[UPDATED] Tobago chamber: Remove awful cocrico from coat of arms

TOBAGO Business Chamber chairman Martin George has expressed grave disappointment with the updated version of the coat of arms, which was passed recently in the House of Representatives.

In a video released to the media on January 20, George said he had no issue with the steelpan replacing the three ships used by explorer Christopher Columbus, but felt the cocrico, one of the two national birds, should also have been removed.

George said if changes are being made, then all necessary amendments should happen now.

"There is absolutely no need to keep this destructive pest on our coat of arms. There is no redeeming feature to this creature," he said.

"We of the Tobago Business Chamber wish to express our great disappointment that our Prime Minister, who is from Tobago, did not see it fit to also make an important change to the coat of arms. Since we are doing changes to the coat of arms we might as well do so now.

"This awful, and I make no apologies for saying so, unacceptable bird called the cocrico that graces our coat of arms, and which is designated as the bird of Tobago – it is an awful creature. It's destructive, it's loud, it's raucous, it's noisy, it serves no useful purpose, and yet it is a protected bird."

He suggested the hummingbird take the place of the cocrico.

"Why didn’t Dr Rowley use this opportunity as a Tobagonian to do a service to Tobagonians to remove this bird and put something proper there instead – even if it's the hummingbird?"

George said he was proud to see the steelpan on the coat of arms, congratulating the people and the government of TT on its inclusion.

"This was something that was long overdue. The coat of arms is a representation of your country, it's a representation of your nation. In 2025 it certainly does not appear appropriate that we retain those three ships of Columbus. The steelpan is much more representative and is a positive and forward-thinking step for us to have taken."

He said in the last few years, there have been tremendous strides made with respect to the instrument.

"In 2023 the UN declared (August 11) World Steelpan Day. We saw in 2024 the government declaring steelpan being the national instrument. Then in 2025 the steelpan on the coat of arms, and I think it's something we can all feel justifiably proud of."

He said when you check online or do any research about the steelpan, it's intrinsically linked to TT as being the origin of steelpan, "despite what some other Caribbean islands might want to claim."

He said the late calypsonian Merchant would be feeling "some sort of pride in the great beyond where he is, because we remember years ago when he sang Pan in Danger. But we have turned that corner and are out of danger."

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

TOBAGO Business Chamber chairman Martin George has expressed grave disappointment with the updated version of the coat of arms, which was passed recently in the House of Representatives.

In a video released to the media on January 20, George said he had no issue with the steelpan replacing the three ships used by explorer Christopher Columbus, but felt the cocrico, one of the two national birds, should have also been removed.

George said if changes are being made, then all necessary amendments should happen now.

"There is absolutely no need to keep this destructive pest on our coat of arms. There is no redeeming feature to this creature," he said.

"We of the Tobago Business Chamber wish to express our great disappointment that our Prime Minister, who is from Tobago, did not see it fit to also make an important change to the coat of arms. Since we are doing changes to the coat of arms we might have well do so now.

"This awful, and I make no apologies for saying so, unacceptable bird called the cocrico that graces our coat of arms, and which is designated as the bird of Tobago. It is an awful creature. It's destructive, it's loud, it's raucous, it's noisy, it serves no useful purpose, and yet it is a protected bird."

He suggested the hummingbird take the place of the cocrico.

"Why didn’t Dr Rowley use this opportunity as a Tobagonian to do a service to Tobagonians to remove this bird and put something proper there instead – even if it's the hummingbird?"