A report by Sinal Fleary for The Voice Online.
THE GOVERNMENT of Trinidad and Tobago has unveiled its new coat of arms after Christopher Columbus’ ships were replaced by the Steelpan.
The new design features an image of a gold Steelpan and the iconic pan sticks, replacing Christopher Columbus’ three ships – the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria.
A bill which allows for the replacement of illustrations was unanimously passed in the House of Representatives on 13 January 2025.
Symbolic coat of arms
Speaking in Parliament, the country’s Prime Minister, Keith Rowley said: “Symbolism matters. It is not a question either or; we can have it all. We can have symbols, we can have jobs, we can have food, but at the end of the day, symbolism matters.”
Rowley added that removing “the misrepresentation of Columbus’ ships” and replacing them with the Steelpan shows that the pan had reached the country’s “highest heights”.
During the piloting of the Bill, Senator Randall Mitchell, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, said: “The Bill seeks to bring into force Government’s position and intention to modify our country’s coat of arms established in 1962 by replacing the representation of Columbus’ ships with our national treasure, our very own national instrument, the Steelpan.”
Minister Mitchell continued: “Government’s proposal was made in direct response to the loud and decade’s long clarion calls for our citizens clamouring for the removal of painful colonial vestiges of our past.”
For now, the former Coat of Arms may be used until 1 January 2026, or such later date as the Minister may prescribe by Order.
The Bill will now proceed to be read and debated in the Upper House (Senate).
Once passed in the Upper House, it will then proceed to be proclaimed by the country’s President after which it will become Law.
The local media in Trinidad and Tobago reported that renowned designer and jeweller Gillian Bishop will design the new Coat of Arms for the twin-island Caribbean nation.
Trinidad and Tobago national identity
In August last year, Mr Rowley first made the announcement of the historic changes at a special People’s National Movement convention in August 2024.
The PM stated that the three Columbus ships on the nation’s emblem is “substantial in how we see ourselves” and it is now time for change.
“You see them three Columbus ships in the emblem? They will go,” said Mr Rowley.
“Since we have enough votes in Parliament to do it, I could announce now that as soon as the legislative adjustment is made—and that adjustment should be made before the 24th of September—we then over a six-month period will replace Columbus’ three ships, the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Niña, with the Steelpan,” he added, as the audience clapped and cheered.
Steelpan history
The Steelpan proudly traces its roots back to the Caribbean island and was invented in the 1930s and 1940s in the Hills of Laventille, in Port of Spain.
A resolution adopted by the United Nations’ General Assembly on July 24, 2023, announced that 11 August will annually become known as World Steelpan Day.
A report by Sinal Fleary for The Voice Online. THE GOVERNMENT of Trinidad and Tobago has unveiled its new coat of arms after Christopher Columbus’ ships were replaced by the Steelpan. The new design features an image of a gold Steelpan and the iconic pan sticks, replacing Christopher Columbus’ three ships – the Niña, Pinta,
