National symbols of Guyana
The Golden Arrowhead flag, the coat of arms, the national anthem, motto, bird and flower, and what each one means.
Guyana adopted its national symbols at independence in 1966. They reflect the country's land, rivers, peoples and resources.[1][2]
The flag: the Golden Arrowhead
The flag was adopted in May 1966. It was designed by the American flag scholar Whitney Smith, and the black and white borders were later added on the advice of the College of Arms in London. Its proportions are 3:5.[1]
| Colour | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Green | Agriculture and forests |
| White | Rivers and water |
| Gold | Mineral wealth |
| Black | Endurance |
| Red | Zeal and dynamism |
Source: Wikipedia, "Flag of Guyana".[1]
The coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted by the College of Arms on 25 February 1966.[2] Its parts are:[2]
- Cacique's Crown: an Amerindian head-dress for the Indigenous peoples.
- Two diamonds: the mining industry.
- Helmet: the monarchical insignia, under the crown.
- Two jaguars: holding a pickaxe, sugar cane and a stalk of rice, for labour and the sugar and rice industries.
- Shield: decorated with the national flower.
- Three blue wavy lines: the three great rivers and many waters of Guyana.
- Canje pheasant: the national bird, for Guyana's rich wildlife.
- Motto: "One People, One Nation, One Destiny" on the scroll below.
The national anthem
"Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains", also called "Green Land of Guyana", was adopted in 1966. The words are by Archibald Leonard Luker and the music by Robert Cyril Gladstone Potter. The words were chosen from 266 entries in a 1965 competition, and the music was picked in a separate blind contest.[3]
National bird: the hoatzin
The hoatzin is the national bird of Guyana, where it is called the Canje pheasant.[4] It lives along rivers and swamps and is known for its spiky crest.[4]
National flower: Victoria amazonica
The giant water lily Victoria amazonica, also called the Victoria regia lily, is the national flower and appears on the shield of the coat of arms.[2][5]
The jaguar
Two jaguars support the shield on the coat of arms.[2] Guyana is part of the jaguar's present range in the Americas.[6]
Map of Guyana
References
- "Flag of Guyana". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Guyana (accessed 24 Oct 2026) Open source Checked 24 Oct 2026.
- "Coat of arms of Guyana". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Guyana (accessed 24 Oct 2026) Open source Checked 24 Oct 2026.
- "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_Land_of_Guyana,_of_Rivers_and_Plains Open source
- "Hoatzin". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoatzin Open source
- "Victoria amazonica". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_amazonica Open source
- "Jaguar". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar Open source
Text CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted in part from the Wikipedia articles listed under References (CC BY-SA 4.0). Images are credited under their own licences. Site contact: service@computingcore.net.