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Flag of Dominica

Not to be confused with Flag of the Dominican Republic.
Commonwealth of Dominica
UseCivil and state flag 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
Adopted3 November 1978 (last modified 3 November 1990)
DesignA green field with the centred cross of three bands: the vertical part is: yellow, black and white and the horizontal part is: yellow, black and white and the red disk superimposed at the centre of the cross bearing a purple Sisserou Parrot facing the hoist-side encircled by ten green five-pointed stars.
Designed byAlwin Bully
UsePresidential Standard
DesignA green field with the coat of arms of Dominica at the centre
Building in Roseau with flag

The national flag of Dominica was adopted on 3 November 1978, with some small changes having been made in 1981, 1988, and 1990. The original flag was designed by playwright Alwin Bully in early 1978 as the country prepared for independence.[1]

It is one of the few flags of sovereign states to contain purple.

History and design

The flag, adopted in 1978, features the national bird emblem, the sisserou parrot (Amazona imperialis), which also appears on the coat of arms of Dominica as two supporters in the achievement, granted on 21 July 1961. This parrot, endemic to Dominica, is an endangered species with a population of only 250–350 individuals.[2]

The green field represents the lush vegetation of the island. The cross represents the Trinity and Christianity, with its three colours symbolising the natives, the fertile soil, and the pure water. The 10 green five-pointed stars stand for the country's 10 parishes: (St Andrew, St David, St George, St John, St Joseph, St Luke, St Mark, St Patrick, St Paul, and St Peter), while the red disc stands for justice.

The sisserou parrot is sometimes coloured either blue or purple (the parrot's actual colour). The use of purple makes the flag of Dominica one of the few flags of sovereign states to contain the colour.

The flag of Dominica, along with other national symbols, was the focus of a government-sponsored "Emblems Week" in 2016. An initiative of the independence committee, Emblems Week is aimed at reflecting on the meaning of the national emblems, and promoting their use among members of the general public and particularly among the country's schools.[3]

Historical designs

Flag Use Description
Flag used 1493–1500 Flag of Castile and León
Flag used 1500–16
Flag used 1516–1627 Flag of Spain
Flag used 1627–35 Flag of England
Flag used 1635–60 Flag of France
Flag used 1715–63 and 1778–84
Flag used 1763–78 and 1784–1801 The Union Jack
Flag used 1801–75
Flag used 1875–1940 Flag of the British Leeward Islands
Flag used 1875–1940 Flag of the governor of Leeward Islands
Flag used 1940–53 Flag of the British Windward Islands
Flag used 1940–53 Flag of the governor-in-chief of the British Windward Islands
Flag used 1953–58 Flag of the British Windward Islands
Flag used 1953–58 Flag of the governor-in-chief of the British Windward Islands
Flag used 1955–65
Flag used 1958–62 Flag of the West Indies Federation
Flag used 1965–78
Flag used 1965–78 Flag of the governor of Dominica
Flag used 1978–81
Flag used 1981–88
Flag used 1988–90
Flag used 1990–present A green field with the centred cross of three bands: the vertical part is: yellow, black and white and the horizontal part is: yellow, black and white and the red disk superimposed at the centre of the cross bearing a purple Sisserou Parrot facing the hoist-side encircled by ten green five-pointed stars.

References

  1. ^ "Today is Flag Day in Dominica". Dominica News Online. 19 October 2011. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  2. ^ "Amazona imperialis" Archived 2014-09-13 at the Wayback Machine, The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  3. ^ Dominica, GIS. "Dominica Observes First Ever 'Emblems Week'". www.news.gov.dm. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
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