Barbados - Current

The national flag of Barbados was officially adopted on 30th November 1966, the island's first Independence Day. It consists of a triband of two bands of ultramarine separated by a golden middle band. A black trident head is centred within the golden band.

The flag is composed of three vertical panels - the outer panels of ultramarine and the centre panel of gold. A broken trident in black is placed at the centre of the flag. The British standard colour code numbers for the colours of the flag are as follows - Ultramarine -- BCC148, Pantone Blue 280c, CMYK 100-70-0-20 and Gold --BS0/002, Pantone Yellow 123c, CMYK 0-30-90-0. The ultramarine bands symbolise the ocean and the sky, and the golden band symbolises the sand of Barbados.
The symbol in the centre panel is the Trident of the mythical sea god Neptune. This symbol appears in the Seal of the colony which was replaced by the Barbados Coat of Arms. The trident head - also known as the 'broken trident' - symbolizes Barbados' independence from the United Kingdom (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident). Each point represents a point of democracy.
The flag is designed in the proportion 2:3.

The National Flag was designed by Mr. Grantley W. Prescod. His design was chosen from 1,029 entries in an open competition organised by the Government of Barbados. Mr. Prescod was awarded a Gold Medal, an inscribed scroll from the government and $500 which was donated by the Advocate Company Limited. The judges of the competition were Mr. Bruce St. John, Chairman, Major Leonard Banfield, Mr. Maurice Cave, Mr. Neville Connell, Mrs. Enid Lynch and Mrs. B. Ward.
Mr. Prescod attended St. Barnabas Boys School. He taught before undertaking a one year course at the West of England College of Art for Specialist Teachers of Art in 1962-63. He also attained a certificate in Education from Bristol University. Between 19670-72 he studied for a Master of Education degree, majoring in Art Education at Temple University, Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Mr. Prescod taught at the Parkinson Secondary School. He served as an Education Officer from September 1977 until his retirement in February 1987. Mr. Prescod died on November 12, 2003 at the age of 77.