Flag of Trinidad and Tobago


The flag of Trinidad and Tobago was adopted upon independence from the United Kingdom on 31 August 1962. Designed by Carlisle Chang, the flag of Trinidad and Tobago was chosen by the independence committee of 1962. Red, black and white symbolise fire, earth and water.

Design

The flag of Trinidad and Tobago is a red field with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly-side. In blazon, Gules, a bend Sable fimbriated Argent. It was designed by Carlyle Chang Kezia.

Construction

The width of the white stripes is of the flag length and the width of the black stripe is. The total width of the three stripes together is, therefore, of the length.

Other flags

The civil ensign is the national flag in a 1:2 ratio. The naval ensign is a British white ensign with the national flag in the canton.

British colonial flag

Prior to independence from the United Kingdom in August 1962, Trinidad and Tobago used a British blue ensign defaced with a badge depicting a ship arriving in front of a mountain.