Flag of Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago

Name	Flag of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago The Sun-Sea-Sand Banner
Use	National flag
Proportion	3:5
Adopted	31 August 1962
Design	A red field with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist-side to the lower fly-side.
Variant flag of Trinidad and Tobago
Name	Civil ensign of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Use	Civil and state ensign
Proportion	1:2
Design	A red field with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist-side to the lower fly-side.
Variant flag of Trinidad and Tobago
Name	Naval ensign of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Use	Naval ensign
Proportion	1:2

The flag of Trinidad and Tobago was adopted upon independence from the United Kingdom on 31 August 1962. Designed by Carlisle Chang (1921–2001), the flag of Trinidad and Tobago was chosen by the independence committee of 1962. Red, black and white symbolise fire (the sun, representing courage), earth (representing dedication) and water (representing purity and equality).

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.

The width of the white stripes is  ¹⁄₃₀ of the flag length and the width of the black stripe is  ²⁄₁₅. The total width of the three stripes together is therefore  ¹⁄₅ of the length.

The civil ensign is the national flag in a 1:2 ratio. The naval ensign (used by coast guard vessels) is a British white ensign with the national flag in the canton.

Presidential Standard

Prime Minister's Standard

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