Population: 74,629
National Motto: “Après Bondie C’est La Ter” meaning “After God is the Earth”.
Dominica is NOT the Dominican Republic!
Pirates of the Caribbean fans – Cannibal Island is Dominica; the bone cages are on Titou Gorge in Morne Trois Pitons National Park; the Indian River became the “Pantano River.”
Dominica is home to the largest indigenous population in the East Caribbean. Around 3,000 Kalinago (once referred to as “Caribs” by colonists) still live in Dominica. [above]
The bird on the flag, the Sisserous Parrot, is the national bird of Dominica and may be the oldest species of Amazon parrot in the world.
The official national anthem is “The Isle of Beauty”:
Isle of beauty, isle of splendour,
Isle to all so sweet and fair,
All must surely gaze in wonder,
At thy gifts so rich and rare,
Rivers, valleys, hills and mountains,
All these gifts we do extol,
Healthy lands so like all fountains,
Giving cheer that warms the soul.Dominica God hath blest thee,
With a clime benign and bright,
Pastures green and flow’rs of beauty,
Filling all with pure delight,
And a people strong and healthy,
Full of Godly reverent fear,
May we ever seek to praise thee,
For these gifts so rich and rare.Come ye forward, sons and daughters,
Listen to the national anthem.
Of this Gem beyond compare,
Strive for honour sons and daughters,
Do the right be firm be fair,
Toil with hearts and hands and voices,
We must prosper! Sound the call,
In which everyone rejoices,
“All for Each and Each for All”.