Barbados’s flag (30 November 1966) is a vertical triband of ultramarine, gold, ultramarine with a black trident head centred. Ultramarine signifies sea and sky; gold the sand; the broken trident marks the break from colonial rule and democratic sovereignty. A public competition produced the design; law codifies protocols and respectful use.
Raised at midnight on 30 November 1966, Barbados’s national flag emerged from an open competition that produced Grantley Prescod’s emblematic design. The flag is a vertical triband—ultramarine at the hoist and fly, a golden centre panel—and a stylised black trident head centred. The trident, taken from the colonial badge where it appeared whole, is shown broken to signify the severing of colonial ties and the assumption of sovereign authority by the people. The three prongs are often read as government “of, for, and by” the people.
The ultramarine denotes the surrounding sea and the sky; the gold represents the island’s sand and warmth. National guidance sets proportions and artwork specifications, and the National Flag Act prescribes respectful handling, forbids defacement, and regulates commercial reproduction.
The flag figures centrally in Independence Day observances, National Heroes Day, and diplomatic protocol. Since 1966 the design has been unchanged, reflecting a durable consensus around its symbolism. Strict retirement practices protect the emblem’s dignity, while controlled use ensures consistency across ministries, schools, and overseas missions.