[UPDATED] PM: Steelpan to replace Columbus's ships, new coat of arms in 6 weeks

THE Prime Minister says as Trinidad and Tobago removes the vestiges of colonialism, the national instrument will replace  Columbus's ships on the national coat of arms.

Rowley made the announcement at a special PNM party convention held at the National Academy of the Performing Arts (NAPA) on August 18 to consider the report of the party's constitution review committee.

The convention erupted in applause as Rowley made the announcement of the change, which he said would be done before Republic Day.

The steelpan was named the national instrument after the National Musical Instrument Act 2024 was passed last month.

“You see them three Columbus boats on the emblem? They will go!”

He said the Government has enough votes in Parliament to make the change and intends to deal with the issue soon after the reopening of the new parliamentary session.

“That adjustment should be made before the 24 September. We then will replace Columbus’s three ships – the Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina – with the steelpan.

“That will take place over a six-month period, allowing us to consume the stationery and other things we have in place and replace it.”

The national coat of arms is currently found on money; government vehicles and buildings, including embassies and high commissions abroad; and official documents such as birth certificates, passports and ID cards.

It was designed by a committee formed in 1962 to select the symbols to represent TT's people and included artist Carlisle Chang and designer George Bailey.

The Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, on its website, says the three ships, coloured in gold on the coat of arms, represent the Trinity, the discovery of the islands and the three ships of Columbus.

The Office of the President's website says the national coat of arms is the seal of the state of the Government and is “arguably the most important of the national emblems.”

A licence must be acquired to reproduce and sell the national coat of arms and it can only be displayed in full colour, gold, silver, bronze, or black and white.

Rowley said the decision will substantially affect how citizens view themselves.

“That should signal that we are on our way to removing the colonial vestiges that we have in our country.”

He said the Privy Council is another colonial remnant he was ready to get rid of, referring to TT as “squatters” on the steps of the council.

“All those who believe that the council must always be our supreme court, one of these days in England, there's going to be a government that will take the position to expel us. Then we will have our tails between our legs and agree we should have done that since 2025.”

The party's views on this and other topics were shared as the party committee gave its recommendations on the Report of the National Advisory Committee on Constitutional Reform, which was published on August 15.

The committee, under former speaker Barendra Sinanan, SC, held town meetings across the country to help formulate terms of reference for a formal consultation on constitutional reform.

After the report was submitted, the party’s committee was appointed to examine the report and submit its recommendations to the membership.

Party committee chairman Keith Scotland said the matter of whether a colonial court could ever be a true voice of the Caribbean people was something the membership had to consider.

He added the party committee recommends TT adopt the Caribbean Court of Justice as its highest court of appeal.

Rowley praised the committee members as he defended their independence and the report they produced.

“I only know one of them being associated with the PNM as a member of the PNM, and that person is the chairman, Barry Sinanan.

“All the other people, I do not know of them having any association with the PNM.

“So this was a group of people who, as leader of the government, I want to thank them for agreeing to this exercise.”

He told party members any changes in the constitution were a move to protect the future of TT.

Pointing to the US and the important role the amendments to its constitution have played, he said a failure to amend the constitution means the country is not evolving.

He noted, though, for some people, constitutional reform had become a crutch and a scapegoat for TT's issues.

“It’s just a useful phrase they interject. You know when you make your fish broth, you add salt butter, that kind of thing, and the constitution was being used like that by some.”

Rowley said numerous stakeholders, including state bodies, 32 non-governmental organisations and two political parties participated in the consultations.

He expressed his regret that the opposition United National Congress did not participate in the consultations despite its role as a part of the government.

“It would be of great satisfaction to me if the Opposition leader will change her position and allow her people to take part in this process so that the national interest can be served.

“I have no doubt that there are people in the UNC who can contribute considerably to the national discourse and national outcome and it is a tragedy indeed that the leadership is saying, ‘We not taking part in nothing.’”

Rowley said there are plans to host the national constitutional reform conference, which was recommended by the national committee, in October, and dismissed any speculation of an early general election.

“That guarantees you that the election they (Opposition) are talking about in November is not taking place.

“The work we did to get to this point took place in 2023, and in January 2024 the committee was appointed. Therefore It is nonsense to say this has anything to do with a political election that is due in November. There will be no election in November! There will be elections in 2025.”

Scotland said the committee interacted with more than 800 members of the party in person and more than 100,000 people online.

He said constitutional reform is important as the constitution should align with contemporary needs.

“Look how our lives have changed. Don’t you think that in that context, the Constitution ought to be looked at again from 1976? Why shouldn't the constitution change accordingly?”

However, he said: "A constitution must not be outdated, but it must not be interfered with lightly. If it is done in an ad-hoc manner, the country can fall into chaos, and institutions such as our service commissions and organs of state like the judiciary will have attached to it a sense of ambiguity.”

He said the committee supported changes to the constitution regarding service commissions.

Pointing to quotes from former independent senator Helen Drayton, Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Independent Senator Anthony Vieira, Scotland said the existing model embodies the hindering of decision-making, recruitment, succession planning and performance management at the highest and lowest levels.

He said the public was disappointed with the speed with which public services are delivered.

"The country is tired of poor service.”

He said the party committee recommended the implementation of a corporate-sector model based on what exists in New Zealand and Kenya.

“I want, for the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, to make it clear that we are not recommending the entire removal of the service commissions. What we are saying is we want an improvement in line with the corporate-sector model.”

Rowley contradicted this later, saying, “The country should consider that we move into modern management by removing the service commissions and its restrictions, (and) put good human-resource management in place for the various government departments.”

Addressing the process of appointing a Commissioner of Police, Scotland said the current process is too cumbersome and the party committee recommended the process should rest with the relevant independent body to allow for mitigation of political interference.

“The President should submit the intended decision of the Police Service Commission (PSC) to the prime minister and opposition leader for consideration.

“If either the prime minister or opposition leader objects to the appointment, they must provide substantial reason, data or evidence for non-agreement.

“This will be further deliberated on by PSC, which will have final say.”

This story was originally published with the title "PM: Steelpan to be on national coat of arms" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE Prime Minister says the national coat of arms will be changed by Republic Day to include pan, the national instrument.

Dr Rowley made the announcement at a special PNM party convention held at the National Academy of the Performing Arts (NAPA) on August 18 to consider the report of the party's constitution review committee.

“You see them three Columbus boats on the emblem (sic)? They will go!”

Dr Rowley said the government intends to make the change soon after Parliament reopens.

“That adjustment should be made before September 24. We then will replace Columbus’s three ships – the Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina – with the steelpan.

“That will take place over a six-month period, allowing us to consume the stationery and other things we have in place and replace it.”

Rowley said the decision will substantially affect how citizens view themselves.

“That should signal that we are on our way to removing the colonial vestiges that we have in our country.”

The Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, on its website, says the three ships, coloured in gold on the coat of arms represent the Trinity, the discovery of the islands and the three ships of Columbus.

The national coat of arms is found on money, government buildings, government vehicles, and in Trinidad and Tobago embassies and high commissions around the world.