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.

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.

* Dominica is claimed by France.

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.

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.

Marshaling public frustration with the lack of a voice in the governing of Dominica, this group won one-third of the popularly elected seats of the legislative assembly in 1924 and one-half in 1936.

However, these were somewhat quieted when he formed a coalition with the more conservative Dominica Freedom Party.

Dominica has a tropical wet climate with characteristically warm temperatures and heavy rainfall.

Dominica previously maintained official relations with the Republic of China ( commonly known as " Taiwan ") instead of the People's Republic of China, but on 23 March 2004, a joint communique was signed in Beijing, paving the way for diplomatic recognition of the People's Republic.

It features four ensembles of pitons ( volcanoes ) and mornes ( mountains ): the Piton Conil on the extreme North, which dominates the Dominica Channel ; Mount Pelée, an active volcano ; the Morne Jacob ; and the Pitons du Carbet, an ensemble of five extinct volcanoes covered with rainforest and dominating the Bay of Fort de France at.

In 1626, after a secret meeting with Kalinago heads from neighbouring Waitikubuli ( Dominica ) and Oualie, it was decided that in a secret raid they would ambush the European settlements.

The country also has an active maritime boundary dispute with Dominica over the Isla Aves archipelago located in the Caribbean.

Dominica has made some progress, with the export of small quantities of citrus fruits and vegetables and the introduction of coffee, patchouli, aloe vera, cut flowers, and exotic fruits such as mangoes, guavas, and papayas.

Dominica has also had some success in increasing its manufactured exports, with soap as the primary product.

The ease with which such companies can be formed and the secrecy surrounding their operations have led some critics to allege that Dominica may be facilitating money-laundering and tax evasion.

Shorty had been in Dominica during an Exile One performance of cadence-lypso, and collaborated with Dominica's 1969 Calypso King, Lord Tokyo and two calypso lyricists, Chris Seraphine and Pat Aaron in the early 1970s, who wrote him some creole lyrics.

His ambitions thwarted and with the element of surprise lost, De Ruyter sailed north to Dominica and Nevis, then returned to Europe while disease spread aboard his ships.

In 1829, when Jameson was appointed puisne judge in the island of Dominica, the couple separated without regret, and Jameson visited Continental Europe again with her father.

The territories of the federation eventually became the nine contemporary sovereign states of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago ; with British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands becoming British overseas territories.

Roberts headed for Dominica to repair the sloop, with twenty of his crew dying of their wounds on the voyage.

Shorty had been in Dominica during an Exile One performance of cadence-lypso, and collaborated with Dominica's 1969 Calypso King, Lord Tokyo and two calypso lyricists, Chris Seraphine and Pat Aaron in the early 1970s, who wrote him some creole lyrics.

These early popular musicians were aided by the spread of radio broadcasting, beginning with WIDBS and later Radio Dominica.

Popular calypso in Dominica has always been closely associated with steelpan music.

After a few months in England, restoring his health and defending himself in Parliament, Sir George returned to his command in February 1782, and a running engagement with the French fleet on April 9 led up to his crowning victory at the Battle of the Saintes off Dominica, when on 12 April with thirty-five sail of the line he defeated the Comte de Grasse, who had thirty-three sail.