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CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE 2016
The Golden Arrowhead At the stroke of midnight on May 25, 1966, Guyana’s Golden Arrowhead was hoisted as the British Union Jack was lowered – a symbol of nationhood. Designed by American vexillologist Whitney Smith, Guyana’s National Flag has five symbolic colours: green, white, gold, black and red. Green is a representation of the country’s massive forest cover ranging from the dry evergreen and seasonal forests to montane and lowland evergreen rain forests, not forgetting it’s rich agricultural prospects. White symbolises the rivers and water potential of the country, the golden arrow is an emblem of Guyana’s mineral wealth and black portrays the endurance that will sustain the forward thrust of the Guyanese people. Red, on the other hand, stands to remind Guyanese of the zeal and sacrificial nature of nation-building. However, Smith’s original design of the flag was primarily red with a green hoist triangle and a stylised yellow arrowhead. Guyanese reversed the green and red and added a black fimbriation (narrow border) to the triangle and one of white to the arrowhead to make it their own.
Coat of Arms The National Coat of Arms is another symbol that is exceptional in Guyana’s history dating back to February, 1966 when it was accepted into the House of Assembly. It was Alvin Bowman, Stanley Greaves and L.R. Borrows who had created the masterpiece. It is constructed with a white shield bordered on the sides by jaguars, an Amerindian Headdress at the top, and the country’s motto inscribed on a red and gold ribbon at the bottom The Amerindian Headdress also known as the “Cacique’s Crown” is a representation of the contributions made by the Indigenous People who were the first to inhabit this dear land. The diamonds affixed on the two sides of the Head-Dress represent the country’s mining industry. The third is a monarchial emblem – the Helmet – which serves as a reminder that Guyana was a colony ruled by a Queen. The two jaguars – one holding a pick-axe and the other a stalk of the rice and sugar cane represent the two major agricultural crops – sugar and rice – and the labour of the Guyanese people. The white shield, which is decorated with the National Flower – the Victoria Regia Lily, – is a representation of the country’s defense while the three blue wavy lines represent the many waters of Guyana. The Canje Pheasant, the National Bird, at the bottom of the shield represents a rare bird found principally in this part of the world and also the rich fauna of Guyana. Last, but not least, is the national motto on the ribbon, “ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE DESTINY”, a slogan meant to represent the unity of the various races and regions of the country.