DOMINICA

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 177, 29 July 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

DOMINICA

Continued frot/i page 380. The attainment of independence did not mean peace for the people of Dominica. President after president was assassinated or driven from office, and hardly a Government in half a century lasted for the full length of its elected term. In more recent years there hae been a period of stability. This is due to the influence of the* United States, which apart from putting the political affairs of the republic into order, hae advanced money for the development of the country. The close connection between Dominica and the discoverer of th* New World extends to the claim by the good people of Santo Domingo that "the remains of Columbus lie in (lie city's beautiful cathedral. The story is told that Columbus' remains, by his own request, were carried from Spain to Santo Domingo. Many years later it was decided to remove them to Havana in Cuba, and later, to Seville ill Spain. Years passed by and then while repairs were being made to the Santo Domingo cathedral a leaden casket was found bearing the inscription, "Christopher Columbus. First Admiral." This inscription and other evidence suggests that Columbus' body does actually lie where he wished that it | should." Another interesting link with Columbus is the deserted site of the ancient city of Isabella, founded by the discoverer in 1493. and named for the Queen of Spain. This city did not last very long, ns the site was found to be unhealthy. To-day it is marked bv many pits dug by optimietu" seekers for buried treasure. Apart from the terrible hurricane c.f 19.'$<>. when over 2000 people were killed, Dominica's history during the past 10 years has Wen one of steady progress. The sugar production, the main reason for the Republic's prosperity, is more than 500,000 tons annually." Cocoa beans, coffee tobacco, maize and molasses are the other principal products. There is an excellent and compulsory system of education: also railways, roads and a well-trained army.