Page 41 - (DK) Complete Flags of the World

North America

St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Ratio: 2:3 Adopted: October 12, 1985 Usage: National and Civil

Green represents the
Blue recalls the sky
islands’ abundant
vegetation

Yellow represents
sunshine

The “Gems of
the Antilles”

North America
St. Vincent was occupied by the British in 1762.
ST. VINCENT
& THE It achieved independence in 1979, together with
GRENADINES
the Grenadines, a chain of adjacent islands.
The basic design and colors of the A NEW NATIONALFLAG
flag date from the flag hoisted on After a local competition failed to
the day of independence in 1979. It produce a satisfactory design, the
had the arms of the islands placed problem was submitted to a Swiss
on a stylized breadfruit leaf in the graphic artist who suggested what is
center. Its blue, yellow, and green now the current design. In this, the
stripes were derived from the “V” formed by the diamonds stands
common colors of the flags assigned for St. Vincent, and the diamonds
to the Associated States by the represent its local sobriquet the
College of Arms. The breadfruit “Gems of the Antilles.”
recalled the British introduction of
the breadfruit tree into the ARMS OF ST. VINCENT
Caribbean from the South Seas. The coat of arms was first introduced
Although this first flag was in 1912. It depicts two women, one
designed by a local islander, the standing holding an olive branch, the
design did not please all the people of other kneeling to represent peace and
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and, justice, which is the national motto—
in 1985, moves were made to secure “Pax, Justitia.” This appears on a
a new design. scroll at the base.

37