KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1978 Population: 68,000 (2011) GNI p.c.: US$7,030 (2011) UN HDI 2011: world ranking 81 Geography Area: 750 sq km Coastline: 148 km Capital: Roseau The Commonwealth of Dominica is one of the Windward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, lying between Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south. Constitution Status: Republic Legislature: House of Assembly Independence: 3 November 1978 Dominica is a republic with a non-executive presidency and parliamentary democracy. It has a unicameral House of Assembly with 30 members plus the speaker and Attorney- General. Twenty one members are directly elected and nine senators appointed by the President, five on the advice of the Prime Minister, four on the advice of the leader of the opposition. Elections are held at least every five years, with universal suffrage for adults. The President is nominated by the Prime Minister and leader of the opposition and elected by the House of Assembly for not more than two terms of five years. He or she appoints the Prime Minister, who consults the President in appointing other ministers. The President may dismiss the Prime Minister in the event of a no-confidence vote in the House of Assembly. Individual rights are guaranteed under the constitution. Roseau (the capital) and the Carib Territory have a measure of self-government. The Caribs elect their chief. Judicial system Supreme court: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Ministry: Tourism and Legal Affairs The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court was established (as the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court) in 1967 with its headquarters in Castries in St Lucia, and is responsible for the administration of justice in its member states including Antigua and Barbuda. It comprises the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal. The chief justice and the four justices of appeal are based at the court’s headquarters and the 19 High Court judges reside in the nine member countries, and sit in the country’s court of summary jurisdiction. Less serious cases are heard in magistrates’ courts. The Court of Appeal is itinerant. The High Court’s jurisdiction includes fundamental rights and freedoms, and constitutional issues. Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 159 Dominica
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