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GUYANA NATIONAL SYMBOLS
Our National Symbols
"The
National Flag"
The National Flag of Guyana is called "The Golden Arrowhead". It
bears five colors - red, black, yellow, white and green The flag
has the unique design of two triangles (one within the other) issuing
from the same base. The outer triangle is gold-colored (arrow-shaped)
with a narrow border of white along two sides. The inner triangle
is red with a narrow strip of black bordering the sides. The background
of the flag is green, representing the agricultural and forested
nature of Guyana. The white border represents the rivers and water
potential. The golden arrow represents Guyana's mineral wealth and
the black border, the endurance that will sustain the forward thrust
of the Guyanese people. The red of the flag represents the zeal
and dynamic nature of nation-building which lies before the young
and independent Guyana. The Flag was designed
by Whitney Smith, Director of the Flag Centre, Florida, U.S.A.
"The
Coat-Of-Arms"
The national Coat-of-Arms of Guyana is a composite of motifs suggested
in separate designs by three Guyanese artists. The design is interpreted
as follows: The Amerindian
head-dress symbolizes the Amerindians as the indigenous people
of the country. The two diamonds at the side of the head-dress
represent the country's mining industry. The helmet is the monarchial
insignia. The two jaguars holding a pick axe, a sugar cane and
a stalk of rice symbolize labor and the two main agricultural
industries of the country - sugar and rice. The shield which is
decorated with the National Flower, the Victoria Regia Lily, is
to protect the nation. The three blue wavy lines represent the
many waters of Guyana. The Canje Pheasant, the National Bird,
at the bottom of the shield represents a rare bird found principally
in this part of the world and also the rich fauna of Guyana. The
streamer below the shield bears the Nation's Motto
"ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE DESTINY".
The Coat of Arms was selected on the recommendation
of the National History and Arts Council and approved by the College
of Arms, England. It was accepted by the House of Assembly on
Friday, 25th February, 1966.
"The
National Flower"
The Victoria Regia, a water lily, was discovered by Robert Schomburgk,
a German Botanist in 1837, while leading an expedition into the
interior of what was then British Guiana. In its native habitat
of tropical America, the plant is perennial. It grows in 4 to
6 feet of water, the base of the stems being situated in soft
mud. From each plant there are seldom more than 4 or 5 leaves.
The largest flowers can measure 10 inches to one foot in diameter.
When first open, they are white with a sweet smell rather like
a ripe fruit; by the second day they are fully expanded and a
deeper pink; by the third day, they start to wither.
One of the
other national symbols chosen for Guyana is a bird - the Hoatzin
or Canje Pheasant. The adult Hoatzin is about 22 inches long from
beak to tail. Its color is reddish-brown streaked with green.
The under parts are pale brown. The feathers on its shoulder and
sides are edged with creamy-white. There is a crest of very long
feathers on its head which gives the bird an almost majestic look.
The Hoatzin has a very short and very thick beak, and the skin
around the crimson eye is of a pale blue color.This bird can be
found throughout the year in areas along the banks of the Berbice
River and its tributary, the Canje Creek, and to some extent,
on the Abary, Mahaicony and Mahaica Rivers. It feeds on the leaves
of aquatic vegetation. The nesting period for the Hoatzin, commonly
known as the Canje Pheasant, is usually from April to September.
"The
National Anthem"
National Anthem
of Guyana
Lyrics: A.L. Lucker Music: R.C.G. Potter
Dear land of Guyana,
of rivers and plains,
Made rich by the sunshine and lush by the rains,
Set gemlike and fair between mountains and sea,
Your children salute you, dear land of the free.
Green land
of Guyana, our heroes of yore,
Both bondsmen and free, laid their bones on your shore;
This soil so they hallowed, and from them are we,
All sons of one mother, Guyana the free.
Great land
of Guyana, diverse though our strains,
We are born of their sacrifice, heirs of their pains,
And ours is the glory their eyes did not see,
One land of six peoples, united and free.
Dear land
of Guyana, to you will we give
Our homage, our service, each day that we live;
God guard you, great Mother, and make us to be
More worthy our heritage - land of the free.
"The
National Pledge"
I pledge
myself to honor always the Flag of Guyana,
and to be loyal to my country,
to be obedient to the laws of Guyana,
to love my fellow citizens,
and to dedicate my energies towards the happiness and prosperity
of Guyana.
"SONG
OF THE REPUBLIC"
Words
by Cleveland W. Hamilton Music by Frank Daniels
From Pakaraima’s peaks
of pow’r
To Courentyne’s lush sands,
Her children pledge each faithful hour
To guard Guyana’s lands.
To foil the shock of rude invader
Who’d violate her earth,
To cherish and defend forever
The State that gave them birth.
We’ll forge a nation’s
might soul
Construct a nation’s frame;
Freedom our everlasting goal,
Courage and truth our aim,
Unyielding in our quest for peace
Like ancient heroes brave,
To strive and strive and never cease
With Strength beyond the slave.
Guyana, climb the glorious
perch
To fame, prosperity;
Join in the universal search
For world-wide comity.
Your people what soe’er their breed
Their hue or quality,
With one firm never changing creed
The nation’s unity.
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