Flag of Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago

Name	Flag of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago The Sun-Sea-Sand Banner
Use	National flag
Proportion	3:5
Adopted	31 August 1962
Design	A red field with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side
Variant flag of Trinidad and Tobago
Name	Civil ensign of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Use	Civil and state ensign
Proportion	1:2
Design	Red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side
Variant flag of Trinidad and Tobago
Name	Naval ensign of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Use	Naval ensign
Proportion	1:2

The flag of Trinidad and Tobago was adopted upon independence from the United Kingdom on 31 August 1962. Designed by Carlisle Chang (1921–2001),^[1][2][3] the flag was chosen by the independence committee of 1962. Red, black and white symbolize fire (the sun, representing courage), earth (representing dedication) and water (representing purity and equality).^[4]

Design

Trinidadian flags flying at the University of the West Indies in Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

The flag of Trinidad and Tobago is red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side. In blazon, Gules, a bend Sable fimbriated Argent.

Construction

The flag of Trinidad and Tobago flying at the San Fernando Hill, San Fernando in July 2009.

The width of the white stripes is ¹⁄₃₀ of the flag length and the width of the black stripe is ²⁄₁₅. The total width of the three stripes together is therefore ¹⁄₅ of the length.^[5]

Other flags

The civil ensign is the national flag in a 1:2 ratio. The naval ensign (used by coast guard vessels) is a British white ensign with the national flag in the canton.

• 

  Presidential Standard

• 

  Prime Minister's Standard

• 

  Royal Standard of Trinidad and Tobago (1966–1976)

British colonial flag

Prior to independence from the United Kingdom in August 1962, Trinidad and Tobago used a British blue ensign defaced with a circular badge depicting a ship arriving in front of a mountain.

• 

  Colonial flag of Trinidad and Tobago (1889-1962)

Similar flags

• 

  Flag of Sealand

• 

  Flag of Barotseland

• 

  Diver down flag

See also

• Flag of the West Indies Federation (January 1958 – May 1962)

References

1. "Carlisle Chang", Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
2. "National flag of Trinidad and Tobago - Carlisle Chang", YouTube.
3. Carlisle Chang biography, NALIS.
4. Trinidad and Tobago government website
5. Flagspot