A brief overview of the meaning, history, and key facts about the national flag of Guyana.
Flag of Guyana
Adopted in 1966, the national flag of Guyana features a green field with a golden arrowhead shape edged in white and a red triangle edged in black extending from the hoist. The green color represents Guyana’s agriculture and forests, while the golden arrow symbolizes the country’s mineral wealth. The white border represents the many rivers and water resources of Guyana, the black border symbolizes endurance, and the red triangle represents zeal and the dynamic spirit of the nation.
Printable Guyana Flag (PNG Download)
Interesting facts about Guyana’s flag
1. The national flag of Guyana is commonly known as the Golden Arrowhead, a reference to the large golden triangle that points toward the fly of the flag.
2. The flag was designed by Whitney Smith, an American vexillologist who also coined the word vexillology, the study of flags.
3. The original design submitted by Whitney Smith in 1962 did not include the black and white borders. These were added before adoption after suggestions from the College of Arms in the United Kingdom.
4. Guyana’s national pledge begins with a promise to honor the national flag: “I pledge myself to honor always the flag of Guyana.”
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Evolution of Guyana’s flag
Flag of British Guiana
The final colonial flag used in British Guiana before independence. It featured a Blue Ensign with the colony’s badge showing a sailing ship and the Latin motto Damus Petimusque Vicissim (“We give and expect in return”).
Sodacan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Proposed flag of Guyana (1962)
A design created by American vexillologist Whitney Smith as part of an international competition for Guyana’s future national flag.
History of Guyana’s flag
Colonial period
Before independence, Guyana was known as British Guiana and was part of the British Empire.
Like many British colonies, it used a Blue Ensign with a colonial badge, which was modified several times during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Design of the national flag
As Guyana moved toward independence, a competition was held to create a national flag. The winning design was submitted in 1962 by Whitney Smith, an American expert in flags.
The design featured the distinctive arrowhead motif that gives the national flag its nickname, the “Golden Arrowhead.”
Adoption of the Golden Arrowhead
Before the flag was officially adopted, thin white and black borders were added to the design by the College of Arms in the United Kingdom.
The final design was adopted on 26 May 1966, the day Guyana became independent from the United Kingdom.
Since then, the Golden Arrowhead has remained the national flag of Guyana.
Explore more: South American flags or test your knowledge with our American flag quiz.