Trinidad and Tobago Redesigns Coat of Arms

Officials in Trinidad and Tobago are redesigning the island's coat of arms to eliminate references to European colonization. Prime Minister Keith Rowley announced on Sunday that Christopher Columbus' three ships will be replaced with the steelpan, a traditional Caribbean percussion instrument. This significant change is scheduled for completion before late September.

Rowley's announcement received a standing ovation, highlighting the island's desire to shed colonial symbols. "That should signal that we are on our way to removing the colonial vestiges that we have in our constitution," Rowley stated. The current coat of arms, which also includes hummingbirds, a palm tree, and the national bird, the scarlet ibis, has remained unchanged since it was created in 1962.

This initiative aligns with a global movement to remove colonial-era symbols, paralleling actions taken in the US, where numerous Columbus statues have been taken down. The announcement precedes a public hearing in Trinidad and Tobago on the potential removal of statues, signs, and monuments associated with colonialism. Columbus originally landed on the island in 1498. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)