Economy of Scotts Head Village

Local Government was introduced to Dominica over 100 years ago as part of a system of political decentralization used by the British to administer the island. From origins in the late 19th Century with two municipal boards, the Roseau Town Board in 1869 and the Portsmouth Town Board, either in the late 1800’s or the early 1900’s, Local Authorities in Dominica have evolved to their present number, forty-one (41).

These comprise three (3) municipal Councils, the Roseau City Council, the Portsmouth Town Council and the Canefield Urban Council. There are also the Carib Council and thirty-seven (37) Village Councils. Each of these councils were established under different circumstances over the one hundred (100) years of Local Government existence in Dominica.

The Roseau and Portsmouth Councils comprise thirteen members, eight of whom are elected and five appointed by the Minister for Local Government. They serve a term of three years. The Carib Council has a five year tem. It is composed of seven elected members including the Carib Chief for whom separate elections are held. The Canefield Urban and Village Councils serve for three years at a time. They comprise eight members each; five are elected and three are appointed by the Minister.

This Council is the oldest unit in the system. It goes back to 1896, and to the establishment of the Roseau Town Board. Dominica was under direct British rule as part of the Leeward Islands Federation at the time. Its affairs, along with that of the other states in that union, were administered by a Governor. This was before the island had Universal Adult Suffrage, so appointment to the Board by popular elections was not yet practiced. The entire Board was appointed by the Governor.

The