Flag of Barbados

What the flag means

According to the Parliament of Barbados, the blue is the sea and sky and the gold is the sand of the island's beaches. The trident comes from the old colonial seal, where it belonged to the sea god Neptune. Its shaft is broken to mark Barbados's break with its past as a colony.

History

Before independence the government held an open competition, and a panel of seven judges chose the entry of Grantley W. Prescod, an art teacher, from 1,029 designs. Lieutenant Hartley Dottin of the Barbados Regiment raised the flag for the first time when Barbados became independent on 30 November 1966. It replaced a British Blue Ensign carrying the colonial seal.

Prescod made the first flags himself at the request of Prime Minister Errol Barrow, about seven of them, from fabric bought at a department store.

Earlier flags of Barbados

1. 1885–1966British Blue Ensign with the colonial seal of Barbados