🇬🇾 The colours of Guyana

Guyana’s flag, called the Golden Arrowhead, features green, gold, red, black, and white. Each colour stands for a key aspect of the country: green for its forests and agriculture, gold for mineral wealth, red for zeal and dynamism, black for endurance, and white for rivers and water.

Where no official value is given, the swatch shows the colour family, not the exact shade.

The colours of the flag of Guyana

Guyana’s flag is known as the Golden Arrowhead. It uses five colours: green, gold, red, black, and white. Each colour is linked to a specific idea or resource. Green stands for the country’s forests and agriculture, reflecting Guyana’s landscape. Gold represents mineral wealth, while red is for zeal and dynamism. Black is said to mean endurance, and white is for rivers and water. These meanings are officially stated, not just popular interpretations.

How the colours were chosen of Guyana

The Golden Arrowhead was introduced in May 1966 when Guyana became independent from the United Kingdom. Whitney Smith, an American expert on flags, designed it. The original design did not include the black and white edges, which were later suggested by the College of Arms in the UK. Before independence, Guyana used a Blue Ensign with a colonial badge, following British colonial flag traditions. The colonial flag changed slightly over time, with versions in 1875, 1906, and 1955.

Official shades and rules of Guyana

The flag’s proportions are set at 3:5. The national ensign, used at sea, has a 1:2 ratio. There are also special flags for the president and judiciary, which are based on the national flag but may be changed by presidential proclamation. No official colour codes are given in the sources.