Today is Flag Day in Dominica

As part of the upcoming Independence Day celebration, today is being observed as Flag Day or Jounen Dwapo across the island.

The flag we know today is the product of recent design as of November 3, 1988.

According to lennoxhoneychurch.com, Dominica’s flag was originally designed by artist and playwright Alwin Bully in early 1978 in preparation for the gaining of independence from Britain later that year however cabinet made certain small alterations to the original design.

Dominica’s flag was legally established by Act No. 18 of 1978 of The National Emblems of Dominica Act which was signed by the then Governor, Sir Louis Cools-Lartigue on October 31,  1978. It was Gazetted on November 1, 1978 and became effective on November 3, that same year.

Dominica’s flag has a green background representing the forested island. A cross, made up of three bands representing “the Trinity of God” is white, black and yellow in colour, and the cross itself “demonstrates belief in God”.

Dominicans at home and abroad are encouraged to display their flags throughout the day.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT DOMINICA’S FLAG

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50 Comments

  1. dominican canadian
    October 20, 2011

    most beautiful flag in the whole world

  2. Adult ED
    October 19, 2011

    From reading up on the Flag I can understand the need to downplay the European influence given that it was uninvited or unwelcome and they are more so known for their involvement with slavery. Furthermore the African population is the majority. However the cross representing the supremacy of God still depict European influence since they are the ones who brought their God (with the likeness/image we still accept)and church which Dominica is still very much connected too today. Not to mention the designer Alwin Bully has some European relations. So in the end if the objective was to remove the European influence it has merely reduce the European importance slightly because their influence is all over that flag.

  3. D/CAN TO THE BONE
    October 19, 2011

    IN MY OPINION WE HAVE THE BEST DESIGNED FLAG IN THE CARIBBEAN.I FEEL SO PROUD TO BE FROM THE NATURE ISLE.EVEN ON MY JOB IN THE USA I FLY THIS FLAG.PEOPLE ALWAYS QUESTION ME ABOUT MY FLAG AND COUNTRY AND OH!WHAT A GOOD FEELING TO TELL THEM OF THE NATURE ISLE. AM AWAY FROM DOMINICA,BUT DOMINICA IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE IN ME.PROUD TO BE DOMINICAN

  4. bullcrop
    October 19, 2011

    you can put all the thumbs down but i didnot see not one vehicle in town flying the chinese flag!and that saying alot!

  5. hmm
    October 19, 2011

    2day is flag day nuh? if it wasn’t for dno i would never know

  6. zengleden deplacee
    October 19, 2011

    congrates

  7. DANZIGER
    October 19, 2011

    My flag is on my head. Every day i make a head piece with my flag I am proud to be a dominican one love.

    • One Love
      October 20, 2011

      8-O enjoy your boolow; – I respect those whose flag is in their heart FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY – NOT – corruption

  8. Josette
    October 19, 2011

    Isle of beauty, Isle of Splendor…

  9. mariecherie
    October 19, 2011

    dno u guys need to check the chinese version of our flag they change the colours to suit their pockets its an abomination to us the government need to do something about that.they have the parrot in white and green and the stars in yellow and green we cant change the chinese flag so why are they changing ours?

  10. RMA
    October 19, 2011

    I am proud to be Dominican and I always fly my Dominican Flag every where I go. Today should be a day of pride, joy and celebration yet some people can’t leave politics alone. They eat, drink, sleep and wake politics. Shame on you all. I love my country and I know God is watching over Dominica. No matter what, we are a blessed country and I thank God for all our natural resources, our talented and intelligent people, our culture and for making Dominica one of the most beautiful country in the world. HAPPY 33RD INDEPENDENCE DOMINICA. I LOVE YOU TO THE BONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. sorry
    October 19, 2011

    :cry:

    my child had to take a flag to school today and the only flag i could find at 7:40am was at a chinee store… (no other store was opened!!!) i could not wait till 8:00am and thus had to buy this man’s flag with a white parrot!

    Mr. PM why you allowing the chinese to import a flag that is not ours to sell to us?

    By 1:00pm when i picked up my child, the flag had already unstuck from the pole and she told me “mammy that is not our flag, i throwing that.”

    i felt i was wrong to buy the child the wrong flag in the first place but what choice did i have?

  12. MangoSweet
    October 19, 2011

    Has Flag Day lost its fluttering? I recall when we had the first Flag Day a few years ago, how three days before the official flag day rank-and-file Dominicans were flying the national flag. On store fronts, from vehicles, verandahs, etc. While the schools may host big flag-day events, and bneed tobe applauded for that, one could not see flags while going through the city today, like we did back in 2006.

  13. zamm zlengleden
    October 19, 2011

    The flag day is indeed a good initiative geared towards deep rooted patriotism. Patriotism should be a way of life and ought to be instilled in the lives of every citizen of the state. Dominicans should be patriotic everyday of the years and not on a seasonal basis. Patriots should stand for the words of the National anthem and the national pledge in an uncompromising way. Flag day should try to re enforce what makes one Dominican! What defines being Dominican! How Dominicans ought to conduct themselves home and abroad! The flag Day must not become a moment of beautifying the country- which is very important- but should raise the self esteem and self worth of Dominican in every sphere of live.Happy Flag day to all and Never forget that everyday is Flag day: green, yelllow, white, black, red and the other colors must be kept flying high in the hearts and minds of Every Dominican irrespective of ethnic grouping, political affiliation, or religious beliefs

  14. Governance
    October 19, 2011

    The flag. With regards to the different colours of the flag. It is most unfortunate that there are so many varying colours of the flag and frankly, the Ministry of Community Development is responsible for ensuring that the flag is as is expected. We cannot blame Ministers of Government, the Permanent Secretary is responsible for the proper representation of the flag. Again, Dominicans are also to be blamed, because we purchase the unrepresentative flags and we consistently blame someone else.

    There are reputable companies that manufacture flags. No one can carry or sell the flag of The Bahamas if it is not a true representation of the official flag.

    We show little respect to our flag: flags have the wrong colour, the parrot is positioned the incorrect way; flags are dragged on the ground; the flag covers our behind; we make head scarves with the flag; dirty, worn out and torn flags are flown on cars. So we should not only blame merchants who sell the inappropriate flags, we as Dominica should take more pride with our flag and others will know that they must sell us the approved flags.

    Before flag day, we should be reminded of how to treat our flag. So we should blame those who teach civics, the Civil Servants in the Ministry of Community Development and ourselves first before we blame the merchants.

    To end, the authorities should review the purpose of flag day and put restrictions on the use of the flag.

  15. WIKILEAKS
    October 19, 2011

    LOVE MY FLAG!!! GO DA GO !!!

  16. Patriot!!
    October 19, 2011

    Obviously people the flag that’s being depicted here is not an official flag of Dominica.

    The color of the parrot is off and the stars are missing the yellow borders.

    The reality is our flag has more color combinations that the average flag, thus
    making it very difficult to reproduce.

    The biggest irk for me is that nobody seems to get the green right. It’s FOREST green people NOT LIME green.

    The only time I seem to see a proper national flag is outside an official government building.

    Oh and one more thing. We need to fly the
    flag higher and larger. Like the way the
    flag is flown on the front of parliament
    building…man that annoys me.

    And one more suggestion. A national flag should be permanently flown on the the arch over the E.C.Loblack bridge in Independence Square. Just make sure we illuminate with flood lights after sunset.

    We need to start showing patriotism/nationalism all day long…year round.

    God bless our beautiful country.

  17. October 19, 2011

    IT WOULD BE MOST APPROPIATE TODAY IF THE HUMAN FLAG FROM THE MIAMI RIVERLANDMAS CARNIVAL BAND OF 2011 IS SHOWN.

  18. One Love
    October 19, 2011

    8-O Let those that making their boolow raise flag; all them borbol man and dem…. when DA will be all of us own again I will raise flag …..
    after I finish raise flag with all you I going back and eat backandneck and all you sucking boneless breast and laughing at how I a**( . . .GO TO HELL

    all of all you dollar ontop de table and millions ubder de same table wave your flag

    I even see chinese waving flag in our face too and dey dammmm right

  19. Domerican
    October 19, 2011

    Mine is proudly displayed in my office in NJ, 365 days of the year. Happy Flag Day to All. God Bless DA and her people.

  20. dat me a say!
    October 19, 2011

    so why the colour of the flag had to be modified?was it to suit the chinese MOU?

    • HMMMMM
      October 19, 2011

      that have nothing to do with the Chinese. read properly allu to political. the last change was seen in 1988

    • MangoSweet
      October 19, 2011

      Stop being so moronistic (if there’s such a word). Why does everything have to be spo sickenly political in this Kubuli land of ours? It would do you good to go find out what were the reasons for changess in the flag’s design and colours. Unless that’s of no importance to you, and you had some time to waste by posting up that crap on DNO.

  21. Phillis
    October 19, 2011

    May god bless our beautiful island, wishing every one a wonderful flag day.

    • diasporianne
      October 19, 2011

      Amen!! i cannot agree with u more we really need God’s blessings on our beautiful country

  22. Anonymous
    October 19, 2011

    wooow love that flag, i hate prints but i wear that flag picture on a top anyday.
    the world most beautifull flag ever. unique anf true, no other to compare, lovely Dominca, land that i love, flag day all the way

  23. Ha
    October 19, 2011

    PLEASE DNO can you get us some information regarding the colour of the ‘breast’ of the parrot that should be on our flags?

    It is ridulous that the Customs Department and the entire Government and people of Dominica by extension, allow the Chinese to sell flags where the parrot’s breast is either, blue, white or pink.

    PLEASE, PLEASE, this is total disrespect to such an important state symbol. I have seen many countries’ flags and never have I seen persons change the colours of the flag at their whim and fancy.

    ADMIN: There is a link at the end of the story where you might get more info.

    • River Street
      October 19, 2011

      Positive comment Dominicans should stop buying those bull$*&% flags and prints that do no justice to that beautiful flag.One of the best flag and parrot prints was one produced a few years ago by Ras Lion,same guy use to do WCK and Exodus shirts for labour day. Salute to our flag.

  24. Ted lewis
    October 19, 2011

    IN defence of My fLAG .

    I personally believe that anyone who disregard the constitution of the land is showing disrespect to the flag of Dominica.

    Those of you all who shown support to the man who said no constistution can’t stop him and has blatantly shown disregard to the constitution should ask forgiveness first before raising the flag or simply keep your flag down. Doing it without the true meaning is equivallent to not doing it at all .
    Today is a special day and i hope when we raise our flags some off us will realized that no man is bigger than the country and for the love of our nation we must always put country before party.

    100% Dominica. Want some?

    • lol
      October 19, 2011

      patriotism is just another form of hypocrisy. i have seen people who are overly patriotic to the point that the adore the flag but they litter and throw garbage all over the place. the flag that is only a representation of the country is more important than than the country itself.

    • WIKILEAKS
      October 19, 2011

      The FLAG is not political and the FLAG is not the PM..

  25. true dominican
    October 19, 2011

    Oh how I miss my country. I have been out for a few days and I never knew I would not be there for flag day. Such a beautiful flag and I feel so proud. I am still in constant prayer that if we are to become developed like other countries that god will let his will be done. When I think of development I always think that maybe thats how God wants Dominica to be Simple and tranquil. With development comes crime and I dont think we would be able to handle that level of crime.Praise God for where Dominica is presently. May God bless our nation.

  26. .
    October 19, 2011

    This should have been advertised before so more people would have know and gotten flags.

    • ...
      October 19, 2011

      you must not be in dominica…becus it was advertised! its on the official independence programme also…students were reminded as well…convent prep had a huge celebration this morning…

      maybe u didnt know but it was advertised alot! especially on DBS and the official posters are out for a wile now

    • ..........
      October 19, 2011

      yes I!. that parrot on the flag is really there for a reason. allu just like to run allu mouth. flag day has been around for a number of years and also it is on the calender of events – what more advertising you want? smdh!

    • FED UP DOMINICAN
      October 19, 2011

      Do we need adverts to remind us to fly our flag?

      Anyway, we should fly our flag 24/7, not just one special day a year (yes my flag is displayed on my house 24/7).

  27. mouth of the south
    October 19, 2011

    wow… beautiful flag but i always disliked the fact that the parrot is sitting still…. that should be in the process of taking flight…. or they should have put a crapaud instead…. but i’d like to know how much variations of flags we have? a different coloured parrot everytime

    • lol
      October 19, 2011

      the posture of the bird shows pride and confidence. if it was depicted as in flight or some other posture it would provoke some other perception. in my opinion it is good the way it is but you have your reason think it should be like that. hmm would be good to have a poll on this. kind of sucks that a graphical symbolic representation of an entire country was made by only a few people

  28. Satelite
    October 19, 2011

    Fly that flag with pride, let the colours brighten up the day, but not just for today, for always. Dominica is where me come from!

  29. Patriotic Citizen
    October 19, 2011

    Dominica! Blessed with Beauty, Intelligence and Longevity! Happy Flag Day My fellow D/cans :)

  30. Question Everything.
    October 19, 2011

    Are we truly independent??? I mean we cannot even build our own roads, nor harness the full potential of our natural resources to self sustain….I’m not one to pay lip service… Someone correct me if i’m wrong… but what does it mean when they say that a country is INDEPENDENT???

    • buwo
      October 19, 2011

      This just mean we are POLITICALLY independent. Meaning we are not under the governance of our former colonial masters. But we are not ECONOMICALLY independent. Which country is economically indepedent anyway? The US depends on China (China has the highest cash revenue right now) and vice versa. All countries on earth depend on each other in terms of trade and all that stuff.

      The good thing about being ‘independent’ is that we are free to vote our own leaders. We did that in 2009. 18-3.

      Hahahahahahahaha

      • lol
        October 19, 2011

        then what is the purpose of the seat of the president? He does nothing but “official” business. the one who does all the work that moves the country is the prime minister. the seat of president is a left-over from the system of our colonial masters so i ask if we are independent what is the purpose of the president?

  31. Anonymous
    October 19, 2011

    Dr. Alwin Bully

    thank you very much.

  32. observant
    October 19, 2011

    sorry note instead of nope

  33. observant
    October 19, 2011

    nope the colour of the parrot on the flag!guess that is the flag that will be used in the chinese cabinet!

    • LULZ
      October 19, 2011

      come on there is no need for that. let us celebrate the pride of the symbol of our nation – our flag

    • diasporianne
      October 19, 2011

      On a beautiful day like this and on such an important occassion why do we keep being so negative? here I am in another country wishing i was home to hold my flag up high.u are there just talking sheet. grow up nen.and show some respect man.

  34. D/can the bone
    October 19, 2011

    One flag, one blood one people, one nation

  35. bella-ann
    October 19, 2011

    ON DAYS LIKE THIS A PROUD TO BE A DOMINICAN….
    FORWARD WE GO

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