Flag of Jamaica

Jamaica

Names	The Cross, Black, green, and yellow
Use	National flag and civil ensign
Proportion	1:2
Adopted	August 6, 1962
Design	A yellow diagonal cross divides the field into four triangles of green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and fly side)
Variant flag of Jamaica
Use	Naval ensign
Design	A White Ensign with the national flag in the canton

The flag of Jamaica was adopted on August 6, 1962, the original Jamaican Independence Day, the country having gained independence from the British-protected Federation of the West Indies. The flag consists of a yellow saltire, which divides the flag into four sections: two of them green (top and bottom) and two black (hoist and fly). It is one of only two current national flags in the world that do not feature any of the colours red, white, or blue (the other being Mauritania).

The present design emerged from those sent in by the public in a national competition. It was originally designed with horizontal stripes, but this was considered too similar to the flag of Tanganyika (as it was in 1962), and so the saltire was substituted. It hints at the Scottish and Irish roots of much of the population, while black, green, and gold are Pan-African colours, representing the country's black majority population.

An earlier interpretation of the colors was, "hardships there are but the land is green and the sun shineth" as stated in the government Ministry Paper 28 - National Flag dated May 22nd 1962. Gold recalls the shining sun, black reflects hardships, and green represents the land. It was changed in 1996 to black representing the strength and creativity of the people which has allowed them to overcome the odds, yellow for the wealth of the country and the golden sunshine, and green for the lush vegetation of the island. The change was made on the recommendation of The Committee to Examine National Symbols and National Observances appointed by the then Prime Minister the Hon P. J. Patterson and chaired by the Hon. Prof. Milton "Rex" Nettleford. The flag is blazoned: Per saltire vert and sable, a saltire Or.

Standard etiquette applies in Jamaica to use of the national flag, primarily ensuring it is always the primary flag flown and is in good condition. The National Flag Code (a set of rules that owners of a flag should follow) was instituted by the government.

Jamaica's state ensign is a Blue Ensign with the Jamaican national flag in the canton; it is normally only used by the Jamaican Government. Jamaica's naval ensign is a White Ensign with a Saint George's Cross and the Jamaican national flag in the canton, although due to the island's lack of a navy, it is normally only used by the Jamaican Coast Guard. It mimics the naval ensigns of other Commonwealth countries such as Bahamas, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago.