Dominica celebrates its Flag Day 2022 today. The annual celebration was established by the Cultural Division as part of the country’s independence celebrations. As part of the programme, the National Emblems Week will run from October 10-14 to draw public attention to the meanings and significance of the country’s iconic emblems.
With the Flag Day, Dominicans home and abroad are urged to fly the country’s banner higher by displaying Dominica’s flag for everyone to see. Representing nationhood and national identity, the government wants everyone to accord significant recognition to the flag as a mark of patriotism and cultural solidarity.
The first Dominican flag was designed by playwright Alwin Bully and hoisted on November 3, 1978 to celebrate the country’s independence. Several artists submitted their own designs but that of Bully won during the flag-design competition that held earlier that year. The flag was redesigned a decade later and the latest design was accepted for use on November 3, 1988.
The Dominican flag has a rich green background to signify the agricultural wealth of the country. At the centre of the green background are a cross of three different colours – or three vertical and three horizontal stripes of yellow, black, and white – symbolizing the natives of the land, the fertile soil, and the pure water.
The vertical and horizontal lines cross at the centre of the flag. At the intersection of the cross (which stands for Christianity and the Trinity) is a big, red circle; at the centre of the circle is the blue-chested Sisserou Parrot which is the national bird of Dominica – perching on a twig. The parrot is said to always face the flag pole.
Surrounding the parrot are 10 gree stars – representing the 10 constituencies of Dominica – St. Andrew, St. David, St. George, St. John, St. Joseph, St. Luke, St. Mark, St. Patrick, St. Paul, and St. Peter.
The Cultural Division wants people to reflect on the meanings of each icon on the flag, and to teach these meanings at public schools across the country. This will promote cultural awareness and national identity for all. It will also bring all Dominicans together under the same ideals for national growth and cultural cohesiveness.
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