Dominica This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website Dominica image by Carlos Esparza, 9 Febuary 2001 Official Name: Commonwealth of Dominica Capital: Roseau Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy; Republic within the Commonwealth Flag adopted : 3 November 1978 (Modified 1988) Coat of arms adopted: 21 July 1961 ISO Code: DM The National Flag From Album 2000 [ pay00 ] - National Flag (CSW/CSW 1:2) - Green flag with yellow-black-white corss and red disk with 10 yellow bordered green stars and sisserou parrot (loking towards hoist). The construction details are given beside the figure as (9+2+2+2+9):(21+2+2+2+21). Measuring the image in Album 2000, the disk diameter apears to be equal to 12 units (i.e. double the three stripes width).

It is hard to judje the size of the stars, they apear to be inscribed in circles larger then 2 units, but weather they'll be 3, I couldn't say. maybe the document from which Armand got the rest of the construction would say more. I doubt that the size of yellow border is prescribed. The use of unusual colours in this flag might be a good reson to quote the colour approximation provided in Album: green Pantone 347c, red Pantone 185c. yellow Pantone 116c and purple Pantone 254c. eljko Heimer, 15 June 2001 Is there some branch under the parrot and what is the orientation of stars? Note: The Sisserou parrot is, scientifically, Amazona Imperialis. Jan Zrzavy, 16 June 2001 The image by Carlos Esparza is very well done regarding the details in the disk (however, the cross is not quite according to the Album secification, though).

So the stars are pointing "outwards" but that virtually means that the topmost star is pointing upwards and then interchangably next one is pointing downwards, and next one upwards again and so on. There is a yellow branch on which the parror is sitting (not brownish as by Carlos). The beak and "fingers" are white (or very light yellow?) in Album, and those parts that are in Carlo's image blue are purple in Album. There should not be the small green part between the two purple parts (near the beak) - all should be purple there. I always wandered - Dominica was under British colonial influencem, so how come that they never adopted anything similar to the British rich flags & ensigns system? eljko Heimer, 16 June 2001 We say on our website: "The ten lime green stars - the traditional symbol of hope - represent the ten parishes of the country". According to Encyclopaedia Universalis Yearbook, the ten parishes are: St. Andrew St. David, St. George (including the capital city Roseau), St. John, St. Joseph, St. Luke, St. Mark, St.

Patrick, St. Paul and St. Peter. Ivan Sache, 15 June 2004 I see the common name used in Dominica to call the Amazona imperialis, followed by a scientific binomial name is Sisserou Parrot (Psittacus Imperiala) (see Official Announcement of the Flag at Independence ). Zoologically, nowadays the name "Psittacus imperialia" doesn't exist and isn't accepted as the correct Linnean name of the parrot is Amazona imperialis, Richmond 1899. (The Genus Psittacus contains just one specie, which is Psittacus erithacus, Linneus 1758; the African grey parrot). Francesco Dalba, 28 September 2004 Some photos and a lot of descriptive text found (for instance) at < > and < >. It seems, that this parrot is highly endangered (around 100 individuals left only).

Marcus Schmöger, 28 September 2004 From Official Website of the President's Office : The flag of the Commonwealth of Dominica consists of a circular emblem of red bearing a Sisserou parrot (Amazona imperialis) standing on a twig encircled by ten lime green stars. This is superimposed on three vertical and three horizontal stripes of yellow, black and white forming a triple coloured cross against a general background of forest green. The central emblem presents the National Bird of Dominica, the Sisserou parrot, also a symbol of flight toward greater heights and fulfilment of aspiration. The Parrot also comes from the Dominica Coat of Arms, thus symbolising the official Seal of the country. The ten lime green stars- the traditional symbol of hope represent the ten parishes of the country, each with equal status, thus the equality of our people. The red central emblem symbolises Dominica's commitment to social justice. The yellow, black and white stripes from a triple coloured cross representing the Trinity of God. The cross itself demonstrates belief in God since the Commonwealth of Dominica is founded upon the principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God.

The yellow stripe represents 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. The White stripe represents the clarity of our rivers and waterfalls and the purity of aspiration of our people. The black stripe represents the rich black soil of our island on which our agriculture is based as well as our African heritage. The general background of dark green symbolizes our rich verdant forest and the general lushness. Ivan Sache, 15 November 2008 Colors and Specifications of the Flag I'm told by serious vexillologists in Italy that the flag of Dominica on your site is wrong: as of 3 November 1990. there is NO yellow fimbriation around the green stars. However, almost all sites (< >, < >, < >, < >, < >, < >) it got the yellow fimbriation and only Roberto Breschi's site shows it without.

Peter Orenski, 4 May 2005 A government site that I found states, in part: "The flag of the Commonwealth of Dominica consists of a circular emblem of red bearing a Sisserou Parrot standing on a twig encircled by ten lime green stars", and the pictured image does show this. David Kendall, 5 May 2005 image by Carlos Esparza and J. Patrick Fischer, 5 May 2005 A friend brought me a national flag directly from Dominica. This flag has only a thin black line around the stars. I checked several flag books and I guess I know, where this mistake came from. Green at prints is made by printing bluie and yellow colour. If the print is not well done (especially at small images), there could be a small area at the green stars, which looks like a yellow fimbriation. In my Dominican flag: - No yellow fimbriation at the stars. A thin black line instead. - the stars are smaller, maybe half the size. - Bill and feet of the parrot are white - the Wood is yellow - the parrot is purple, not blue. The colour shade is not easy to hit.

- no nose hole in the bill The flag was bought last year at Dominica. J. Patrick Fischer, 5 May 2005 I have only a copy of the 1978 Act that established the flag (which makes no mention of a yellow fimbriation as we know), and had assumed (apparently mistakenly) that the yellow had been added with the alterations of 1981? The only comment I wanted to make was that, with the site sent by David and the flag by Jans-Patrick, we now have two further sizes for the cross and red disk - 22.5% and 55%, plus 33.33% and 60%. (as against the 25% and 50% given by ourselves and the Album, and 30% and 50% by the Flag Institute). Christopher Southworth, 5 May 2005 The national flag shown on Dominican government site is a former flag since order of triband and parrot's position are different from present one and I found a present flag on the same website named Independence 25 at < >. The flag has yellow fimbrication to 10 stars.

The flag chart of U.N.members which I bought in U.N. h/o New York in July 2003 shows yellow fimbriation, same as that of Dominican government website Independence 25. Nozomi Kariyasu, 5 and 8 May 2005 The official dominica website shows no red portion of the wing, no red eye, not a yellow branch but gold beak and claws, not gray. Plus, nobody is sure of the diameter of the red circle. The official Dominica site says the stars are LIME-GREEN, while the background is dark forest-green - no lime-green stars shown on any sites I've seen. Peter Orenski, 5 May 2005 Now things are really getting complicated. The version at < > shows for the first time a parrot with a green head! Well, the living bird has a blue-violett head. < > and same at the link "Our national symbols" at the same homepage . Here the yellow fimbriation is missing again. Nothing about this in the explaination at this homepage. J.

Patrick Fischer, 5 May 2005 We have no details on the major features - we have several different sizes for the cross and disk, differing versions of the parrot, no size for the stars at all and the official illustration which shows no fimbriation is in the wrong ratio. I did have a copy of the official description for "Lime and Forrest Green": Act No. 18 of 1978, The National Emblems of Dominica Act, signed 31 October 1978, Gazetted 1 November 1978 and effective 3 November 1978. The Schedule, Part II: "The following is a description of the National Flag of Dominica:- Vert three pallets conjoined in pale and as many bars simililarly conjoined in fess or argent and sable overall a roundle gules charged with a Sisserou Parrot (Psittacus imperialis) facing sinister perched on a wooden twig proper within a orle of ten mullets.

Also vert." The description of the arms gives further details on the parrot as follows: "proper beaked and membered or" but as you see no such description is given for the flag. Just to add a little more to the prevailing confusion about this flag,at the website of the High Commission in London we have another image with yellow fimbriation to the stars. This time the cross is at 30% and the disk at 55% which gives us yet another layout. Christopher Southworth, 6 May 2005 I am awaiting confirmation but it would appear that the yellow fimbriation was indeed dropped on 3 November 1990 (as well as alterations made to the parrot). We see what we expect to see, and I hadn't noticed that Alfred Znamierowski's book "the world encyclopedia of flags" page 204 also shows plain green stars and gives 3 November 1990 as the date of the current.flag.

Christopher Southworth, 8 May 2005 The flag bulletin XXII:/6/102" of November-December 1983 informs that "Exactly after three years of attainment of independence - on 3 November 1981 - a revised form of the national flag was introduced" and "the disk is two-thirds the width of the flag". Martin Grieve, 8 May 2005 When I prepared the 2nd edition of my book Lexikon vlajek a znaku zemi sveta [ brz98c ] in 2003, I tried to solve the problem of the yellow fimbriation and sent several letters to Dominica. I got the answer from the Dominica Academy of Arts & Sciences that the stars are without the fimbriation in a letter of 25 July 2003.

Ales Brozek, 9 May 2005 Roberto Breschi has very kindly sent me a copy of the 1991 Article from The Flag Bulletin on this very subject, and this says that: "The parrot had its colouring modified to correspond more closely to the appearance of the national bird (the sisserou or imperial parrot). The stars surrounding the bird originally were 'lime green' instead of the dark green of the flag background. In the second and third versions of the flag the stars became dark green but had fimbriations in yellow. These fimbriations, not mentioned in the official blazon, have now been omitted". In the meantime there seems no doubt that the stars no longer have a yellow fimbriation, and (something of which I was also unaware) that the stars became dark green between 1981 and 1988. Christopher Southworth, 9 May 2005 National Flag at the London 2012 Olympics The protocol manual for the London 2012 Olympics (Flags and Anthems Manual London 2012 [ loc12 ]) provides recommendations for national flag designs.

Each NOC was sent an image of the flag, including the PMS shades, for their approval by LOCOG. Once this was obtained, LOCOG produced a 60 x 90 cm version of the flag for further approval. So, while these specs may not be the official, government, version of each flag, they are certainly what the NOC believed the flag to be. For Dominica: PMS 347 green, 185 red, 116 yellow, 254 purple, 430 grey and black. The vertical flag is simply the horizontal version turned 90 degrees clockwise. Ian Sumner, 10 October 2012 image by Herman De Wael, 8 June 1997 Flag of 1981 image by Herman De Wael, 8 June 1997 First adopted 3 November 1978. Black and white bands interchanged on 3 November 1981, posture of parrot changed 1988. Originally the stars had no yellow border.

Mark Sensen , 2 January 1996 Official Announcement of 3 November 1978 The new Dominica independence flag is now on display at Government headquarters. Dominicans are invited to view the flag on the third floor of the building. The flag in an amendment of a design submitted by Alwin Bully for a flag competition held early this year. It consists of a circular emblem of red bearing a Sisserou Parrot (Psittacus Imperiala) standing on a twig encircled by ten lime green stars. This is superimposed on three vertical and three horizontal stripes of yellow, white and black forming a triple coloured cross against a general background of forest green. The central emblem presents the National Bird of Dominica, the Sisserou Parrot, also a symbol of flight towards greater heights and fulfilment of aspirations. The Parrot also comes from the Dominica Coat of Arms thus symbolising the official seal of the country. The ten lime green stars - the traditional symbol of hope - represent the ten parishes of the country, each with equal status, thus the equality of our people. The red central emblem carries the connotation of socialism.

The yellow, white and black stripes form a triple coloured cross representing the Trinity of God. The cross itself demonstrates belief in God since the Commonwealth of Dominica is founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God. The yellow stripe represents the sunshine of our land, our main agricultural products: citrus and bananas and also a symbol of the Carib people, the first inhabitants of the Island. The white stripe represents the clarity of our rivers and waterfalls and the purity of aspirantion of our people. The black stripe represents the rich black soil of our island on which our agriculture is based and also our African heritage. The general background of dark green symbolises our rich verdunt forests and the general lushness of the island. The flag can be seen during normal working hours. Citizens may, if they so desire, use the colours of the flag for making buntings to decorate their houses and surroundings during Independence Celebrations. "The army loyal to the Prime Minister Mary Eugenia Charles represses a revolt lead by the ex-commander-in-chief of Dominican Army Frederik Newton and by his vice Ashton Benjamin; they are arrested together with more than 90 people.

The rebels tried to assail the prison in which there was the ex-Prime Minister Patrick John, who was arrested on 12 February 1981" So I argue that the little change of the flag is someway related with the change of government happened in the same year. Giuseppe Bottasini image by Herman DeWael, 20 September 1998 The flag is hung with the reverse showing, but the parrot retains the original position. Graham Bartram and eljko Heimer, 7 August 1996 Dominica is divided to 10 parishes. There are no known flags of those parishes. The parishes are: - Saint Andrew Dominica's National Symbols: The Flag, National Bird, the National Flower, the NAtional Anthem The story behind our national symbols THE NATIONAL FLAG OF DOMINICA This is the national flag of Dominica with its most recent design as of 3 November 1988. The history of the changes that were made to our flag is given below.

Dominican artist and playwright Alwin Bully designed the flag in early 1978 in preparation for the gaining of independence from Britain later that year and the cabinet made certain small alterations to the original design. Alwin Bully was born in Roseau in 1948 and was educated at the Convent Preparatory School, the Dominica Grammar School, the St. Mary's Academy and The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. He returned to teach at his old Alma Mata, eventually serving as its headmaster. During this time he was deeply involved in promoting all aspects of the arts in Dominica including drama, painting, dance, folk traditions, creative writing and Carnival. In 1965 he had represented Dominica at the Commonwealth Arts Festival in Britain along with members of the Kairi and Dominica Dance troups. In 1978, with the encouragement of then Minister of Education, H. L. Christian, he established the ‘cultural desk’ in the Ministry of Education that eventually developed into the Cultural Division in the Ministry of Community Development. In 1987 he left Dominica to work at the regional office of UNESCO in Jamaica, applying his creative skills to the wider Caribbean.

The flag was legally established by Act No. 18 of 1978, The National Emblems of Dominica Act, signed by the Governor, Sir Louis Cools-Lartigue on 31 October 1978, Gazetted 1 November 1978 and effective 3 November 1978. I give here a simplified description of the flag. The official one published in 1978 can be seen below. The 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". According to the designer, Alwin Bully, the colours of each band represent aspects of the land and the ethnic origins of its people: the yellow for the sunshine, the main agricultural products of the island at the time, citrus and bananas and the indigenous Carib/Kalinago people, the black for the soil and the African heritage, the white for the rivers and waterfalls of the island and the European influence.

This was Alwin BullyвЂ™s original intention, but the official description reads that the white band represents "the clarity of our rivers and waterfalls and the purity of the aspirations of our people" and the Europeans are not mentioned at all. This is an ironic exclusion, because a large percentage of Dominicans, mixed as they may be, are descended from Europeans, particularly the early French settlers such as Royer, Le Blanc, Dubios, Laurent, Darroux, Anselm, Giraudel, Sorhaindo, Peltier, Sabroache, Rolle, Brument, Fontaine, Dupigny,Vidal and many others and not forgetting such British ancestry as the Shillingfords, Greens, Garraways, Bells, Pembertons, Nixons, Warringtons, Senhouses, Musgraves, Winstons, Macintyres, Grells and many others. The European cultural influences, for better or for worse are all around us. But then again the flag is a product of its time, and the mood of 1970s ideology was very much aimed at downplaying the white presence.

Similarly, in 1978 the red sun was described as carrying "the connotation of socialism", which was the political ideology of the ruling party at the time, but by 1988 it simply represented the "rising sun of independence" or in another version, The red central emblem symbolises Dominica's commitment to social justice. The ten "lime green" stars the "traditional symbol of hope" bordered in yellow, represent the ten parishes of the island "each with equal status, thus the equality of our people", while the centerpiece is the Sisserou parrot, (Amazona imperialis) or the Imperial Parrot, the national bird of Dominica. Here is the Official Announcement of 3 November 1978: The new Dominica independence flag is now on display at Government headquarters. Dominicans are invited to view the flag on the third floor of the building. The flag in an amendment of a design submitted by Alwin Bully for a flag competition held early this year. It consists of a circular emblem of red bearing a Sisserou Parrot (Psittacus Imperialis) standing on a twig encircled by ten lime green stars.

This is superimposed on three vertical and three horizontal stripes of yellow, white and black forming a triple coloured cross against a general background of forest green. The central emblem presents the National Bird of Dominica, the Sisserou Parrot, also a symbol of flight towards greater heights and fulfillment of aspirations. The Parrot also comes from the Dominica Coat of Arms thus symbolising the official seal of the country. The ten lime green stars - the traditional symbol of hope - represent the ten parishes of the country, each with equal status, thus the equality of our people. The red central emblem carries the connotation of socialism. The yellow, white and black stripes form a triple coloured cross representing the Trinity of God. The cross itself demonstrates belief in God since the Commonwealth of Dominica is founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God. The yellow stripe represents the sunshine of our land, our main agricultural products: citrus and bananas and also a symbol of the Carib people, the first inhabitants of the Island. The white stripe represents the clarity of our rivers and waterfalls and the purity of aspirations of our people. The black stripe represents the rich black soil of our island on which our agriculture is based and also our African heritage.

The general background of dark green symbolises our rich verdant forests and the general lushness of the island. The flag can be seen during normal working hours. Citizens may, if they so desire, use the colours of the flag for making buntings to decorate their houses and surroundings during Independence Celebrations. (Note that the scientific name of the parrot is incorrect) CHANGES A number of minor changes have been made to the design of the flag since independence. Just after independence, when the flag was to be registered by The College of Arms, the traditional institution that oversees heraldry in Britain, there were certain parts that did not conform to the rules of the heraldic layout of colour dating back to medieval times. The main objection was that "an enamel cannot lie against an enamel" so that certain colours could not rest next to each other. On the night of independence the bands on the cross on the flag were in the order of black, yellow, white. The black line was next to the green of the main body of the flag. In this case black and green were "enamels" and so the black line had to be placed between the yellow and the white line to be separated from the green.

The same thing happened with the stars: green and red are enamels, so to solve this, yellow lines or вЂ�fimbriationвЂ™, to use the technical term, were put between the green of the stars and the red of the rising sun. This new flag came into use on 3 November 1981. Then there was an issue with the positioning of the parrot. There was no hard and fast rule as to which direction it should face. It was decided that the parrot should always face the flagpole. And this form of the flag came into use on 3 November 1988. Most national flags have a maximum of four colours but the Dominica flag has eight, making it more complicated and expensive to produce. The office of the President of the Commonwealth of Dominica has its own standard. The PresidentвЂ™s Standard is a plain forest green flag with the national coat of arms in the center. It is flown on the car of the President when he is a passenger, while the national flag is flown on the vehicle transporting the Prime Minister.

FLAGS THAT HAVE FLOWN OVER DOMINICA The first French settlers who occupied Dominica were a disorganized bunch with no proper government until a commander was sent from Martinique in 1727 to install some form of order. The flag he arrived with was the French Royalist flag with yellow fleur de lis on a white background with the royal coat of arms in the center. This was replaced with British Union Flag or Union Jack when Britain took over Dominica in 1763. A French flag flew here again from 7 September 1778 to 1 January 1784 when France occupied the island. By this time the flag of France had been changed to one with a dark blue background and white cross in the center of which was the royal coat of arms.

When the British forces marched into Roseau from Point Michel to repossess the island, the historian Thomas Atwood reports that at Fort Young "As soon as the British troops were in possession of the fort, they hoisted the standard of England on the flagstaff, which being a sight few of the inhabitants had seen before, and being elated with joy on the occasion, they were so eager to lend assistance to hoist it, that they were nearly pulling the halliards by which it was raised, to pieces, and breaking down the flag-staff by force of their numbers." The Union Jack flew supreme over Dominica for the next 194 years with one brief interruption, when for a few days in 1805 an invasion force of French republican troops took over Roseau and raised the revolutionary tricolour from the flagpole at Fort Young.В Within days however the French departed because they were unable to dislodge the British governor and his regiments and militias from the Cabrits Garrison in the north of the island.

Versions of the Union Jack were sometimes flown with the crest of the Leeward Islands upon the background of a blue ensign, when Dominica was put with the Leewards from 1871 to 1940 and with the Windward Islands crest in the center when Dominica was placed under the Windwards government from 1940 to 1955. From 1955 to 1965 Dominica adopted the blue ensign with its own colonial coat of arms upon it. From 1958 the Union Jack or Dominica ensign flew side by side with the Flag of the Federation of the West Indies until the collapse of the federation in 1962. This flag was distinguished in its simplicity, being a sun symbolizing unity in the centre of a wavy Caribbean Sea. When the first National Day was celebrated on 3 November 1965 a flag was adopted with a plain blue ensign, with the Union Flag in the left hand corner and the new national Coat of Arms in the center within a white circle.

In 1967 when Dominica became an Associated State of Britain with full internal self-government, the same flag was adopted except that the white circle was removed.В Other Associated States such as Antigua, St. Lucia and St Vincent adopted unique statehood flags which they took into independence with them, but DominicaвЂ™s flag had maintained the colonial symbol and therefore was lowered in Windsor Park at midnight on 2 November 1978 while the new national flag was hoisted. THE COAT OF ARMS The coat of arms of Dominica follows the medieval tradition of heraldry in Europe. When armed knights went onto the battlefield they were covered from head to foot in body armour and chain mail and their troops could not tell who they were. So they wore their family symbols as a вЂ�coat of armsвЂ™ on their shields and capes and breastplates to identify themselves in battle. These coats of arms were designed according to rigid rules laid down by the College of Arms and each part of the design represented a particular aspect of that family or royal house.

Dominica had a previous coat of arms during the colonial period in the form of an illustrated shield that was designed by the British after gaining the island by the terms of the Treaty of Paris in 1763. The story of this is given below. It was used up until 1961 when it was replaced with the present coat of arms that continued to be used after independence in 1978. Our coat of arms was designed in 1960 by three people: The first Chief Minister of Dominica, Franklin A. Baron and the British Administrator of Dominica, Colonel Alec Lovelace and his wife Eleanor. It was assigned to Dominica by royal warrant, signed at Buckingham Palace on 21 July 1961, and was registered at the College of Arms in London on 16 August 1961.В As the declaration of the warrant says, it is to be borne "on Seals, Shields, Banners, Flags or otherwise according to the Laws of Arms".

Its formal description as handed down by the College of Arms, is virtually incomprehensible to the modern reader: "Quarterly Or and Azure a cross filled counterchanged in the first quarter on a Rocky Mount Sable a Coconut Tree fructed proper in the second a Dominica Crapaud also proper in the third on Water Barry wavy a base a Carib canoe with sail set all likewise proper in the forth quarter on a Rocky Mount also sable a Banana Tree fructed also proper and for the crest. On a Wreath Argent and Azure a Rocky Mount Sable thereon a Lion Passant guardant Or and for the Supporters. On either side of Sisserou Parrot (Amazona imperialis) proper beaked and membered or together with the motto Apres Bondie C'est La Ter." A more understandable description would be that the central shield is divided into four quarters with a background of blue and gold representing the sun, sky and sea. Each quarter has an object representing some aspect of the island. The top left and bottom right quadrants have a coconut palm and banana plant respectively that represents the agriculture of the island.

In the top right quadrant is a frog, locally called вЂ�crapeauвЂ™ (Leptodactylus fallax) representing the wildlife. In the lower left quadrant is a Carib/Kalinago canoe representing the indigenous people. On the top or crest of the shield stands a lion representing the two centuries of British rule over the island. THE MOTTO The shield is supported by two Sisserou parrots (Amazona imperialis). They are perched on a strip of parchment on which is written in Creole, the national motto: "Apres Bondie CвЂ™est La Ter". In the established form accepted by Creole linguists today it would be written: "Apwe Bondye Se La Te." It means, "After God it is the Land". However "La Te" can be translated to mean, the land, the Earth or the soil. But the message of the motto for the people of a mainly agricultural island is that after praising God first, the next most important thing is the land in the form of bearing fruit. It can also be extended to mean the land in the nationalist sense that after your commitment to God then comes your commitment to your country.

The use of Creole represents also the influence of France on the island and the part played by African traditions and language in the creation of the Creole heritage. The origin of this motto is thanks to the folk research of the Roman Catholic priest, Fr. Raymond Proesmans, a member of the Redemtorist order based for many years in the village of Pointe Michel. He went among his parishioners recording many of their traditional sayings, which he noted down in a book. This motto comes from an unidentified farmer from Point Michel. Fr. Proesmans told me that one evening he was out walking when he met a farmer coming down from his garden in the hills. On greeting him and commenting on the variety of fruit and vegetables he was carrying in his back-pack or "conta", the farmer replied, "Wi mon pe, apwe Bondye se la te". When the Administrator and Chief Minister were designing the new coat of arms, he called on Fr. Proesmans to provide a selection of these Creole sayings out of which the national motto was chosen.

THE COLONIAL COAT OF ARMS For most of its history, Dominica had a coat of arms that was designed shortly after the island was ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Paris in 1763. In those first years of British colonization, Portsmouth had been laid out as the capital of Dominica. The first dock for shipping was constructed at the Cabrits on the site where the Cabrits Cruise Ship Berth now stands. The first coat of arms was simply a painting of sailing ships tied up to this dock with the sun rising behind the nearby mountains and a fort in the distance. It is believed that it was devised by the famous Italian artist resident in Dominica, Agostino Brunias, under the direction of Sir William Young who was then Commissioner of the Sale of Lands in the Ceded Islands, and later the first governor of Dominica. The motto of the colony appeared on a scroll below the shield and was written in Latin : "Animis opibusque parati", which translates into English as: "Ready with our lives and our resources" or put simply, "Ready for anything". It is also the motto on the coat of arms of the US state of South Carolina.

In the 1760s Dominica was a new colony, freshly settled by colonists eager to open up plantations in the virgin forests and the motto was a call to action. It reflected the spirit of the times, but it was still relevant even in the first half of the 20th century, when farmers were trying all sorts of new crops to replace sugar cane. This coat of arms can still be seen on the brass plaque on the cenotaph or war memorial on Victoria Street in Roseau. The public library also has a wooden plaque with this coat of arms painted on it. It had originally been presented by the colony of Dominica to a British warship, a Colony Class Frigate, active in World War II, called H.M.S. Dominica. The warship was decommissioned and broken up after the war and the plaque was returned to Dominica. When the Dominica Grammar School was founded in 1893 it took a version of the colonial coat of arms as its school crest and this is still in use today.

Bwa Kwaib, Bois Carib (Sabinea carinalis) This small deciduous tree with brilliant red flowers that grows in the wild mainly along the dry scrub woodland of the west coast, was chosen as the national flower around the time of independence. Its claim to this title is based on the botanical fact that it is endemic to Dominica with only one related species found in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Some years earlier the Dominica Horticultural Society had chosen the balizier or heleconia (Heliconia bihai) as its choice for the national flower. It was selected by the popular vote of people attending one of its exhibitions. Another contender was the beautiful mauve Petrea (Petrea kohautiana) that blossoms on vines throughout the rain forest. But there was the view among the selectors that it was not endemic to Dominica and the uniqueness of the Bwa Kwaib gave it the edge. The flowers have a form typical of pea flowers with a long keel. Scattered bushes grow all along the west coast and make a short-lived burst of colour from February to April and sometimes as late as June. The flowers die within a few days so that this is a rather illusive national flower.

During this time it attracts an abundance of insects, hummingbirds and banana quits. Since being declared the national flower the Bwa Kwaib has been spread across the island by human propagation. In many cases it has been planted well out of its natural vegetation range such as in mountain villages and on the east coast. Because of this its flowering is affected according to the micro climate of its location. Schools, churches and government departments were encouraged to plant the national flower in their grounds and so it is now well established around the island. The Sisserou Parrot (Amazona imperialis) Sisserou is the original Carib/Kalinago name for this, the largest of the Amazona parrots. It is endemic to Dominica, being found nowhere else in the world. It is the ancient remnant of a species of parrot once found in South America that came to Dominica thousands of years ago. Locked into its island habitat, it remained the same while the original species on mainland South America changed by natural selection. It is therefore a perfect example of Charles DarwinвЂ™s findings on the evolution of species.

Dominica is the only island in the Lesser Antilles that still has two surviving Amazona parrots, the Sisserou and the Jacko or Red Necked Parrot (Amazona aurasiaca). The indigenous people tamed some of these birds and their feathers were also used to decorate their bodies. The Sisserou, particularly, became a prize collectorвЂ™s item during the 19th century when naturalists came to shoot samples for their collections. The carcasses of many long dead Sisserous lie in drawers in museums in Europe and North America. For much of the 20th century the Sisserou was threatened by hunting and loss of habitat due to the forests being cleared for agriculture. But since being declared the national bird, protective legislation and educational programmes have been initiated to ensure its survival. Its image appears on the flag and the coat of arms and national postage stamps. The Dominica State College has it on its crest. More popularly it has given its name to a wide range of products as well as being adopted by a singing group and a former hotel. It appears on T-shirts and a wide range of tourist souvenirs.

In January 2000 a national park was established around the highest mountain, Morne Diablotin. The Morne Diablotin National Park protects watersheds and thousands of species of plants and animals, but perhaps, most particularly, it protects the main habitat of the national bird. Lyrics by W. O. M. Pond Music by L.M. Christian Isle of beauty, isle of splendor, Isle to all so sweet and fair, All must surely gaze in wonder At thy gifts so rich and rare. Rivers, valleys, hills and mountains, All these gifts we do extol. Healthy land, so like all fountains, Giving cheer that warms the soul. Dominica, God hath blest thee With a clime benign and bright, Pastures green and flowers of beauty Filling all with pure delight, And a people strong and healthy, Full of godly, rev'rent fear. May we ever seek to praise Thee For these gifts so rich and rare. Come ye forward, sons and daughters Of this gem beyond compare. Strive for honour, sons and daughters, Do the right, be firm, be fair. Toil with hearts and hands and voices. We must prosper!

Sound the call, In which everyone rejoices, "All for Each and Each for All." The National Anthem was composed as DominicaвЂ™s national song for the first National Day celebrations in 1965. Popularly known by its first line, "Isle of beauty", it was formally established as such when Dominica gained Associated Statehood in 1967. At official functions during Associated Statehood (1967 вЂ“ 1978), the British National Anthem "God Save the Queen""was played at the arrival of the Governor and the National Song was played at the arrival of the Premier. It was adopted as the National Anthem at independence in 1978. Lemuael Mc Pherson ChristianВ (1913 вЂ“2000) was the composer of the music of Dominica's National Anthem.В He was born in St.Kitts and was brought to Dominica as an infant and grew up at Delices where his father was stationed as a teacher. He began his public service as a police officer in the Leeward Islands Police Force serving in Antigua and Dominica.

He later worked in the Agricultural Department and in administration at the Carib Cinema and AstaphanвЂ™s Shopping Centre. He opened Dominica's first music school in 1944, The Christian Musical Class. He ran it conjunction with typing classes and his deep interest and dedication to music provided some of the only training for many of our aspiring musicians. He was primarily a guitarist but was very versatile and could play 25 instruments. He was a founding member of the Music Lovers Government Band. In 1963 he was commissioned to write the Dominica Grammar School song "The Greatest of All Builders" and in 1965 the music for the national song. He married in 1943 and had five children, all of whom he named after composers. He fostered his love of music among them, and two daughters, Peganni and Palestrina, became professional musicians in Britain. His son, Purcell, continues to teach music and play in the Music Lovers Government Band. His niece Pearl is also an accomplished musician who heads the music section of the Cultural Division and is leader of the Sisserou Singers.

He was awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire) medal in the 1960s, The Sisserou Award of Honour in the 1970s and the Golden Drum Award in 1984. He also received awards from numerous groups and organizations. Wilfred Oscar Morgan Pond (1912 вЂ“ 1981) dedicated his life to education, serving as teacher in the communities of Clifton, Soufriere, Giraudel and Roseau and as an education officer before retiring. He wrote poetry for many years, specialising in acrostics, a form whereby the first letter of each line in the poem makes up a word when read from top to bottom. He produced these to mark special events such as national anniversaries. He wrote a variety of verse poems as well, mainly on aspects of Dominica life, and the lyrics of the National Anthem reflects this. Like the composer of the music for the anthem, L.M. Christian, Rev. Pond was awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire) medal in the 1960s and the Sisserou Award of Honour.

During retirement he became increasingly involved in ministering in the Anglican Church, serving as lay reader and deacon before his full ordination to the priesthood. He is best known as the composer of the lyrics of Dominica's National Anthem. Country: Commonwealth of Dominica Country: Commonwealth of Dominica Proportions: 1:2 Dominica Flag Description: The flag of Dominica consists of a forest green base with three equal sized vertical stripes and three equal horizontal stripes crossing through the middle of it. The stripes go from left to right and from top to bottom. They are yellow, black and red in color. In the middle of the Dominican flag is a red circle with a Sisserou parrot facing the left side (hoist side). Circling the parrot are 10 green five pointed stars with yellow outlines. Dominica Flag Meaning: The ten green stars, which are the traditional symbol of hope, represent the ten parishes of Dominica. The Sisserou Parrot is the national bird of Dominica and symbolizes flight towards greater heights and fulfillment of aspirations. The Parrot also comes from the Dominica Coat of Arms, representing the official seal of the country.

The Dominican flag's stripes form a cross representing the Trinity of God. The cross itself demonstrates belief in God. An official Dominican announcement also stated: "The yellow stripe represents the sunshine of our land, our main agricultural products: citrus and bananas and also a symbol of the Carib people, the first inhabitants of the Island. The white stripe represents the clarity of our rivers and waterfalls and the purity of aspiration of our people. The black stripe represents the rich black soil of our island on which our agriculture is based and also our African heritage. The general background of dark green symbolizes our rich verdant forests and the general lushness of the island." Dominica Flag History: The Dominican flag was adopted on November 3, 1978 when it gained independence from Britain. The Dominican flag was then modified in 1988, when yellow outlines were added to the stars and the white and black stripes changed positions with each other. In 1988 the parrot, which was originally facing to the right, was turned to face the left of the Dominican flag. Interesting Dominica Flag Facts: The Dominican flag was based on a design which was entered into a flag competition. Advertiser Links World FlagsAlphabetical list of all world flags.

D Dominican Republic - Bird Watching,Resources for Bird Watching by the Fat Birder Fatbirder - linking birders worldwide... Wildlife Travellers see our sister site: WAND Dominican Republic Broad-billed Tody Todus subulatus &#169Ivan Mota Website Birding in the Dominican Republic The island of Hispaniola, including the Dominican Republic (know affectionately as "the DR") and Haiti, is the second largest and the most populous island in the Caribbean region. As part of an oceanic archipelago, Hispaniola’s bird fauna has a relatively high numbers of endemic and regional endemic species. In comparison with countries with similar sized landmasses on the American continent, like Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Suriname, Hispaniola has fewer species and fewer bird families represented, but it has many more endemics. Hispaniola benefits from extremely varied geography and habitats, from lowland swamps and rainforest, to broad savannahs, to arid deserts, to montane rainforest, to highland pine forests.

It has several unique geographical features, like Lago Enriquillo, a salt lake 40 meters below sea level, and Pico Duarte, the highest mountain in the whole Caribbean 3,145 m. Hispaniola also is an important stopover and wintering location for migrants from North America, including shorebirds, ducks, and warblers. In many cases these birds are much easier to see here in the winter than they are in North America in the summer, since they are concentrated in a much smaller area. According to the Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti (See Useful Reading) approximately 306 bird species have been reported on Hispaniola (although this has since been superseded with new observations). About half of these are migrants, including vagrants and rare migrants. The rest are resident birds. Among the residents are 31 strict endemic species not found anywhere else in the world. They include such abundant birds as the Hispaniolan Woodpecker and the Palmchat, and other rare and spectacular treats as the Bay-breasted Cuckoo, Hispaniolan Crossbill, and La Selle's Thrush. Perhaps the rarest of all is the highly endangered Ridgway's Hawk.

The only endemic Hispaniola bird species not seen (or very rarely seen) in the DR is the Grey-crowned Palm Tanager, restricted mainly to Southwestern Haiti. In addition to the island endemics are about 20 regional endemic species, which are bird species only found in the Caribbean region. For example, the world's second smallest bird, the Vervain Hummingbird is very common here, and is also found in Jamaica, and the Red-legged Thrush is a very handsome species found on Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Bahamas, and several other small islands. Another interesting group of birds are the nearly 50 resident sub-species on the island and the 10 adjacent offshore islands, of which some are endemic. For example, there are three resident endemic sub-species of the Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia: albicollis, chlora, and solaris. Referred to by some as the ‘Hispaniolan Golden Warbler’ complex, they are restricted to coastal mangroves and scrub at different points around the island.

The other resident warbler subspecies is the Setophaga pinus chyrsolueca, or Hispaniolan Pine Warbler, found in highland pine forests. Other resident endemic races include the Sharp-shinned Hawk, American Kestrel, Burrowing Owl and Northern Potoo. The DR’s relative proximity to the United States and the rest of the Caribbean islands, and its abundant tourism infrastructure, make it an ideal destination for birders, include from Europe, due to abundant direct flight routes. The capital city of Santo Domingo is a good place to start your birding trip with a visit to the National Botanical Gardens (Jardin Botanico Nacional Moscoso Puello), which provides many of the lowland endemics and some aquatic specialties, including the West Indian Whistling Duck, endangered and very elusive anywhere else. An hour and a half west of Santo Domingo, Salinas de Bani, with its salt flats, mangroves, sand dunes, and thorn scrub, is a great place for waders and shorebirds, as well as for winter migrants, making it a favourite haunt of local birders. It is a good day trip from Santo Domingo.

The Central Mountain Range (Cordillera Central) is a good choice for several mountain endemics and specialties. Reserva Cientifica de Ebano Verde (closest to Santo Domingo); Reserva Cientifica Valle Nuevo, and Parque J. Armando Bermudez (La Cienaga entrance) is recommended. Parque Nacional del Este in the eastern section of the island is close to a number of resorts and is a good choice if you are tied into a non-birding trip around this area. However, the best birding in the whole country is concentrated in the southwest, in and around the Sierra de Bahoruco mountain range. This area includes a variety of habitats that range from dry thorn scrub to mountain pine forests. Bahoruco supports one of the highest bird densities in the Caribbean and it’s the only place where you have a chance at almost all endemics. A thorough birding trip with an emphasis on the southwestern DR should set aside three to five days. The first place to go is the northern slope of the western Bahorucos. From the town of Duverge, turn up the mountain road towards Puerto Escondido, a small town in an intra-montane valley with excellent birding.

It is valuable to spend time in the forest patches around the agricultural fields, on the Rabo de Gato trail, and then along the road west out of the valley where the thorn forests begins to transition into broadleaf, bird density tends to be high including scarce and much-sought-after species like Bay-breasted Cuckoo, Least Poorwill, and Flat-billed Vireo. This is the road that heads up the mountain into high elevation broadleaf forest through prime birding habitat. On the way up the mountain, you will arrive at Aguacate, a military post right on the Haiti-Dominican Republic border. Stop and check in with the guards. Please take the time to look over into Haiti and you will be stunned to see the deforestation level. Afterwards, keep driving to Zapoten where you will start to approach mixed broadleaf and pines. This is a great area for La Selle`s Thrush, Western Chat Tanager, White-winged Warbler and other rare endemics. Back down to Duverge, the edge of Lago Enriquillo near Vengan a Ver and Baitoa provides an opportunity for aquatic species.

The southern slope is reached by picking up the coastal highway south of Barahona. The best place to start is on the Carretera ALCOA, which is a right turn on the Cabo Rojo intersection. This road is fully paved and starts in thorn scrub habitat and ends in pine forests, and birding can be productive along the road almost anywhere. However, the goal is to reach the higher elevations where the mid-and high elevation species start to be seen. Antillean Siskins, Narrow-billed Todies, Green-tailed Ground Warblers, Hispaniolan Parrots, and many others are found. These pine forests offer some of the best opportunities for the Hispaniolan Crossbill, Hispaniolan Palm Crow, and Stygian Owl. Along the southern coast are several good birding sites: the Oviedo lagoon and Cabo Rojo. These places are good for herons, ducks, Roseate Spoonbills, Flamingos, gulls, and shorebirds. Top Sites Flag of Dominica, Dominican Flag Quiz on national flags Dominican Flag The national flag of the Commonwealth of Dominica was adopted on November 3, 1978. The flag has subsequently undergone modification.

Flag of Dominica Disclaimer Close Disclaimer : All efforts have been made to make this image accurate. However Compare Infobase Limited, its directors and employees do not own any responsibility for the correctness or authenticity of the same. Download Picture of Blank Dominica Flag For Kids to Color The national flag of Dominica is a green base that depicts a circular emblem of red color bearing a Sisserou parrot (Amazona Imperialis) that is perched on a twig and is encircled by ten green stars. The parrot in the emblem is the National bird of Dominica and also symbolizes the yearning for greater heights and aspirations. The Sisserou parrot is an endangered species in the island with only a few pairs left. It is also found in the coat of arms of the country; the coat of arms of Dominica was granted on July 21, 1961. The national ensign is placed on three vertical and horizontal stripes of yellow, black and white that form a cross. The cross represents the Trinity of Christianity, the official religion of the island. The yellow strip on the cross represents the bright sunshine that falls on the island and also represents the agricultural products of the land, mainly citrus and bananas.

The color yellow can also refer to the first inhabitants of the island - the Carib and Arawak people. White symbolizes the noble aspirations of the people; the black color stands for the rich black fertile soil of the island. The ten green stars stand for the ten parishes that form the Commonwealth of Dominica. The red circular emblem is a symbol for social justice. The stars are also a symbol of hope and the ideals of peace and growth cherished by the Dominicans. The green field on the flag symbolizes the lush green forests, the natural beauty, and the rich vegetation of the island.

Due to its picturesque landscapes the Commonwealth of Dominica has been nicknamed the "Nature Isle of the Caribbean." Official Name : Commonwealth of Dominica Flag Proportion :1:2 Adopted on : November 3, 1978 Location : Located in the Caribbean Sea Capital City : Roseau Major Cities : Canefield, Salisbury, Saint Joseph, Castle Bruce Area : 290 square miles Currency : East Caribbean Dollar (XCD) Official Language : English National Anthem : Isle of Beauty, Isle of Splendour Fact about Dominica flag National Bird - Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica National Bird National Bird National Bird The Sisserou parrot (Amazona imperalis), "The Pride of Dominica", is generally recognized as the National Bird of Dominica. The parrot figures prominently on the Coat of Arms, the National Flag, The Public Seal, The Mace of the House of Assembly and Dominica's Honours for Meritorious Service to the Country. The Sisserou Parrot is protected and it is probably among the oldest species of Amazon parrot in the world, and is found only in Dominica.

Unfortunately, this bird is most vulnerable, particularly when young, but through evolution, it has adapted to various changes in its habitat. Even more unfortunately, it has not been able to adapt to the bad influences of man. The following is a full description of the Sisserou Parrot. The Sisserou Parrot (Amazona imperialis) is a shy but very attractive native of the tropical forest of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Sisserou parrots have lived on the island for several hundred thousand years and can live to be very old (over 70 years), in captivity, some have outlived their captors. In the wild, however, their life span may be much shorter. The adult is 18 to 20 inches (457-508 mm) long, 8 inches (203 mm) wide and weighs 2 pounds (0.9 kg). When the wings are spread out, the distance from tip to tip is 30 inches (762 mm). The Sisserou Parrot, the larger of the two parrots of the Commonwealth of Dominica, is a heavy bodied body.

It is well proportioned, beautifully streamlined with coloured feathers and a curved beak characteristic of all parrots. The upper parts and back are mostly green with greenish blue on the head and eyes are red. A dark violet band, appearing black, is visible across the hind neck; the tail and under parts are of a purplish violet hue. There is a red streak on the wing tips. This Sisserou is seldom seen in populated areas. It is only found mainly in rain forests, chiefly at high elevations. Parrots pair off themselves for life and are extremely faithful to each other. A parrot will only seek another mate when its mate dies, and even then, if it is old, it may simply grieve to death rather than find a new mate. The Sisserou is most vulnerable when young and it faces the greatest danger while still in chick stage. It is then exposed to further danger from three species of birds (Grive, GriGri and Malfini), snakes and the opossum.

Question: What sort of bird is on the Dominican flag?
Answer: Parrot