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by Carlos Esparza, 9 Febuary 2001
Official Name: Commonwealth of Dominica
Capital: Roseau
Location: Caribbean
Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy;
Republic within the Commonwealth
Flag adopted: 3
November 1978 (Modified 1988)
Coat of arms adopted: 21 July 1961
ISO Code: DM
See also:
From Album 2000 [pay00] -
National Flag (CSW/CSW 1:2) - Green flag with yellow-black-white
corss and red disk with 10 yellow bordered green stars and
sisserou parrot (loking towards hoist). The construction details
are given beside the figure as (9+2+2+2+9):(21+2+2+2+21).
Measuring the image in Album 2000, the disk diameter apears to be
equal to 12 units (i.e. double the three stripes width). It is
hard to judje the size of the stars, they apear to be inscribed
in circles larger then 2 units, but weather they'll be 3, I
couldn't say. maybe the document from which Armand got the rest
of the construction would say more. I doubt that the size of
yellow border is prescribed. The use of unusual colours in this
flag might be a good reson to
quote the colour approximation provided in Album: green Pantone
347c, red Pantone 185c. yellow Pantone 116c and purple Pantone
254c.
Željko Heimer, 15 June 2001
Is there some branch under the parrot and what is the
orientation of stars?
Note: The Sisserou parrot is, scientifically, Amazona Imperialis.
Jan Zrzavy, 16 June 2001
The image by Carlos Esparza is very well done regarding the
details in the disk (however, the cross is not quite according to
the Album secification, though). So the stars are pointing
"outwards" but that virtually means that the topmost
star is pointing upwards and then interchangably next one is
pointing downwards, and next one upwards again and so on. There
is a yellow branch on which the parror is sitting (not brownish
as by Carlos). The beak and "fingers" are white (or
very light yellow?) in Album, and those parts that are in Carlo's
image blue are purple in Album. There should not be the small
green part between the two purple parts (near the beak) - all
should be purple there.
I always wandered - Dominica was under British colonial
influencem, so how come that they never adopted anything similar
to the British rich flags & ensigns system?
Željko Heimer, 16 June 2001
We say on our website: "The ten lime green stars - the
traditional symbol of hope - represent the ten parishes of the
country". According to Encyclopaedia Universalis
Yearbook, the ten parishes are: St. Andrew St. David, St.
George (including the capital city Roseau), St. John, St. Joseph,
St. Luke, St. Mark, St. Patrick, St. Paul and St. Peter.
Ivan Sache, 15 June 2004
I see the common name used in Dominica to call the Amazona
imperialis, followed by a scientific binomial name is Sisserou
Parrot (Psittacus Imperiala) (see Official
Announcement of the Flag at Independence). Zoologically,
nowadays the name "Psittacus imperialia" doesn't exist
and isn't accepted as the correct Linnean name of the parrot is
Amazona imperialis, Richmond 1899. (The Genus Psittacus contains
just one specie, which is Psittacus erithacus, Linneus 1758; the
African grey parrot).
Francesco Dalba, 28 September 2004
Some photos and a lot of descriptive text found (for instance)
at <www.rarespecies.org/imperial.htm>
and <www.worldparrottrust.org>.
It seems, that this parrot is highly endangered (around 100
individuals left only).
Marcus Schmöger, 28 September 2004
by Herman De Wael, 8 June 1997
by Herman De Wael, 8 June 1997
First adopted 3 November 1978. Black and white bands
interchanged on 3 November 1981, posture of parrot changed 1988.
Originally the stars had no yellow border.
Mark Sensen , 2 January 1996
The new Dominica independence flag is now on display at Government headquarters. Dominicans are invited to view the flag on the third floor of the building.
The flag in an amendment of a design submitted by Alwin Bully for a flag competition held early this year. It consists of a circular emblem of red bearing a Sisserou Parrot (Psittacus Imperiala) standing on a twig encircled by ten lime green stars. This is superimposed on three vertical and three horizontal stripes of yellow, white and black forming a triple coloured cross against a general background of forest green.
The central emblem presents the National Bird of Dominica, the Sisserou Parrot, also a symbol of flight towards greater heights and fulfilment of aspirations. The Parrot also comes from the Dominica Coat of Arms thus symbolising the official seal of the country.
The ten lime green stars - the traditional symbol of hope - represent the ten parishes of the country, each with equal status, thus the equality of our people. The red central emblem carries the connotation of socialism.
The yellow, white and black stripes form a triple coloured cross representing the Trinity of God. The cross itself demonstrates belief in God since the Commonwealth of Dominica is founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God.
The yellow stripe represents the sunshine of our land, our main agricultural products: citrus and bananas and also a symbol of the Carib people, the first inhabitants of the Island.
The white stripe represents the clarity of our rivers and waterfalls and the purity of aspirantion of our people.
The black stripe represents the rich black soil of our island on which our agriculture is based and also our African heritage.
The general background of dark green symbolises our rich verdunt forests and the general lushness of the island.
The flag can be seen during normal working hours. Citizens may, if they so desire, use the colours of the flag for making buntings to decorate their houses and surroundings during Independence Celebrations.
"The army loyal to the Prime Minister Mary Eugenia Charles represses a revolt lead by the ex-commander-in-chief of Dominican Army Frederik Newton and by his vice Ashton Benjamin; they are arrested together with more than 90 people. The rebels tried to assail the prison in which there was the ex-Prime Minister Patrick John, who was arrested on 12 February 1981"
So I argue that the little change of the flag is someway related
with the change of government happened in the same year.
Giuseppe Bottasini
by Herman DeWael, 20 September 1998
The flag is hung with the reverse showing, but the parrot
retains the original position.
Graham Bartram and Željko Heimer, 7 August 1996
Dominica is divided to 10 parishes. There are no known flags
of those parishes. The parishes are:
- Saint Andrew
- Saint David
- Saint George
- Saint John
- Saint Joseph
- Saint Luke
- Saint Mark
- Saint Patrick
- Saint Paul
- Saint Peter
List based on Administrative
divisions of the World.
Ivan Sache, 15 June 2004
I take it that these are governmental designations rather than
ecumenical (i.e., the parishes are not literally church parishes,
but are administrative divisions).
James Dignan, 15 June 2004
They are listed in Encyclopaedia Universalis Yearbook as
administrative divisions but they probably match church
divisions. Religion seems to be very important in those Caribbean
islands and it is not so surprising that the administrative
divisions are called parishes.
Ivan Sache, 16 June 2004