National Flag of Barbados (1966)

An Island nation, Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands. 

Barbados was made a British Crown possession in 1663 and remained a colony for more than
three centuries.  

Full internal self-government was attained in 1961. 

Independence was granted and the current national flag adopted on the 30th of November 1966.  

The new flag included Neptune's trident, which had also appeared on Barbados' colonial flag.

The Symbolic Meaning

The ultramarine panels represent the sea and the sky, which surround the island nation's yellow sandy beaches, represented by the middle yellow panel.  

The trident is that of the mythical sea god, Neptune, but the staff on the trident is broken, symbolizing Barbados' break from Britain.  

The fact that part of the trident remains demonstrates cultural and traditional links, but shows that constitutional ties are broken. 

The three pronged trident is also indicative of democratic rule in Barbados, of the people, for the
people, by the people.