National Emblems of Trinidad & Tobago

The Coat of Arms

The Coat of Arms of Trinidad and Tobago was designed by a committee formed in 1962 to select the symbols that would be representative of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. The committee included noted artist Carlyle Chang and designer the late George Bailey.

The Coat of Arms with the accompanying motifs which represent indigenous features of Trinidad and Tobago were selected and formally agreed to be used as the Coat of Arms of Trinidad and Tobago in 1962, in a design approved by the College of Arms.

The Birds represented on the Coat of Arms of Trinidad and Tobago are the Scarlet Ibis, the Cocrico (native to Tobago) and the Hummingbird. The three ships represent the Trinity as well as the three ships of Columbus. The three Peaks were principal motifs of Trinidad's early British Colonial Seals and Flag-Badges. They commemorated both Columbus' decision to name Trinidad after the Blessed Trinity and the three Peaks of the Southern mountain range, called the "Three Sisters" on the horizon. The fruited Coconut Palm dates back to the great seals of British Colonial Tobago in the days when the Island was a separate administrative unit.

Our Motto: Together we aspire, Together we achieve" - speaks for itself and promotes harmony in diversity for national achievement.

Arms: Per chevron enhanced sable and gules a chevrenel enhanced argent between a chief two Humming birds respectant gold and in base three ships of the period of Christopher Columbus also gold the sails set proper.

Crest: Upon a Wreath argent and gules in front of a Palm Tree proper a ship's wheel gold.

Supporters: Upon a Compartment representing two Islands arising from the sea, on the dexter side a Scarlet Ibis and on the sinister side a Cocrico, both proper and with wings elevated and addorsed.
Emblems found on our National Coat of Arms are:

NATIONAL BIRDS
Our National Birds are the Scarlet Ibis and the Cocrico (Tobago Pheasant). The Scarlet Ibis is the larger bird representing Trinidad and the Cocrico, the smaller, represents Tobago.

THREE SHIPS
The three ships on the shield represent Christopher Columbus' fleet of the Santa Maria, Nina and Pinta when he discovered the island in 1498.

HUMMING BIRDS
The humming birds have been included for sentimental reasons. It's said that more species of humming bird are found in T&T T than any other country in the world, and that early inhabitants of Trinidad called Trinidad Iere or Caire, which means the Land of the Humming Bird.

THREE MOUNTAIN PEAKS
Three peaks remind us that Columbus named Trinidad after the Trinity when he spotted the three mountain peaks called three sisters or Trinity Hills.

WATER
The water surrounding the peaks represent the cradle of our heritage - the trough which forms the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

HELMET
The gold helmet crowned with wreaths represents sovereign power.The coconut tree with the ship's wheel is taken from the old Coat of Arms of Tobago, known as the Great Seals of Tobago.

MOTTO
Our Motto, "Together we aspire, together we achieve", is the hope of a people for a better life to be achieved through cooperation and working together to build a better nation.

NATIONAL FLOWER
The National Flower, the Chaconia, is sometimes called Wild Poinsettia. It is known as the Pride of Trinidad.

The National Coat of Arms can be seen on the obverse side of any Trinidad and Tobago coin.

The National Flag

The national flag was designed by the Independence Committee and selected to be used as the National Flag in 1962. Its colours are Red, White and Black.

Red is the colour most expressive of our country. It represents the vitality of the land and its people; it is the warmth and energy of the sun, the courage and friendliness of the people.
White is the sea by which these lands are bound: the cradle of our heritage; the purity of our aspirations and the equality of all men under the sun.
The Black represents for us the dedication of the people joined together by one strong bond. It is the colour of strength, of unity, of purpose and of the wealth of the land. The colours chosen represent the elements Earth, Water and Fire which encompass all our past, present and future and inspire us as one united, vital, free and dedicated people.

Description of the National Flag of Trinidad and Tobago: On a Red Field, a Bend Dexter Sable bordered Silver, that is to say, there is on the Red Field a diagonal from left to right in Black bordered with White. The width of the Black and White bands joined side by side at the upper dexter corner of the Flag is on one- fifth of the full length of the Flag, and the width of each White band is one-sixth of the width of the White and Black bands together.

The National Flower



The national flower, the Chaconia, (Warszewiczia Coccinea (Vahl) Kl.), called "Wild Poinsettia" or "Pride of Trinidad and Tobago", is a flaming red forest flower of the family Rubianceae. The title is in honor of the last Spanish Governor of Trinidad and Tobago Don Jose Maria Chacon. This flower, which is known by its long sprays of magnificent vermillion, will be in bloom on every anniversary of our Independence. As an indigenous flower it has been witness to our entire history. It can therefore be said to represent the imperishably of life and the continuity of our Nation. With its colour matching the flaming red of our Flag and Coat of Arms and bearing the same symbolism, the Chaconia harmonizes with the other national Emblems.

The National Birds


THE SCARLET IBIS (Tantalus Ruber) - is found in the Caroni Swamp, Central Trinidad. This beautiful bird is brown when young and its color changes to red when it is mature.


THE COCRICO (Rufus Tailed Guan) is a native of Tobago and Venezuela but is not found in Trinidad. It is the only game bird on the island and is referred to as the Tobago Pheasant. It is about the size of a common fowl, brownish in colour with a long tail. They go about in flocks of about six (6) and their quaint calls can be heard especially on early morning and late evenings. Both birds are protected by law.

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

Forged from the love of liberty,
In the fires of hope and prayer,
With boundless faith in our Destiny,
We solemnly declare,
Side by side we stand,
Islands of the blue Caribbean Sea,
This our Native Land,
We pledge our lives to Thee,
Here every creed and race finds an equal place,
And may God bless our Nation,
Here every creed and race finds an equal place,
And may God bless our Nation.

Patrick S. Castagne composed the words and music of the National Anthem in 1962. The words of the National Anthem reflect the nature and the strength of the people of Trinidad and Tobago our courage as one nation working towards living in unity despite our diversity. The National Anthem should be accorded the respect due to it when played, and on no occasion should it be treated with scant courtesy. When the Anthem is being played all persons should pay respect to it by standing to attention. Men in civilian dress should remove their headdress. Commissioned Officers of the Armed Forces, Gazetted Officers of the Police Service, Cadet Force Officers and Officers of the Fire Services, Prisons Service, St John Ambulance Brigade, Red Cross Society, Boy Scouts Association and Girl Guides Association, in uniform are to salute. All other ranks and all other persons are to stand to attention.

One of his compositions, called “A Song for the Islands“, was submitted to the West Indies Federation as a possible anthem. He was not successful in his bid, but when the federation collapsed, he changed the line “Hands joined across the sea“ to the onewe now know “Islands of the blue Caribbean Sea“ and resubmmitted the song to Trinidad and Tobago. It was accepted as and has remained our national anthem.

Prepared by: The Ministry of Public Administration And Information



THE INDEPENDENCE PLEDGE

By: Marjorie Padmore

I solemnly pledge
To dedicate my life
To the service of my God
And my country.
I will honour
My parents, my teachers,
My leaders and my elders
And those in authority.
I will be Clean and honest
In all my thoughts,
My words and my deeds.
I will strive In everything I do
To work together with my fellowmen
Of every creed and race
For the greater happiness of all
And the honour and glory
Of my country.

Courtesy The Ministry of Public Administration and Information

 The National Instrument


The steelpan is a musical instrument indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago. Its early evolution dates back to the 1930's and 40's. Traditionally made from a steel drum or container, it is a definite percussion instrument in the idophone class. The playing surface is divided into convex sections by channels, grooves and/or bores, and each convex section is a note tuned to a definite pitch. The range and assortment of today's instruments make it possible to execute from the simplest of melodies to the most complex arrangements found in orchestration.