Grenada

The National Flag of Grenada

From 1958 to 1962, Grenada, along with many of Britain's other colonies, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and the British Leeward and Windward islands, formed the West Indies Federation. The plan being to form a new Federal state between the islands, and ultimately gain their independence from Britain. The chosen flag was blue, with a yellow disc placed in the centre. Behind the disc ran 4 white, wavy lines. The 2 at the top run parallel to each other, and the 2 underneath run parallel, but mirroring the stripes along the top. The flag was designed by Edna Manley to represent the sun shining on the waves of the Caribbean sea. This Federation, however, only lasted 4 years. Riven with political infighting and problems. Jamaica, as the largest economy, objected to its reduced influence given its economic size, was the first to pull out. Others then followed suit, ending the Federation 1962.

Grenada gained associated state status from Britain in 1967, allowing them to control their internal affairs, and leaving their security and foreign affairs in the hands of Britain. To mark this, Grenada unveiled its first flag. A horizontal tricolour of blue, yellow and green. In the centre was a white oval edged with red. In the centre is a branch holding a nutmeg, which grows all over the island. The oval was edged in red which stands for the mace spice that is on the outside of the nutmeg.

In 1974, Grenada finally gained its independence from Britain, and adopted a new flag. Designed by Anthony B. George and officially adopted on February 7. The flag uses the pan-African colours of red, yellow and green. The flag itself uses the yellow and green in diagonal quarters, with the flag being bordered in red. In the centre is a red disc with a yellow star. On the border are six stars, three on top, and three on the bottom. On the hoist side of the flag is an image representing the nutmeg, which gives the island its nickname of "The Spice Island."

The red stands for courage and aspiration, and the border stands for the peoples desire to preserve the nations harmony and unity of spirit. The green represents the lush vegetation on the island, and the yellow represents the sun and wisdom.

The six stars represent the six parishes that make up Grenada, and the star in the centre is widely believed to represent the capital city, St Georges. Originally the design only featured one star, but the Flag committee insisted that the Parishes be represented, and that ended with another six being added to the flag.

Grenada's flag has existed since the nations independence, in spite of the nation enduring some moments of major instability, such as when the New Jewel Movement and its allies in 1979 overthrew the government. The NJM government suspended the constitution, and began moving to the left, welcoming assistance from Cuba. 

However, this government was deemed insufficiently socialist, and Bernard Coard, backed by the military, overthrew the NJM government, and moved the country towards a strongly Marxist stance. This sufficiently alarmed the US and others, and an invasion was launched which saw the constitution restored.

Through all this, moving from the constitutional government, to the socialist government, to Marxism, the flag flew the same.