Flag of Dominica

Dominica

Use	Civil and state flag
Proportion	1:2
Adopted	November 3, 1978
Design	A green field with a central cross of three bands (the vertical part is yellow, black and white and the horizontal part is yellow, black and white) and a red disk superimposed at the center of the cross bearing a Sisserou parrot in the center encircled by ten green five-pointed stars
Designed by	Alwin Bully

The flag of Dominica was adopted on November 3, 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]

History and design

The flag, adopted in 1978, features the national bird emblem, the sisserou parrot, which also appears on the coat of arms 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 native Indians, 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 social 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 the only flag of a sovereign state to include the colour. However, the flag of Nicaragua features a rainbow and therefore, violet.

Historical designs

Flag used between 1978–81

Flag used between 1981–88

Flag used between 1988–90

References

1. "Today is Flag Day in Dominica". Dominica News Online. 2011-10-19. Retrieved 2014-12-18.
2. "Amazona imperialis", The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved September 12, 2014.

External links

• Dominica at Flags of the World
• Dominica - Colonial Flags at Flags of the World