Postage Stamps as witness of Dominica history
Dominica is a mountainous, forested Caribbean island nation with a year-round tropical climate, national parks, rare indigenous birds. and the second-largest boiling lake in the world. It has significant tourism potential, but poor infrastructure and the absence of a large airport have impeded the industry’s growth. The country is also vulnerable to hurricanes.
With few natural resources, Dominica is attempting to reduce its reliance on bananas, traditionally its main export earner. The banana market has faced stiffer competition since the European Union was forced by the World Trade Organisation to phase out preferential treatment for producers from former colonies.
Some key dates in Dominica’s history:
- 1493 – Christopher Columbus visits the island and names it Dominica (Sunday Island).
- 1627 – English attempts at colonisation are fiercely resisted by the indigenous Carib community.
- 1635 – France claims Dominica, paving the way for French missionaries to colonise the island. However, resistance by the indigenous Carib Indians continues.
- 1660 – Britain and France agree to abandon Dominica and St Vincent.
- 1690 – French establish permanent settlements, following expeditions of English and French foresters, who have begun harvesting timber.
- 1763 – Britain gains possession of Dominica in accordance with the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Seven Years’ War (1756-63). It establishes a legislative assembly, representing only the white population.
- 1831 – Britain confers political and social rights on free non-whites.
- 1834 – Slavery abolished.
- 1838 – Dominica becomes the first and only British colony in the Caribbean to have a black-controlled legislature.
- 1865 – Britain replaces the elected assembly with one consisting of one-half elected members and one-half appointed.
- 1896 – Britain re-establishes crown colony government over Dominica.
- 1951 – Britain declares universal adult suffrage.
- 1958-62 – Dominica becomes a member of the British-sponsored West Indies Federation.
- 1960 – Britain grants Dominica self-government, with a legislative council and a chief minister.
- 1978 – Dominica becomes independent.
- 1980 – Eugenia Charles becomes the Caribbean’s first female prime minister.
- 1981 – Two coup attempts, allegedly backed by former prime minster Patrick John, foiled; John tried and acquitted; Dominican Defence Force disbanded.
- 1985 – John retried, found guilty and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.
- 1998 – Government announces plans to make Dominica a principal provider of offshore financial services “not only in the Caribbean, but the world”.
- 2004 – Dominica cuts diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favour of ties with mainland China. China agrees to give aid worth more than $100m over five years.
- 2007 – Hurricane Dean wipes out 99% of Dominica’s banana crop, putting further pressure on the island’s struggling main industry.
