Flag of Barbados

The Broken Trident
	; ;
Vexillological symbol :	?
Aspect ratio:	2: 3
Officially accepted:	November 30, 1966

The flag of Barbados ( The Broken Trident ) was adopted on November 30, 1966. The flag was designed by Grantley W. Prescod . His design was selected from 1,029 submissions to a public, national competition, which was carried out by the Barbadian government.

Description and meaning

The national flag of Barbados is a tricolor in the colors of ultramarine blue, golden yellow (a shade of orange) and ultramarine blue.

In the middle is a black trident of the sea god Neptune with a broken shaft. It symbolizes the island's independence after British colonial rule and is derived from the old, colonial coat of arms. At the same time, it shows the closeness of Barbados to the sea. Each tip of the trident symbolizes one of the principles of democracy : the government of the people , for and by the people .

The color ultramarine blue symbolizes the sky (left stripe) and the ocean (right stripe), the golden color the sand of the beaches of Barbados.

history

^?Colonial flag from 1870–1966

Between 1870 and 1966, Barbados used a seal with a figure standing on a cart pulled by two seahorses and holding a trident. The trident symbolizes the rule of Great Britain over the seas. This seal can also be found on the flag that fled the British colony from 1870. The design with a blue background and Union Jack in the upper leech is the same as for British possessions.

With the independence of Barbados from the West Indian Federation in 1966, Barbados received its current flag. The trident, the old symbol of British rule, has now broken off the shaft.

Flag protocol

Waving national flag

According to the law, the national flag is to fly on public buildings and in Trafalgar Square in the capital Bridgetown every day from six in the morning to six in the evening. It can also be placed on government buildings and schools when they are open. After six in the evening, the flag may only be used inside buildings.

As a token of mourning, the flag can be raised to half-mast . The government cabinet decides on such a case.

The flag must not be set upside down, i.e. with the trident pointing downwards, with the exception of a sign of need and suffering.

When the flag is set, it must not touch the ground or any objects such as furniture, trees, buildings or vehicles.

More flags of Barbados

In British tradition, Barbados uses a flag with the St. George's Cross (red cross on a white background) and the national flag in the upper leech as the war flag at sea .

The official head of state of Barbados is the British Queen Elizabeth II. When she is in Barbados, she uses a flag with a yellow background, on which the fig tree and the two red orchids from the national coat of arms can be found. On the fig tree rests Elisabeth's personal emblem with the golden "E" and a crown on a blue background.

The Queen is represented in Barbados by the Governor General, who wears a crown with the British lion on his flag and a banner with the inscription "Barbados" on a blue background. The aspect ratio is 3: 4.

The Prime Minister of Barbados wears a diagonally divided flag in blue (lower half towards the leech) and golden yellow (upper half towards the flight section). A black and white rope runs along the dividing line, enclosing a white disc with the national coat of arms in the middle of the flag. The aspect ratio is 2: 3.