Victoria Regia Lily
The National Flag of Guyana is
called "The Golden Arrowhead". It bears five colors - red,
black, yellow, white and green The flag has the unique design of two
triangles (one within the other) issuing from the same base. The outer
triangle is gold-colored (arrow-shaped) with a narrow border of white
along two sides. The inner triangle is red with a narrow strip of
black bordering the sides. The background of the flag is green,
representing the agricultural and forested nature of Guyana. The white
border represents the rivers and water potential. The golden arrow
represents Guyana's mineral wealth and the black border, the endurance
that will sustain the forward thrust of the Guyanese people. The red
of the flag represents the zeal and dynamic nature of nation-building
which lies before the young and independent Guyana.
national Coat-of-Arms of Guyana is a composite of motifs suggested in
separate designs by three Guyanese artists. The design is interpreted
The Amerindian head-dress symbolizes the Amerindians as the indigenous
people of the country. The two diamonds at the side of the head-dress
represent the country's mining industry. The helmet is the monarchial
insignia. The two jaguars holding a pick axe, a sugar cane and a stalk
of rice symbolize labor and the two main agricultural industries of
the country - sugar and rice. The shield which is decorated with the
National Flower, the Victoria Regia Lily, is to protect the nation.
The three blue wavy lines represent the many waters of Guyana. The
Canje Pheasant, the National Bird, at the bottom of the shield
represents a rare bird found principally in this part of the world and
also the rich fauna of Guyana. The streamer below the shield bears the
"ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE DESTINY".
The Victoria Regia, a water lily, was discovery by Robert
Schomburgh, a German Botanist in 1837, while leading an expedition
into the interior of Guyana.
In its native habitat of tropical America the plant is perennial.
It grows in 4- 6 feet of water. The base of the stems are situated
in soft mud. For each plant there are seldom more than 4 or 5
national bird is the Hoatzin or Canje Pheasant.
adult Hoatzin is about twenty two inches long from bill to tail.
Its colour is redish brown streaked with green. The under parts
are pale brown. The feathers on its shoulder and sides the
feathers are edged with creamy white. There is a crest of very
long feathers on its head. The Hoatzin has a very short and very
thick beak, and the skin around the crimson eye is of a pale blue
The bird can be found throughout the year in areas along the banks
of the Berbice River and its tributary, the Canje Creek and also
the Abary, Mahaicony, and Mahaica Rivers. It feeds on the leaves
of aquiatic vegetation.