Today is being observed as Flag Day in Dominica. As part of the celebrations, a Flag Day Motorcade was organized by the Commonwealth of Dominica Cultural Division.
A number of students from various schools across the island were spotted in large groups flying the Dominica Flag. Flag Day was instituted by the Cultural Division as part of Independence Celebrations in order for the population to display and give recognition to the flag.
The flag is one of Dominica’s symbols of nationhood and national identity. It is the product of the recent design of November 3, 1988.
The flag consists of a circular emblem of red bearing a blue-chested Sisserou Parrot standing on a twig. The parrot which must always face the flag pole, is encircled by ten lime-green stars. The ten stars are outlined in yellow. This is superimposed by three vertical and three horizontal stripes of yellow, black, and white forming a triple-colored cross against a general background of forest green. Each symbol and color seen on the flag has a specific meaning and purpose.
The first official version of Dominica’s flag was officially revealed on November 3, 1978, at the Government headquarters. It was designed by the late cultural icon, Dr. Alwin Bully for a flag competition held earlier that year. Whereas most flags have a maximum of four colors, Dominica’s national flag has eight which makes it more complex and expensive to produce.
Dominicans at home and abroad are encouraged to display their flags throughout the day.
Here’s what I found:
(1) Sisserou parrot = a symbol of flight toward greater heights and fulfillment of aspiration. (2) The ten lime green stars = traditional symbol of hope –represent the ten parishes of the country, each equal, thus the equality of our people. (3) The red central emblem = Dominica’s commitment to social justice. (4) The yellow, black and white stripes from a triple coloured cross = the Trinity of God. (5) The cross = belief in God. (6) The yellow stripe = the sunshine of our land, our main agricultural produce: Citrus and Bananas; and is also a symbol of the Carib and Arawak people, the first inhabitants of the Island. (7) The White stripe = rthe clarity of our rivers and waterfalls and the purity of aspiration of our people. (8) The black stripe = the rich black soil of our island on which our agriculture is based as well as our African heritage. (9) The general background of dark green = our rich verdant forest and the general lushness…
Thank you!
Flag day in Dominica has lost its value because Skerrit has our flag in all kinds of pigpen in the Middle East. Not long we saw Dominica flag flying in the Middle East on oil tankers that were sanctioned by the free world. Then recently we saw our flag in supper markets in Dubai as they were selling our passports to wanted criminals. No wonder I saw very few flags in town today
Where in the world can we find the original flag, I know for a fact that’s not a Sisserou parrot on that flag eh
Each symbol and colour has a meaning. For those of us that do not know, what are the meanings?