Flag of Fiji
Ties with Britain are stressed in the flag of Fiji, a former colony. The design dates from 1970, when the islands gained their independence, and is based on the Blue Ensign, although with a paler blue in the field. The continuing connection with the United Kingdom is displayed in the Union Jack in the canton, while a modified version of Fiji’s state arms is in the fly. The chief, at the top of the shield, displays an English lion holding a cocoa pod. Below this the shield is quartered by the cross of St. George with, in the four corners, a sugar cane plant, a coconut palm, a bunch of bananas (all these being indigenous plants) and a white dove of peace bearing an olive branch.
- The blue field indicates the Pacific Ocean, which is a significant element in the lives of the islanders, in terms of the gigantic fishing industry and the enormous tourist trade.
- The Union Jack imitates the country's relations with the Great Britain.
- The shield is consequent from the country's official coat of arms, which was formerly approved by Royal Warrant in 1908.
Earlier to surrendering the country to British ruling in 1874, the government of Fiji implemented a national flag displaying blue and white vertical stripes, with a red shield showing a white dove in the middle. This flag stopped from being used when the colonial period began and Fiji handed over its independence. Fiji was a British colony from 1874 to 1970. The present flag of Fiji was officially adopted on October 10, 1970.
The ratio of the flag is 1:2.
