New Trinidad and Tobago Coat of Arms to Debut on Tuesday (25th Feb), Featuring Steelpan, Which Replaces Columbus’ Ships.

Starting Tuesday, (tomorrow), Trinidad and Tobago’s updated Coat of Arms will be officially in use. This follows a proclamation by President Christine Kangaloo after the National Emblems of Trinidad and Tobago (Regulation) (Amendment) Bill passed in the Senate on January 22nd. The new design, created by jeweller Gillian Bishop, replaces Christopher Columbus’s three ships with the national instrument, the Steelpan. Though the updated Coat of Arms has been criticized for its muted color palette, the design will appear on the revised $100 polymer banknote, which is expected to circulate in September. It will also be placed on official documents like birth certificates, national IDs, and passports, as well as on Government buildings.