Trinidad is revising its heraldic emblem to eliminate Columbus' renowned vessels from the design.
Christopher Columbus' trio of vessels – the Pinta, the Nina, and the Santa Maria – are set to be swapped out with the steelpan, a widely beloved percussion instrument that hails from the eastern Caribbean isle.
Prime Minister Keith Rowley revealed this on Sunday, receiving thunderous applause, stating that the emblem would undergo modifications before the end of September.
"This should signify our progress in disposing of the colonial remnants enshrined in our constitution," he declared.
The existing emblem displays hummingbirds, a palm tree, and the scarlet ibis, which serves as Trinidad and Tobago's national bird.
Rowley's proclamation is close on the heels of Trinidad and Tobago planning a public forum next week to discuss whether certain statues, signs, and monuments should be eliminated.
This transformation forms part of a global crusade determined to scrap emblems of the colonial epoch. In fact, Columbus statues have been torn down or toppled in numerous US locations in recent times.
Columbus made landfall in Trinidad and Tobago in 1498.
The steelpan, replacing Christopher Columbus' ships in the national emblem, symbolizes Trinidad and Tobago's active participation in the worldwide movement to replace symbols of the colonial era. Furthermore, this trend has led to the removal of Columbus statues in various parts of the United States recently.
