The National Anthem

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 land, so like all fountains, Giving cheer that warms the soul.

Dominica, God hath blest thee With a clime benign and bright, Pastures green and flowers of beauty Filling all with pure delight, And a people strong and healthy, Full of godly, rev'rent fear. May we ever seek to praise Thee For these gifts so rich and rare.

Come ye forward, sons and daughters Of this gem beyond compare. Strive for honor, 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 ev'ry one rejoices,"All for Each and Each for All.

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The Flag

The flag of the Commonwealth of Dominica consists of a circular emblem ofred bearing a Sisserou Parrot standing on a twig encircled by ten lime green stars.This is superimposed on three vertical and three horizontal stripes of yellow, black and white forming a triple coloured cross against a background of forest green.The central emblem presents the National Bird of Dominica, the Sisserou parrot also a symbol of flight toward greater heights and fulfillment of aspiration. The Parrot also comes from the Dominica Coat of Arms, thus symbolising the official seal of the country. The ten lime green stars - the traditional symbol of hope - represent the ten parishes of the country, each with equal status, thus the equality of our people. The red central emblem symbolises Dominica's commitment to social justice. The yellow, black and white stripes form a triple coloured cross representing the Trinity of God. The cross itself demonstrates belief in God since the Commonwealth of Dominica is founded upon the principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God.
The yellow stripe represents the sunshine of our land, our main agricultural produce: citrus and bananas; and is also a symbol of the Carib and Arawak people, the first inhabitants of the Island. The white stripe represents the clarity of our rivers and waterfalls and the purity of aspiration of our people.The black stripe represents the rich black soil of our island on which our agriculture is based, as well as our African heritage.The general background of the dark green symbolises our rich verdant forest and the general lushness of the island.

Coat of Arms (The Seal)

The coat of Arms of Dominica was adapted on July 21, 1961. It consists of a shield with two guardian Sisserou Parrots bracing the shield atop of which is a raging lion. The quadrants of the shield depict a canoe, a banana tree, a palm and a mountain frog. Below the crest is the national motto: Après Bondie C'est La Ter (After God the Earth)

Dominica Botanic Gardens

Nestled below the verdant Morne Bruce hill, and located about 50 meters from the Roseau River, is the 40-acre Botanic Gardens of Dominica. This area of undulating land is the largest tract of semi-open space in the city of Roseau. With an elevation of about 66 ft (20 meters) above sea level, the Botanic Gardens receives approximately 85 inches (218 cm) of rainfall annually, with favorable conditions for the growing of a wide variety of tropical plants.

Visit Dominica's Botanic Gardens website to learn more

National Flower, Sabinea Carinalis

The flower honoured as our National Flower is a wildxerophitic plant known botanically as Sabinea carinalis, commonly known as Carib Wood or ‘Bois Caraibe’. It was legislated as the National Flower, along with the Coat of Arms and National Flag in 1978.(The National Emblems of Dominica Act, 1978)

(Act No.18 of 1978).
As an indigenous plant, one of the reasons for which it was selected, it has survived our entire history, and hopefully, will be with us for all time. It can therefore be said to represent the continuity of our young people. When in bloom, it displays precocious bright scarlet flowers along the entire length of its branches, and is found growing along dry coastal areas.

Distribution in the wild is low, but it is an extremely hardy plant. When grown at high elevations, even in good soil, ‘Bois Caraibe’ will be bushy but will not flower profusely. Around April, when in full bloom, the plant presents a magnificent spectacle. Its hardiness and scarlet flowers are reminiscent of our strong rugged and resourceful people with an ability to survive and overcome problems, and Dominica’s ability to triumph despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

The Sisserou (amazona imperialis) Parrot

It is the national symbol for Dominica and adorns the country's coat of arms and flag. It may be the oldest species of amazona parrots in the world and is indigenous only to Dominica. After thousands of years on this island, the Sisserou finds itself on the brink of extinction, due to the ever-increasing human population, deforestation and poaching of this beautiful bird.

In 1976 the Commonwealth of Dominica passed the Forestry and Wildlife Act to give maximum protection to the Sisserou, making it illegal to hunt or own one. Conservation efforts, including a breed and release program, are underway. While visiting Dominica you may see the birds in the Botanical Gardens in the capital city of Roseau.

National Dish

When it comes to national dishes Dominica is no exception. The Crapaud or "mountain chicken," an amphibious creature related to the toad, is the official national dish. He is Nocturnal, and his constant call "prup-prup"! can be heard above all the other night time calls. But a more popular creole dish is roasted breadfruit with salted codfish, onions, and peppers cooked in oil mostly served during the independence celebration time, the mountain chicken.