Flag of Antigua and Barbuda

The flag of Antigua and Barbuda was adopted on 27 February 1967.

Description and significance

The sun symbolizes the dawn of a new era. The colors have different meanings: black for the African ancestors of the people of Antigua and Barbuda, blue for hope, and red for power.

The color sequence yellow-blue - white is also a stylization of the sun, the sea and the beaches of both islands.

History

By 1956, the islands were part of the colony of the British Leeward Islands. The flag was a typical British colonial flag: A blue cloth with the Union Jack in the canton and the coat of arms of the colony on the flying side. She had been in use in 1871 and was replaced on Antigua and Barbuda and on 1 July 1956 its own colonial flag according to the same pattern as the islands formed a separate colony for a short time.

Between January 1958 and May 31, 1962 3 Antigua and Barbuda were part of the West Indies Federation. After the Federation broke up the islands were first again British colony until February 27, 1967 were associated State. On this day they received their current national flag, which was initially used only on land. As a merchant flag it is used only after the complete independence of the State on 1 November 1981. The flag was determined in a competition in 1966 from more than 600 entries. It was designed by the art teacher Reginald Samuels, who it was awarded the prize of $ 500.

Flag of the West Indies Federation

Other flags of Antigua and Barbuda

The flag of the Coast Guard used the George Cross and the national flag in the canton.

The Kingdom of Redonda was proclaimed in 1865 by the Irishman Matthew Dowdy Shiell on the uninhabited island. An appreciation failed to materialize. The version below the flag was introduced in 1980 and used until 1997 as a royal flag and de facto national flag.

Kingdom of Redonda

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