The state flag of the Commonwealth of Dominica was established in 1990. It is an integral symbol of the statehood of an island nation in the Caribbean, along with its coat of arms and anthem.
Description and proportions of the flag of Dominica
The Dominica flag has a traditional rectangular shape and the most common length-to-width ratio in the symbolism of independent states. The proportion is 2: 1. According to the law of the state of the Commonwealth of Dominica, the flag can be used for any purpose, both on land and on water. It can be raised by officials, government agencies, and citizens of Dominica. Both merchant ships and private vessels use the flag on the water. The cloth serves as an identification mark for the armed forces and the navy of the state.
The main color of the national flag of Dominica is dark green. The rectangle is divided horizontally and vertically by three consecutive thin stripes of yellow, black and white. The stripes intersect exactly in the center of the flag, where a red circular disc is superimposed on them. It contains the image of the sisseru parrot, which is found only on this island and is its national symbol. The bird is surrounded by ten five-pointed green stars arranged in a circle.
The green flag of Dominica symbolizes its lush tropical vegetation and natural resources. The red disc in the center stands for freedom and independence. The ten stars on the Dominica flag represent its ten districts, and the cross is the symbol of the Holy Trinity. The colors of the stripes correspond to the main races living on the island: mulattoes, blacks and Europeans.
History of the flag of Dominica
The first version of the national flag of Dominica was officially adopted in 1978, when the country gained its long-awaited independence from the colonial rule of Great Britain. Its banner differed from the present one only by the image of a bird in the center of the red disk. In the original version, it looked towards the free edge of the flag.
Then, in 1981, the green stars on the red disc received gold edging and the flag was re-adopted by the government. The third change affected the image of the parrot - it was turned towards the shaft. This happened in 1988. The final version of the Dominica flag was approved in 1990: the gold border was removed from the stars, and the bird remained looking towards the pole.
