The flag of Belize is blue with two narrow red stripes along the top and the bottom edges; centred is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO ("I Flourish in the Shade") on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland.[2]
Symbolism[]
The flag is based on the flag of the People's United Party (PUP) which was royal blue with the coat of arms in a white circle. Because of the close association of the flag with the PUP, public opinion was divided as to its suitability to act as a unifying symbol. Two red stripes were added to distinguish the national flag from the party flag.[3]
The coat of arms is framed by a wreath bearing 50 leaves, a reminder of the year 1950, the year the PUP came to power.
Nickname[]
- Sub Umbra Florero
History[]
In 1819, the colony then known as British Honduras obtained its coat of arms, which was subsequently slightly modified.
From 1950 onward, an unofficial national flag was in use: a blue sheet with a white disk containing the country's coat of arms, and since 1964, when a local self-government was established, it was unofficially flown over public buildings. This flag was adopted by the People's United Party.
On Independence Day (21 September 1981), a revised national flag was officially hoisted. Red horizontal stripes were added at top and bottom for the opposition United Democratic Party so that the national flag would not be simply that of the People's United Party.[4] The coat of arms was standardized on August 28, 2019.
References[]
North America
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Nations Territories |
