The common law constitutes the basis of the legal systems of: England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, federal law in the United States and the law of individual U. S. states ( except Louisiana ), federal law throughout Canada and the law of the individual provinces and territories ( except Quebec ), Australia ( both federal and individual states ), Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Pakistan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Granadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, and many other generally English-speaking countries or Commonwealth countries ( except Scotland, which is bijuridicial, and Malta ).

Hurricane David is the most powerful and devastating hurricane ever recorded in Dominica.

Dominica is an island in the Caribbean Sea, located about halfway between the French islands of Guadeloupe ( to the north ) and Martinique ( to the south ).

Geographically, Dominica is distinctive in many ways.

According to a popular West Indian belief, Dominica is the only New World territory that Columbus would still recognize.

Dominica is the largest and most northerly of the Windward Islands.

Oblong-shaped and slightly smaller than New York City, Dominica is in area, in length, and in width.

Dominica is especially vulnerable to hurricanes as the island is located in what is referred to as the hurricane region.

Geologically, Dominica is part of the rugged Lesser Antilles volcanic arc.

Dominica is water-rich with swift-flowing highland streams, which cascade into deep gorges and form natural pools and crater lakes.

The Caribbean Sea offshore of the island of Dominica is home to many cetaceans.

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Dominica, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Dominica is the only island in the eastern Caribbean to retain some of its pre-Columbian population — the Carib Indians — about 3, 000 of whom live on the island's east coast.

Politics of Dominica takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Dominica is the head of government, and of a multi-party system.

Dominica is also a member of the Caribbean Development Bank ( CDB ), and the Commonwealth of Nations.

Dominica is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military ( as covered under Article 98 ).

* 2004 – The island of Dominica is hit by the most destructive earthquake in its history.

Another example is an array of fumaroles in the Valley of Desolation in Morne Trois Pitons National Park in Dominica.

Because Dominica is mostly volcanic and has few beaches, development of tourism has been slow compared with that on neighboring islands.

Dominica is a member of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union ( ECCU ).

Dominica is a beneficiary of the U. S. Caribbean Basin Initiative ( CBI ).

In 1635 France claimed Dominica along with all the other ' Petite Antilles ' but no settlement was attempted.

Originating from Guadeloupe and Martinique, Zouk is also claimed as " our music " in Dominica.

* Isla Aves ( Spanish Island of birds ), an island in the Caribbean Sea claimed by Venezuela and Dominica

The Arawaks were guided to Dominica, and other islands of the Caribbean, by the South Equatorial Current from the waters of the Orinoco River.

Dominica was officially neutral for the next century, but the attraction of its resources remained ; rival expeditions of English and French foresters were harvesting timber by the start of the 18th century.

In 1761 during the Seven Years War a British expedition against Dominica led by Lord Rollo was successful and the island was conquered along with several other Caribbean islands.

The abolition of slavery in 1834 enabled Dominica by 1838 to became the only British Caribbean colony to have a Black-controlled legislature in the 19th century.

In 1961, a Dominica Labor Party government led by Edward Oliver LeBlanc was elected.

On November 3, 1978, the Commonwealth of Dominica was granted independence by the United Kingdom.

It was replaced after the 1980 elections by a government led by the Dominica Freedom Party under Prime Minister Eugenia Charles, the Caribbeans first female prime minister.

James became prime minister, serving until the February 2000 elections, when the Dominica United Workers Party ( DUWP ) was defeated by the Dominica Labour Party ( DLP ), led by Rosie Douglas.

* History of Dominica by Lennox Honeychurch

In 1979, Dominica was hit directly by Category 5 Hurricane David, causing widespread and extreme damage.

As a member of CARICOM, in July 1994 Dominica strongly backed efforts by the United States to implement UN Security Council Resolution 940, designed to facilitate the departure of Haiti's de facto authorities from power.

It finally, by influence of the neighboring island of Dominica ( La Dominique ), came to be known as Martinique.

These conditions included the return of the sugar islands ( but Britain retained Dominica ); trading stations in West Africa ( won by Boscawen ); Pondicherry, ( France's Indian colony ); and fishing rights in Newfoundland.

* 750 km < sup > 2 </ sup > -- Dominica ( country ranked 172nd by area )

The largest manufacturer is Dominica Coconut Products, controlled by Colgate-Palmolive, which produces soap from coconuts.

Dominica has tried to expand its base by building up offshore financial services.

So far, a relatively small number of offshore banks and other international business companies have registered in Dominica, but the government is trying to attract more by making registration economical and easy.

Carib resistance delayed the settlement of Dominica by Europeans, and the Carib communities that remained in St. Vincent and Dominica retained a degree of autonomy well into the 19th century.