In a significant move toward decolonization, Trinidad and Tobago is set to replace the Columbus ships on its national coat of arms with the steelpan, the country’s national instrument. Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley made the announcement at a special PNM party convention on August 18, held at the National Academy of the Performing Arts (NAPA). This change is expected to take place before Republic Day on September 24.
The decision to remove the Santa Maria, Pinta, and Nina—symbols of Christopher Columbus’s voyages—comes as part of a broader effort to shed colonial influences from the nation’s symbols. The change follows the passage of the National Musical Instrument Act 2024, which officially declared the steelpan as Trinidad and Tobago’s national instrument.
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The Prime Minister emphasized that the government has the necessary support in Parliament to make this adjustment swiftly. Over the next six months, the transition will occur gradually, allowing time to update official documents, currency, and other items that currently feature the coat of arms.
The existing coat of arms, designed in 1962 by a committee that included artist Carlisle Chang and designer George Bailey, has long featured the three ships as a nod to Columbus’s arrival in the Caribbean. However, the replacement with the steelpan—a uniquely Trinidadian creation—marks a shift toward a more locally reflective national identity.
The Prime Minister highlighted that this change would be a powerful signal of the country’s commitment to moving away from its colonial past and embracing a future defined by its own cultural heritage. This decision also aligns with the government’s broader efforts to modernize and evolve, including discussions on replacing the Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice as Trinidad and Tobago’s highest court of appeal.
As the country prepares for this historic change, the steelpan’s inclusion on the coat of arms will not only symbolize Trinidad and Tobago’s rich musical legacy but also its ongoing journey toward self-determination and cultural pride.
