Trinidad & Tobago’s national instrument, the Steel Pan will soon replace Christopher Columbus’s three ships, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria on this country’s coat of Arms. The announcement made Sunday by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at the People’s National Movement (PNM) special convention.
Dr. Rowley, stated that the change is expected to be finalised before Republic Day (September 24), with a six-month transition period to facilitate changes to stationery and other official materials.
The PM said: “You see them three Columbus ships in the emblem? They will go. Since we have enough votes in Parliament to do it, I could announce now that as soon as the legislative adjustment is made—and that adjustment should be made before the 24th of September—we then over a six-month period will replace Columbus’ three ships, the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Niña, with the steelpan.”
He added: “It should take place over a six-month period, allowing us to consume the stationery and other things we have in place and be replaced by our new intention and that should signal that we are on our way to removing the colonial vestiges that we have in our constitution and I hope that we start with that and we end up getting up and no longer being squatters on the steps of the Privy Council.”