country with minimum two years of driving experience.

Fees applicable for a driver's licence:

One month's driving licence: EC $ 30.00
Three months' driving licence: EC $ 60.00

Cars here have a right hand drive, which means the driver's seat is on the right and you drive on the left side of the road.

Travelling within the island is simplified by the excellent roads, which are well connected. So if you are fond of driving, this is the place to hire a car and go for long drives.

There is one common emergency number - 999. You can get in touch with the local police, ambulance as well as the fire brigade using this number.

Some good hospitals and their contact numbers:

Grand Bay Hospital                                 767 446 3706
Portsmouth Hospital                               767 445 5237
Princess Margaret Hospital                   767 448 2231
Marigot Hospital                                       767 445 7091

Post Offices

For all your postage needs, you can rely on the General Post Office, Bayfront, at Roseau. It is operational Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm. In smaller towns and provinces, the local post offices generally work from 3 to 5pm on weekdays only.

Telecommunications

You can call anywhere in the world with great ease as phone booths can be found at practically every street corner. The telecommunications network is digitalised in keeping with the latest international standards. The country code for Dominica is 767. Most hotels provide International Direct Dialing facility in the rooms but rates may vary from the booths outside. 

Compare the rates, because hotels invariably have surcharges and taxes applicable. It makes sense to buy a prepaid card (try Marpin telecoms), which enables you to make calls from any booth.

It is easy to get by in Dominica if you know English as most people are fluent in this language. The local dialect is Creole, which has French, African and Caribbean influences.

Pack that fabulous swimsuit you have been dying to flaunt on a sunny beach for a long time. Also carry a sarong and flip-flops. Of course, Dominica is not all sunny beaches. Some areas are mountainous and it can get nippy in the evenings. So do carry a light sweater and cotton clothing that can be layered. If hiking is on your itinerary, take a pair of sneakers and an anorak.

Dominican society follows various religions. You may come across Roman Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, Protestants and Seventh Day Adventists on this tiny island country.

Click here to see a full list of Dominican Public and Bank Holidays.

Dominica enjoys salubrious weather most parts of the year. The best time to visit is December to March as summer months, especially June to October, can be very wet, with incessant rainfall that would mar your outings. Otherwise Dominica has an equable climate with the maximum temperature going up to 32 degrees C (90 degrees F) while the minimum would be 29 degrees C (84 degrees F). The highest rainfall is experienced in the mountainous regions.