The Coat of Arms
The Coat of Arms of Seychelles
The new Coat of Arms of the Republic of Seychelles, which was adopted on 27 May 1976, was designed to represent Seychelles’ fresh start as an independent republic, reflecting its natural heritage with a design that depicts a number of endemic species instantly recognisable as belonging to the archipelago of islands. It features a shield, with a majestic coco de mer palm tree laden with fruit in the centre. As a major tourist attraction in Seychelles, the coco de mer is famous for having the largest and heaviest seeds in the world and is native to the islands of Praslin and Curieuse.
A giant Aldabra tortoise stands beneath the coco de mer tree at the bottom of the shield. Originating from the Aldabra Atoll, the tortoise is one of the largest species in the world and visitors to Seychelles are always keen to see it in its natural habitat.
The background consists of the Indian Ocean, two green islands and a schooner, surrounded by a border of a silver helmet, a White-tailed Tropicbird, Phaethon lepturus, in flight and two Indo-Pacific sailfish or Istiophorus Platypterus. The subjects represent the island’s typical wildlife – a tortoise on the land, the bird in the air and the fish in the sea. The schooner represents the fishing industry. Tourism and fishing are the two most important industries to the Seychelles’ economy.
Some of the colours on the Coat of Arms also appear on the Seychelles’ national flag. The colour blue represents the sky and the sea surrounding the islands; red (the colour of the boat and parts of the shield’s border) symbolises the people and their determination to work for the future in love and unity; white represents social justice and harmony; and the green grass symbolises the land and natural environment.
Beneath the shield, emblazoned on a ribbon, is the motto of Seychelles, “Finis Coronat Opus”, which is Latin. It translates to, “The End Crowns the Work”, which means achieving the goal gives value to the labour that produced it.
Other historical Badges
The composition of the current Coat of Arms was derived from the earlier badge ,on the left, of the then Colony of the Seychelles, used from 1961-1977. I reproduce below a submission by Ann Janicki, daughter of Mrs. McEwen, 28 April 2005 from the Toronto Globe and Mail (transcribed from a newspaper clipping; some parts missing):
“Torontonian Designs Flag for Seychelles.
A new flag badge for the Seychelles Islands has been designed by Mrs. Alec McEwen of Toronto. A few days ago she received word from London that the design had been approved by the Queen and that the Admiralty has agreed to its use in the fly of the blue ensign. A former commercial artist entered a poster contest and the governor was delighted with her sketch. So one of the first of new Seychelles Islands flags will come to another British colony halfway around the world, to its designer. Colorful both in design and content, it closely resembles the …
…its pale yellow oval border inset with green fish on a blue background. It still carries the giant land tortoise, a gentle, lumbering creature centuries older than people in the islands; and a brown and green coco-de-mer tree from which the largest fruit in the world, big double coconuts, are harvested. The fruit, which Mrs. McEwen describes as a translucent jelly, is served at Government House smothered in crème de menthe. In the background is a pale mauve island top and a red fishing boat with snowy sails. The insignia is indicative of main industries on the agricultural islands – coconuts and copra, cinnamon and fish and vanilla.”
The top badge was developed from an even earlier badge in use around 1930 as a less official emblem, as can be seen from the image above.
Seychelles National Flag
(Paviyon Sesel)
The Seychelles National Flag
The Seychelles National flag of the third republic is made of five oblique bands of blue, yellow, red, white and green radiating from the bottom of the hoist side. The oblique bands symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future. The colour blue depicts the sky and the sea that surrounds us. Yellow is for the sun which gives light and life, red symbolizes the people and their determination to work for the future in unity and love, while the white band represents social justice and harmony. The green depicts the land and natural environment.
The current flag was designed by Mr. Phillip Uzice and was adopted on June 18, 1996 and is the third flag used by the Seychelles since its independence from Britain on June 29, 1976.
Let us now look at the history of the flag in chronological order:
The French Colonial era
From settlement to 1815 The Seychelles was a French colony and despite the fact that most of the French colonies of the time had a French Colonial Flag , the Seychelles did not appear to have had one and the following flags could have been used during this period:
From 1756 to 1790 The French Flag with the Royal Coat of Arms
From 1790 to 1803 the Tricolor
From 1803 to 1815 there was also a capitulation Flag!!
In 1814 the British controlled Mauritius, by default due to the Seychelles dependency on Mauritius, it also fell under British control, at this time, the Union Jack became the official flag of Seychelles.In 1903 Seychelles separated from Mauritius and become a republic within the commonwealth administrated by the British Colonial Governor. From here on, two slightly different colonial flags have been in use, both of which had the writing “Finis Coronat Opus” in its emblems, meaning “The End Crowns the Work”, which still today is a national motto.
British colonial flags
Flag of Seychelles from 1903-1961-badge designed by Major-General Charles George Gordon.
Flag of Seychelles from 1961-1976-badge designed by Mrs. Alec McEwen of Toronto, Canada
Seychelles independence
Seychelles Flag from 1976 to 1977
In 1976 Seychelles become independent from the British Commonwealth; a coalition government was formed by the two leading parties with James Mancham of SDP (Seychelles Democratic Party) as president, and Albert René of SPUP (Seychelles People’s United Party) as prime minister. The flag pictured on the right which was introduced at the time, lasted only until 1977. It had alternating blue and red triangles. And the meaning of the colours were as follows:
The former Democratic Party was represented by blue and white, and the Seychelles People’s United Party by the red and white. They were the two main political parties of the time. Also the blue, red and white were colours of the flags of the British and the French who once ruled the islands.
Seychelles Flag from 1977 to 1996
In 1977, when President James Mancham was overthrown by France-Albert René, the old flag was abolished and the red, white and green flag based on the flag of the Seychelles People’s United Party came into use, which had a district wavy white stripe. The only significant difference between the national flag and SPUP’s/ SPPF’s flag was the depiction of the sun in the party’s flag ,which represented the sun of freedom shining over the country, which was not used in the country’s flag.
The party subsequently renamed itself to SPPF (Seychelles People’s Progressive Front). The flag including the sun was retained as party symbol and removed from the national flag,
The meaning of the colours are as follows: The red stands for progress and revolution; green for earth and agriculture and white wavy bar for the waves which bathe the island’s beaches and the resources which are obtained from the Indian Ocean
When the party lost the majority in the elections, other parties demanded a change in the flag which led to a parliamentary approval of a new proposed design, hence the current flag which was introduced on 18th June 1996 at the time of the re-introduction of the multiparty system. This day is now a national holiday celebrating independence.
