In a significant move towards decolonization, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley announced that the national coat of arms will be updated to replace the three ships of Christopher Columbus with the steelpan, the country’s national instrument. This change is expected to be implemented by Republic Day on September 24, 2024.

The announcement was made during a special People’s National Movement (PNM) convention held on August 18 at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain. The convention was convened to discuss the recommendations of the party’s constitution review committee.

Rowley’s declaration was met with widespread applause from the audience, signaling broad support for the change. “You see them three Columbus boats on the emblem? They will go!” Rowley exclaimed, emphasizing the government’s intention to remove colonial symbols from the nation’s emblems.

The three ships, the Santa Maria, Pinta, and Nina, currently symbolize the Trinity, the discovery of Trinidad and Tobago, and Columbus’s voyages on the national coat of arms. These symbols will be replaced by the steelpan, which was officially named the national instrument following the passage of the National Musical Instrument Act earlier this year.

Rowley assured the public that the transition will occur gradually over a six-month period, allowing for the replacement of stationery, official documents, and other items featuring the current coat of arms. The steelpan will soon adorn government buildings, vehicles, money, and embassies, marking a new chapter in the country’s history.

The Prime Minister emphasized that this change represents a broader effort to remove colonial vestiges from Trinidad and Tobago’s national identity. He also reiterated the government’s intention to eventually replace the Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice as the country’s highest court of appeal, further signaling a shift away from colonial influences.

The decision to update the coat of arms has been framed as part of a broader constitutional reform effort. The PNM committee, which has been examining the National Advisory Committee on Constitutional Reform’s report, recommended several changes to align the constitution with contemporary needs. Among these recommendations is the adoption of the Caribbean Court of Justice as the highest appellate court, replacing the colonial-era Privy Council.

As the country prepares to celebrate Republic Day, the symbolic replacement of Columbus’s ships with the steelpan on the national coat of arms marks a significant step in Trinidad and Tobago’s journey towards self-definition and the removal of colonial symbols.