BAHAMAS
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ON THE TWELFTH OF OCTOBER 1492 CHISTOPHER COLUMBUS SET FOOT ON Watling Island, one of the islands of
today’s Bahamas and at the same time for the first time on American soil. The
archipelago he discovered further he took
in possession for his clients,
the most Catholic Kings Ferdinand and Isabella of Aragon and Castile [1] The Spaniards were
only interested for a short time in the Bahamas. They focused first on
Hispaniola and the Greater Antilles and next on Mexico where the Vice-Kingdom
of New Spain was founded in 1535. As a result the archipelago could be
occupied with little effort by the English in 1694. They also failed to
colonize the islands for a long time and to establish their authority. In
this situation the few colonists engaged in lucrative piracy. This ultimately
became such a nuisance that British traders demanded for measures. In 1718
captain Woodes Rogers was appointed governor by king Geaorge I. In ten years
he succeeded to make an end to piracy. In 1728 the proud motto expulsis piratis restituta commercia (The Pirates Dislodged the Trade Restored ) was adopted for the
archipelago. On the badge the motto is on a strap surrounding a picture of
an English frigate hunting down two
pirates. From the stern flies the
Union Jack (model 1702-1801). The badge and the
motto was used until 1973 on the British red or blue ensign.
It served as the model for the first coat of arms of the colony. The frigate
and the pirates were placed on a shield, the chief charged with the royal
crown, which had covered the badge before. The motto was written on a ribbon
and the shield was covered with palm leaves. Anticipating the declaration of independence on 10 July 1973 Queen Elizabeth II granted a new coat of arms on 7 December 1971. It was designed by Hervis Bain and Harold A. Munnings. |
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The main charge is the ship of
Columbus, the carack Santa Maria. On its sails a red cross moline. From
the fore-mast flies the banner of Ferdinand and Isabella, a white cloth
charged wit a green cross between the initials F and Y. From the main-mast a
flag quarterly of Castile and Leon and from the mizzen-mast a yellow and red
pennon charged with the arms of Castile and Leon. [2] |
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On the chief is a rising sun
symbolizing hope. [3] Around the arms are crest,
supporters and motto, as usual in British heraldry. |
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BAHAMA ISLANDS |
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Badge approved 1869 The motto beginning in the left hand upper corner |
Badge 1964 - 1973 The motto beginning in the left hand lower corner |
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A
slightly oval device showing an english frigate, flying the Union Jack from
her stern, hunting down two pirate-ships, all proper. The picture is encircled
with a strap, proper with golden edges, on which is written: EXPULSIS PIRATIS {
RESTITUTA COMMERCIA (The
Pirates Dislodged, the Trade Restored). On a ribbon underneath is the word: bahamas. The badge is crowned with
the Imperial Crown. [4] |
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COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS |
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Motto: EXPULSIS
PIRATIS RESTITUTA COMMERCIA. 5th of June 1959 |
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COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS |
10.VII.1973 -
present |
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Arms: Argent, Christopher Columbus’
Santa Maria in full sail proper, on a base barry wavy of four Azure and
Argent; and a chief Azure, a rising sun radiant Or. Crest: On a golden helmet guardant, lambrequined
Argent and Azure a conch of the Giant Wingsnail (Stromus gigas - Strombidæ) and five palmleaves proper. Supporters: On the dexter a Blue Merlin (Makaira ampla - Istiophoridæ) and on
the sinister a red flamingo (Phoenicopterus
ruber ruber - Phoenicopteridæ) proper. Compartment: Waves of the sea on the dexter
and a grassy ground on the sinister proper. Motto: FORWARD
UPWARD ONWARD TOGETHER in
black lettering on a ribbon Or, lined Azure. By R.W. 7th December 1971 ð See illustration in the head of
this essay |
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Royal Bahamas Police |
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The Royal
Bahamas Police emblem shows the achievement of the Commonwealth surrounded by
the name of the service and the motto COURAGE INTEGRITY
LOYALTY on a ribbon. |
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© Hubert de Vries
2009-12-22