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Flag of Barbados

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Barbados
The Broken Trident
UseNational flag, civil and state ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion2:3
Adopted30 November 1966; 58 years ago (1966-11-30)
DesignA vertical triband of ultramarine (hoist-side and fly-side) and gold with the black trident-head centred on the gold band.
Designed byGrantley W. Prescod
UseNaval ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion1:2
DesignA red cross on a white field, the national flag in the canton
Barbados flag at Carifiesta 2018, Montreal

The flag of Barbados was designed by Grantley W. Prescod and was officially adopted to represent the nation of Barbados at midnight on 30 November 1966, the day the country gained independence. It was raised for the first time in a ceremony by Lieutenant Hartley Dottin of the Barbados Regiment.

History

After some time as a British colony, Barbados became part of the British Windward Islands in 1833, with the Union Jack as its official flag.[1] It was reestablished as the colony of Barbados in 1885, and remained that way until 1958; during this time, the flag of the colony consisted of a Blue Ensign which was defaced with the colonial seal.[1] From 1958 to 1962, Barbados was under the control of the West Indies Federation, who used the so-called "Sun and Seas Flag".[2] After control was retaken by the United Kingdom from 1962 to 1966, following the dissolution of the West Indies Federation, the Barbadian legislature made their case for independence.[3] Barbados became an independent nation on 30 November 1966.[3] At midnight on that day, the modern-day flag came into effect as the first official flag of an independent Barbados, and was raised for the first time in a ceremony by Lieutenant Hartley Dottin, a member of the Barbados Regiment.[3]

The design of the flag was created by Grantley W. Prescod and was chosen from an open competition arranged by the Barbados government. Over one thousand entries were received.[4]

Design

The trident symbol featured in the flag of Barbados

The flag consists of a triband of two bands of ultramarine, which are said to stand for the ocean surrounding the country and the sky, separated by a golden middle band, which represents the sand. A black trident head, commonly called the broken trident, is centred in the golden band, and the fact that the staff is missing is significant. The trident symbol was taken from Barbados' colonial badge, where the trident of Poseidon is shown with Britannia holding it. The broken lower part symbolises a symbolic break from its status as a colony.[5] The three points of the trident represent the three principles of democracy: 1) government of the people, 2) government for the people, and 3) government by the people.[6]

The official British Standard colour code numbers for the flag are: Ultramarine — BCC 148, Gold — BS O/002.[7]

Variant flags

Historical flags

Flag Duration Use Description
1870–1966 Flag of the Colony of Barbados A Blue Ensign with an emblem of Barbados.
1958–1962 Flag of the West Indies Federation Known as "Sun and Seas Flag"[2] — A blue field with four white horizontal wavy bars (the top pair of bars being parallel and the lower pair also parallel) and an orange sun in the centre.
1966–2021 Royal Standard of Barbados A bearded fig tree (with the leaves coloured blue) in the centre and a Pride of Barbados flower in each of the top corners on a yellow field. A blue disc of the letter "E" crowned surrounded by a garland of gold roses defaces the flag.
1966–2021 Standard of the Governor-General of Barbados A crowned lion standing on a crown, on a blue field, with the words "Barbados"

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of Barbados.

References

  1. ^ a b "Barbados National Flag History & Facts". Flagmakers. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Flags, Symbols & Currency of Barbados". WorldAtlas. November 30, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Independence in Barbados". Caribbean Elections. July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  4. ^ "The National Flag of Barbados". Barbados Government Information Service. 12 November 2003. Archived from the original on 28 April 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  5. ^ "The Flag of Barbados". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Barbados". Flags of the World. Retrieved July 4, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "National Emblems and National Anthem of Barbados (Regulation) Act, 1969". World Intellectual Property Organization. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
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