Barbados is an island nation in the Caribbean, located in the West Indies. It is part of the Lesser Antilles group . The closest neighbors are the Grenadines, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent. This is not just one of the most popular destinations in tourism, but also a leader among developing countries in literacy and living standards.
Flag of Barbados: photos
The flag has a rectangular shape and is vertically divided into 3 stripes. The proportions of the parties are 2: 3. On the right and left sides are stripes of blue, in the center - yellow. Also in the middle is a black trident.
Blue stripes symbolize the sea, and yellow stripes symbolize sandy land. The black trident is a symbol of democracy, the government of Barbados. Also, the trident symbolizes the sea god - Neptune. There is a version that his image is connected with the colonial history of Great Britain. In the past, this country was nicknamed the "mistress of the seas", and the trident was the emblem of the empire.
State flag design
The flag of the state of Barbados was officially approved in 1966 after a national competition was announced. The authors of the design were Advena Kendall, Grantley Prescode and Karl Brudhagen.
Grantley Prescode, who taught painting, argued that the stripes of blue and yellow on the flag symbolized the deep blue sea and golden sand surrounding the island nation. Designers could not help but pay tribute to the old national symbol, which is why the flag of Barbados retained the trident, symbolizing the gap between the state and its colonial past. In addition, the trident reflects the importance of the sea to the state.
Barbados Flag History
An English colony was founded on the island in 1625. Then the first flag of Barbados appeared, which was blue, with the "Union Jack" at the pole and the emblem in the free section. In 1870, it was officially approved. The emblem was in the form of a beautiful woman in a long dress and with a trident in her hands. She stood in the sink and swam across the sea, accompanied by "sea horses." The entire emblem was inscribed in a circle, under which the signature of Barbados is located. A blue flag with an emblem was used until 1966.
From 1958-1962, Barbados was an integral part of the West Indies, which also had its own national symbols. In 1966, the West Indies as a federation ceased to exist, and Barbados gained independence within the framework of the British Commonwealth. The Constitution of the state was approved.
Barbados does not have a naval force, but coast guard vessels serve and defend the island. The coast guard has its own white flag with a red cross located centrally, and the flag of Barbados is depicted in the canton. The canvas resembles the symbolism of the Navy and has an aspect ratio of 1: 2. The width of the red cross is equal to 1/8 of the width of the canvas.
The Queen of England is the official head of state. It has its own standard since 1975. However, the power of the queen is nominal. The state is governed by a governor who represents the interests of the queen and the country.