Trinidad and Tobago has unveiled its new coat of arms, which features a gold steelpan and two pan sticks, replacing the previous depiction of three ships associated with Christopher Columbus. The design was showcased in a newspaper advertisement by the Office of the Prime Minister – Communications yesterday.
The new coat of arms reflects the passage of the National Emblems of Trinidad and Tobago (Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was unanimously approved in the House of Representatives on January 13. The amendment replaces the ships, linked to Columbus, with the steelpan, the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, symbolizing the country’s rich cultural heritage.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s has been pushing for the national emblems to be changed, in his contribution in Parliament he stated.
“Symbolism matters. It’s not a question of either or; we can have it all. We can have symbols, we can have jobs, we can have food, but at the end of the day, symbolism matters.
“…and seeing today in this Parliament, that Parliament has taken the step to remove the misrepresentation of Columbus’ ships on our national coat of arms and replace it with the steelpan, would know that pan has reached the highest heights in T&T,” the Prime Minister said then.
The Bill will now proceed to be read and debated in the Upper House (Senate).
Pan Trinbago, the governing body for steelpan, described the new coat of arms as a “transformative moment in our nation’s history.” The organization expressed its pride in being actively involved in the development process, collaborating closely with the Office of the Prime Minister to ensure the steelpan’s rightful place on the national emblem.
Pan Trinbago endorsed the new design in November 2024, which prominently features the steelpan alongside its iconic pan sticks. President Beverley Ramsey-Moore emphasized that the design aligns with the organization’s vision and encapsulates the essence of Trinidad and Tobago’s identity, resonating deeply with the cultural significance of the steelpan.
