FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Like its Eastern Caribbean neighbors, the main priority of Dominica's foreign relations is economic development. The country maintains missions in Washington, New York, London, and Brussels and is represented jointly with other Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) members in Canada. Dominica also is a member of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the British Commonwealth. It became a member of the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1978 and of the World Bank and Organization of American States (OAS) in 1979.
U.S.-DOMINICAN
RELATIONS
The United States and Dominica have friendly bilateral relations. The United States supports the Dominican Government's efforts to expand its economic base and to provide a higher standard of living for its citizens. U.S. assistance is primarily channeled through multilateral agencies such as the World Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) satellite programs office in Bridgetown, Barbados. The Peace Corps also provides technical assistance, and has just over 30 volunteers in Dominica, working primarily in education, youth development, and health.
In addition, the United States
and Dominica work together in the battle against illegal drugs.
Dominica cooperates with U.S. agencies and participates in counternarcotics
programs in an effort to curb narco-trafficking and marijuana
cultivation. In 1995, the Dominican Government signed a maritime
law enforcement agreement with the U.S. to strengthen counternarcotics
coordination, and in 1996, the government signed mutual legal
assistance and extradition treaties to enhance joint efforts in
combating international crime.
Dominica had around 252,000 visitors in 2005, which represented a contraction in both cruise line and stay-over arrivals over the record performance set in 2004. It is estimated that 4,500 Americans reside in the country.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--Mary M. Ourisman
Deputy Chief of Mission--O.P. Garza
Political/Economic Counselor--Ian Campbell
Consul General--Clyde Howard Jr.
Regional Labor Attaché--Jake Aller
Commercial Affairs--Jake Aller
Public Affairs Officer--John Roberts
Peace Corps Director--Kate Raftery
The United States maintains no official presence in Dominica. The Ambassador and Embassy officers are resident in Barbados and frequently travel to Dominica.
The U.S. Embassy in Barbados is located in the Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael (tel: 246-436-4950; fax: 246-429-5246).
