The President, apart from his duties prescribed by the Constitution, fulfils a busy schedule, receiving High Commissioners and Ambassadors when they present their letters of Credence. He is visited by representatives of local voluntary organisations, attends special services of religious denominations, offers hospitality, visits schools, and attends cultural activities and other functions. He extends his patronage, when requested, to national charitable and voluntary organisations or to functions arranged in aid of charity.

The President, as a Constitutional Head of State should always maintain the dignity of the Office. He and his wife are entitled to certain privileges and courtesies.

He is styled His Excellency and his wife as Mrs. [surname]. He retains the right of precedence in all circumstances, although he may, as a matter of courtesy, waive this in certain cases. His personal standard (or flag) is flown by day and night on any residence where he is living and may, at his option be flown on certain other buildings when he is actually present.

Certain rules of protocol have grown up in connection with his public activities and the performance of his duties.

The following are a few fundamental rules pertaining to the President and his wife, for guidance:-

1. General
   
   
   1. Invitations to the President or his wife should always be sent in the form of a letter written to the President’s Secretary. It is not correct to send only a printed invitation card. This of course does not apply to private invitations sent to His Excellency or his wife by their families or close personal friends.
      
      
   2. The President or his wife should not be invited to adjudicate in competitions, nor should his wife be asked to assist in selling tickets for charity or raffles. It is embarrassing for persons who either do not desire to purchase a ticket, or perhaps cannot afford one, to have to refuse the President’s wife.
      
      
   3. The President and his wife do not accord interviews to the Press or to representatives of commercial organizations, magazines etc.
      
      
   4. When citizens of Dominica are nearing their 100th Birthday or the Celebration of their Diamond Wedding anniversary, early notification of the fact should be sent to the President’s Secretary if official recognition of the event is desired. Supporting evidence in the form of a birth, baptismal and/or marriage certificate must be made available.
      
      
   5. On occasions when the President or his wife is asked to present Certificates, Diplomas, Awards, Prizes etc. arrangements must be made for a suitable person (preferably of senior rank), to escort them from their seats to the area where the presentations are to be made, and to escort them back to their seats afterwards.
      
      
2. On Entertaining the President
   
   
   1. The President should be met at the door of a building (outside, weather permitting) by the President or Chairman of the Organization, or a senior officer.
      
      
   2. In being presented to the President and his wife by the Aide-de-Camp, or President, Chairman, etc. gentlemen precede their wives.

      This applies to both public and private functions.

   3. If His Excellency is in a receiving line other than at his own reception, the line-up should be host, His Excellency, His Excellency’s wife, host lady. The ADC will gladly assist with the announcing of names if this is required by the host.
      
      
   4. The President always goes first down a corridor, through a door or entering an elevator or car.
      
      The one exception is the president’s ADC, who precedes him to make sure all is in readiness.
      
      
   5. When entering a private home, the President and his wife are greeted by the host and hostess at the door. The host greets the President, presents his wife to the President, they then greet the President’s wife.
      
      
   6. A speaker at dinner or other function addresses the Chairman first “Mr. Chairman", “Your Excellency and Mrs. [Surname].
      
      
   7. The Dominica National Anthem is played when the President reaches his place on a platform or at a table as a matter of courtesy, and just before he sits, not as he enters the room. All should rise during his entrance. This may be followed by a prayer or grace. The President may then be seated.
   8. At a dinner or reception of any size, the President is served first, his wife second.
      
      
   9. If there is a large head table the President and his wife, and the host and hostess, should enter the dining area last. Order in entering the dining room is the ADC preceding His Excellency and the host. At a large formal dinner His Excellency should sit on the right of the Chairman of that dinner, and His Excellency’s wife on the left of the Chairman.
      
      
   10. It is preferable that any remarks by the President should be made early in the programme.
       
       
   11. When the President, preceded by the ADC, leaves a dinner or other function, the guests stand until the President and his party have withdrawn.

       When the President arrives to attend a public function, he is met at the door of the building by the senior official of the organisation concerned, or his deputy, should the senior official be engaged in other NECESSARY duties – for instance, receiving guests if it is a large function or awaiting His Excellency’s arrival in a special room with certain distinguished guests.

       While the President should have been informed of the name of the official meeting him, it is the duty of the ADC to introduce the official and his wife, (should she be present) to the President, then to the President’s wife.

       On occasions when the President visits an exhibition or similar function, a senior official must always be in attendance until he leaves.

   12. At a dinner or luncheon the ADC should sit at a table immediately in front of the President in order to be available if required.
       
       
   13. The President, as Head of State, sits on the right of the Chairman, regardless of the fact that there may be a “Guest Speaker" (titled or otherwise) or other distinguished guest. Where possible His Excellency’s wife should be seated on the left of the Chairman, however, if there is a guest speaker she may be moved further to the left. She should never sit on the right of His Excellency.
       
       
3. Attendance at Church Services

   The President and his wife should arrive at the door of the church five (5) minutes before the commencement of the service. It is customary that he be greeted either by a member to the Clergy or by some other suitable church official. The party proceeds to the front right-hand pew in the following order:

   1. ADC and Church official
      
      
   2. The President and his wife

   The ADC stands at attention beside the entrance to the pew. The President’s wife enters first, then the President, the ADC sitting on the aisle seat.

   The congregation rises when the President enters, and remains standing after the service until the party has withdrawn in the same order as when entering. The Clergy and church officials should be at the door to say goodbye.

   When the President is at a service attended by any group such as the Police Service, Scouts an guides etc he will probably be invited to take the salute at the March Pass after the service, but an invitation to be present at the service is also extended by the Minister of the church.

The procedure should be:-

The President and his wife attended by his ADC, are met at the church door 5 minutes before the hour of the ceremony (and just before the entrance of the bride’s mother, who enters last) by the Chief Usher, and are escorted to the first right-hand pew.

Procession down the Aisle:
ADC
President and Usher
President’s wife.

Guests should rise when the President enters the Church and of course will be standing as his party withdraw, as they follow immediately after the bridal party and before the other guests.

If they attend the reception, the President and wife are received first. On arrival at the place of the reception the President and his wife are met by a member of the family or close friend and looked after during their stay. They customarily leave after the toast to the bride. The President does not propose such a toast, except under very unusual circumstances.

Arrangements are made with a member of the family or an official representing the group in charge, as well as undertaker. The President occupies the front left-hand pew and is attended by his ADC.

The immediate family would normally be placed in the front pew on the right.

The President should arrive five minutes before the casket in order to be met by the officiating clergy.

The President will not normally go to the cemetery.

If the casket is carried out at the end of the service, the members of the family of the deceased should follow immediately after the casket. The President comes next.

Representation of the President at Funerals

An ADC may be requested to represent the President at a funeral. If he is a uniformed officer he should conform to the following:-

1. Service dress, with medals, aiguillettes, and mourning band should be worn to the service;
   
   
2. At the service the ADC will sit in the first row on the left, and will leave following the chief mourners (he assumes the President’s precedence). The ADC will not follow the procession to the cemetery.

This is the only occasion on which the President is “represented" at any function, although requests may come from time to time that this be done. The President does not act as an Honorary pall bearer at a funeral.

Attendance at funerals of relations or friends of great intimacy is of course a personal matter and no ADC attends the President, but proper arrangements for seating should nevertheless be made with a member of the family and the undertaker.

The President will ride in the right-hand rear seat. Next to the President, his wife and the Aide’s wife on the left-rear side.

The ADC will ride in the let front seat. There are no exceptions to this rule.

The doors of the vehicle should be held open by the ADC and Orderly. The Aide’s wife enters the car by the left-rear door.

The President must always get out of the right-hand side of the car.

Immediately after the President leaves the car his ensign (flag) should be furled.

When entering the car the President’s companion should enter first NOT go around the car to enter on the left-hand side.

The President always arranges to arrive at a function in time. The established protocol is that all persons attending a function, at which the President is in attendance, are expected to arrive before and to be in their place before his arrival. Failure to do so without a reasonably good excuse, is regarded as a sign of disrespect to the Office of President and ultimately to the people of the Commonwealth of Dominica, whom he represents.