Flag of Jamaica

The flag of Jamaica was adopted on August 6, 1962 and consists of a yellow diagonal cross that divides the flag into four triangles with two green at the top and bottom and two black on the right and left.

Meaning of the flag of Jamaica

• The green color represents the island's bountiful nature, its rolling hills, rainforests and symbolizes hope and prosperity;
• Black symbolizes the strength and resilience of the Jamaican people, honors the challenges the nation has overcome throughout its history, and reminds us of the African ancestry of many Jamaicans;
• Yellow symbolizes the sunshine that illuminates the island almost all year round and reflects the warm spirit and hospitality of the Jamaican people.

History of the Jamaican flag

Jamaica has been the home of the Red Ware people since ancient times, beginning around 600 AD. In 800 AD, the Taino people arrived on the island, united into tribes and had their own leaders. Columbus arrived in Jamaica in 1503, when there were at least 29 Taino chiefdoms on the island with a total population of about 3,000 people.

After Columbus' arrival, the situation worsened: the island was conquered by the Spanish conquistadors, who exterminated a large part of the Taino population and turned Jamaica into a colony. The British also arrived on the island, bringing slaves from West Africa to work on sugar cane plantations.

In 1654, Oliver Cromwell sent a fleet to gain control of the Caribbean Sea, and after victories over the Spanish in 1657 and 1658, Jamaica officially became an English colony in 1658. Today, Jamaica is a country with its own political and economic independence.

The history of Jamaica after the establishment of the English regime was complicated, with clashes between the Spanish and the British. After the Baptist military uprising of 1831, Jamaica began to fight for its independence. It is known that Jamaica is named after Marcus Mosiah Garvey, an African-American activist who founded movements to improve the situation of blacks. In the mid-20th century, Jamaica decided to become independent and held a referendum. As a result, Jamaica declared its independence on August 6, 1962. On the same day, William Alexander Bustamante became the country's Prime Minister. One of the most controversial issues was the choice of the flag and the imposition of the country's own identity.

The least known fact about the Jamaican flag is that the design we are used to was not the only option. Before the Jamaican committee decided to use four triangles separated by golden diagonal lines, there were at least four other options. While discussing the flag design, Jamaica's first prime minister met with Scottish clergyman William McGee. McGee reportedly suggested using the cross of St. George instead of horizontal lines in the flag design. Bustamante was so impressed with the proposal that he voted in favor of the design.