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Our National Flag
The National Flag of Guyana, The Golden Arrowhead has five colours - Green, Gold, Red, Black and White. The principal colours are Green Gold and Red.
The flag has the unique design of two triangles
(one within the other) issuing from the same base.
The outer triangle is gold-coloured (arrow shaped) with a narrow
border of white along two sides. The triangle is red with a narrow strip
of black, bordering the two 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 the Guyana's
mineral wealth, and the black border represents the endurance that will
sustain the forward trust of Guyanese people.
The red of the flag represents the zeal and dynamic
nature of the nation building that lies before the young and independent
Guyana.
Our Coat of Arms
The design for the Guyana's Coat of arms are 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 represents the country's mining industry. The helmet is
the monarchical insignia. The two jaguars holding pick-axes, a sugar cane
and a stalk of rice symbolize labour and the two main agricultural industries
of the country- sugar cane and rice. The shield which is decorated with
the national flower, the Victoria Regia Lily, is to protect the nation.
The tree blue wavy lines represent the many waters of Guyana. The Canje
Pheasant at the bottom of the shield represents a rare bird found principally
in this part of the world.
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.
Our National Flower
The Victoria Regia Lily
The Victoria Regia, a water lily, was discovered
by Robert Schomburgh, 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 four or five leaves. The largest flower can
measure between 25 cm to 30 cm 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.
Our National Bird
The Canje Pheasant and Hoatzin
The adult Hoatzin is about 55 cm long from bill to tail. The feathers on its back are redish-brown streaked with green while those on its underside are pale brown. Those at the root of the neck and on the wings are edged with a creamy-white colour. On the Canje Pheasant's head is a crest of long feathers which give it a majestic look. A ring of pale blue skin surrounding its crimson eyes while a short beak adds the finishing touches to its unique appearance.
In Guyana the Canje Pheasant can be found along the banks of the Berbice River and its tributary - The Canje Creek, and to some extent, on along the Abary, Mahaicony and Mahaica Rivers. The Hoatzin feeds on leaves and aquatic vegetation and its usual nesting season is between April and September.
The National Anthem
words:
Dear Land Of Guyana, of rivers and plains
Made rich by the sunshine, and lush by
the rains,
Set gem-like and fair between mountains
and seas
Your children salute you, dead land of
the free.
Green land of Guyana, our heroes of yore
Both bondsmen and free, laid their bones
on your shore;
The soil so they hallowed, and from them
are we,
All sons of one mother, Guyana the free.
Great land of Guyana, diverse tough our
strains,
We are born of their sacrifices, heirs
of their pains,
And ours is the glory their eyes did not
see
One land of six people, 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 my self to honour
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.
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