Flag of the Bahamas
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| Use | National flag |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 1:2 |
| Adopted | July 10, 1973 |
| Design | A horizontal triband of aquamarine (top and bottom) and gold with the black equilateral triangle based on the hoist-side. |
| Designed by | Dr. Hervis Bain |
The national flag of the Bahamas consists of a black triangle situated at the hoist with three horizontal aquamarine, yellow and aquamarine bands. Adopted in 1973 to replace the British Blue Ensign defaced with the emblem of the Crown Colony of the Bahama Islands, it has been the flag of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas since the country gained independence that year. The design of the present flag incorporated the elements of various submissions made in a national contest for a new flag prior to independence.
The Bahamas became a crown colony of the United Kingdom within its colonial empire in 1717. Under colonial rule, the Bahama Islands used the British Blue Ensign and defaced it with the emblem of the territory. This was inspired by the ousting of the pirates, and consisted of a scene depicting a British ship chasing two pirate ships out at the high seas encircled by the motto "Expulsis piratis restituta commercia" ("Pirates expelled, commerce restored"). The emblem was designed in around 1850, but did not receive official approval until 1964.
The Bahama Islands were granted "internal autonomy" in 1964. After the 1972 elections, the territory started negotiations on independence. A search for a national flag began soon after, with a contest being held to determine the new design. Instead of choosing a single winning design, it was decided that the new flag was to be an amalgamation of the elements from various submissions. It was first hoisted at midnight on July 10, 1973, the day the Bahamas became an independent country. The new country also changed its name from the Bahama Islands to the Bahamas upon independence.
The colors of the flag carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The gold alludes to the golden sand and the shining sun– as well as other key land-based natural resources – while the aquamarine epitomises the sea surrounding the country (specifically the Caribbean Sea). The black symbolizes the "strength", "vigor, and force" of the Bahamian people, while the directed triangle evokes their "enterprising and determined" nature to cultivate the abundant natural resources on the land and in the sea.
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