The country's coat of arms hangs at the entrance of a government building in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. Prime Minister Keith Rowley announced on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, that the country is redrawing the island's coat of arms to remove references to European colonization, replacing Christopher Columbus' three ships with the steelpan, a popular percussion instrument. (AP Photo/Ash Allen)
The country's coat of arms hangs on the facade of a government building in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. Prime Minister Keith Rowley announced on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, that the country is redrawing the island's coat of arms to remove references to European colonization, replacing Christopher Columbus' three ships with the steelpan, a popular percussion instrument. (AP Photo/Ash Allen)
The country's coat of arms hangs at the entrance of a government building in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. Prime Minister Keith Rowley announced on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, that the country is redrawing the island's coat of arms to remove references to European colonization, replacing Christopher Columbus' three ships with the steelpan, a popular percussion instrument. (AP Photo/Ash Allen)
The country's coat of arms hangs on the facade of a government building in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. Prime Minister Keith Rowley announced on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, that the country is redrawing the island's coat of arms to remove references to European colonization, replacing Christopher Columbus' three ships with the steelpan, a popular percussion instrument. (AP Photo/Ash Allen)
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Officials in Trinidad and Tobago are redrawing the island’s coat of arms for the first time since its creation in 1962 to remove references to European colonization in a move that many are celebrating.
Christopher Columbus’ three ships — the Pinta, the Niña and the Santa MarÃa — will be replaced with the steelpan, a popular percussion instrument that originated in the eastern Caribbean island.
Prime Minister Keith Rowley made the announcement on Sunday to a standing ovation, saying the coat of arms would be reconfigured before late September.
“That should signal that we are on our way to removing the colonial vestiges that we have in our constitution,†he said.
The current coat of arms also features hummingbirds, a palm tree and a scarlet ibis, Trinidad's national bird.
Rowley’s announcement comes roughly a week before Trinidad and Tobago is scheduled to hold a public hearing on whether certain statues, signs and monuments should be removed.
The upcoming change is part of a worldwide movement that aims to eradicate symbols of the colonial era, . in recent years.
Columbus arrived in Trinidad and Tobago in 1498.
The ´ºÉ«Ö±²¥ Press. All rights reserved.
Automakers are betting big on in-car subscriptions, but have had some trouble conv…
Hudson's Bay has reached deals to sell the leases of six store locations as legal …
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
