GUYANA
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In the 17th century,
the Dutch had established two colonies in the area of today’s Guyana:
Essequibo, administered by the Dutch West India Company, and Berbice. The colony of
Berbice was founded by Adriaan van Perre, a merchant from Flushing
(Vlissingen), by act of 12 July 1627, the Company remaining his liege. He and
his descendants owned the colony until 1713 when it was conquered and
plundered by the French. The colony was sold by then to four other merchants
from Amsterdam in 1714. In 1720 they founded the Societeit van Berbice.
(The Society of Berbice). This Society was liquidated in 1795 by resolution
of the States General of the Batavian Republic. A third colony,
Demerara, was established under the West India Company in 1750. Demerara and
Essequibo were united in 1787. The colonies
changed hands from 1781 to 1784 when they were returned to their former
owners as a result of the Peace of Paris (1783). After the
abolition of the WIC in 1792 the colonies became the property of the Republic
of United Provinces and were administered by the Council for the American
Colonies. This Council was replaced by an other Council in 1795. Effective
British control began a year later, in 1796 during the French Revolutionary
Wars. In 1802 the colonies were returned to the Batavian Republic under the
terms of the Treaty of Amiens. Less than one year later, upon resumption of
hostilities with France in the Napoleonic Wars in 1803, the United Kingdom
seized the three colonies again. The UK continued separate administration of
the colonies until 1812, when the administration of Essequibo and Demerara
was combined. The colonies were officially ceded to the United Kingdom by the
Peace of Paris of 1814. In 1831 the
administration Essequibo-Demerara and Berbice was combined, and the united
colony became known as British Guiana. In 1928,
a new constitution came into effect and British Guiana became a Crown Colony
under the control of the Governor. An
Interim Government was installed by the then governor, Sir Alfred Savage on
January 4, 1954. British Guiana became an independent State on May 26, 1966,
within the British Commonwealth of Nations, under the Guyana Independence
Act 1966 of the British Parliament. The new state adopted the name Guyana
which is derived from an Amerindian word meaning Land of many waters. The
office of Governor was replaced by the office of Governor General On
February 23, 1970 Guyana was proclaimed the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
within the British Commonwealth of Nations. The office of
Governor General was abolished and replaced by the office of Ceremonial
President of the Republic. |
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1621 - 1803 |
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1621-1791 |
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The seal of the West India Company showed a fluitschip sailing to the sinister. This seal was
used, or in any case recognized in Essequibo and Demerara which were under
direct rule of the Company. |
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Seal of the
West India Company |
Arms of the owner of Berbice, 1627-1713 |
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The arms of the Van Perre family were: Arms: Parted per fess Or and Azure, in chief an eagle issuant wings upright
Sable, in base three chalices Or, 2 and 1. [1] |
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I |
II |
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III The coats of arms of the owners of Berbice in the 18th century I. Jacob Voordaagh; Mr. Iacob de la Bassecour; Philips van der Giessen II.
Iacon Alewyn Ghysen; Mr Dalomon Dedel; Mattheus Boendermaker III. Jacob Boulen; Joost van Eibergen; Mr. Nicols Hendr van Hoorn From: Nauwkeurige
plattegrond van de staat en de loop van Rio de Berbice. Met de plantages die
in de Geoctroieerde kolonie Berbice liggen. Gemeten en getekend op
last en kosten van de Edelachtbare heren directeuren van de kolonie door de
ingenieur Jan Daniel Knapp. De koperen versie is gemaakt door Hendrik de Leth in de Visscher te Amsterdam. (1720) [2] |
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Fort Nassau in Berbice, ca. 1770 National Archives, The Hague |
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1791-1803 |
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When the West-India Company was abolished in 1791 the three colonies
were handed over to the Republic of the United Netherlands. They came under the jurisdiction of the Raad
der Colonien which sealed with the arms of the Republic, and the legend RAAD DER COLONIEN. |
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Seal of the Colonial Council 1792-1795 |
Seal of the Committee of the West Indian possessions 1795-1801. |
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In 1795 the West-Indian colonies came under the jurisdiction of the
West-Indian Committee (West-Indisch Committé ) which sealed with a seal showing the Dutch lion, supporting a
shield with the name of the service (COMMITTEE TOT DE
WESTINDISCHE BEZITINGEN), some palm-trees, a sailing ship and the
attributes of Mercurius. [3] |
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1796 -1966 |
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1831-1954 |
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Royal achievement on a British government publication for Trinidad, British Guiana
and St. Lucie, 1832. Initially the royal British achievement was used in British Guyana.
This was sculptured for example in the tympanon of the Parliament’s House in
Georgetown, built between 1829 and 1834. It was soon completed by arms
inspired by the seal of the WIC. These showed a sailing vessel, sailing to
the sinister. Below is the motto DAMUS
PETIMUS QUE VICISSIM (We Give and Demand Reciprocal). In 1851 it was printed on 1 cent
stamps.
One cent stamps, 1851 and 1860 (model of 1853). For a short time the arms and the motto were separated but about 1853
a strap bearing the motto, was added around the arms. In this form the
achievement of British Guyana remained in use until 1954. The seal, circular,
showed the same device. This was also, as a badge, on the blue ensign from
about 1875.
Medal for the Local Exhibition
of 1882 The same
device, the motto added in base |
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In 1906 the badge was made identical to the arms. |
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1954-1966 |
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On the 8th of December 1954 a coat of arms was granted to the colony which
showed a Blackwell-frigate in full sail sailing to the sinister on waves of
the sea, all proper. The motto, unchanged, was written on a ribbon placed
under the shield.
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1966.05.26 - present |
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On the 21st of January 1966 a coat
of arms was granted by Royal Warrant. On the 25th of February this was
adopted by government act. Arms: Argent, a fess wavy Azure charged with two barrulets wavy of the
field; in chief a plant of the Victoria Regia (Nelumbo, Nymphæaceæ)
proper, and in base a hoatzin (Opistocomus hoazin - Opisthocomidæ)
also proper. Crest: On a helmet affrontée Or, lambrequined Argent and Azure a
native crown with seven feathers parted per fess Azure, Argent and Gules. Supporters: Two Jaguars (Panthere onca - Felidæ) proper, the dexter
keeping a pick proper, the sinister a plant of sugarcane and a plant of rice
all proper. Motto: ONE PEOPLE ONE NATION ONE DESTINY in black lettering on
a ribbon Or, lined Gules. Æ see illustration in
the head of this essay. The
proclamation of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana in 1970 was of no effect
to the achievement. |
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Nelumbo, Nymphæaceæ |
Opistocomus hoazin –
Opisthocomidæ |
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Emblem of the Governor 20th
century |
Royal Emblem For
use by the Governor-General in combination with the name of the country on a
listel |
Presidential Emblem The crown from the achievement |
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Presidential arms
Presidential flag, 1970 |
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The Parliament |
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The Mace
When
Guyana became a Republic on 23rd February, 1970, the head of the Mace, which
depicted British Royal Arms, was replaced with Guyana's Coat of Arms. The head
of the present mace was designed by the Ministry of Information and Culture.
The original stem, which is 145,5 cm in length, depicts a Victoria Regia
Lily, one of the largest water lilies in the world, first discovered in
British Guiana during the reign of Queen Victoria. The stem also includes a representation of a rice plant in full
bearing and a sugar cane in blossom, representing two of Guyana's cash crops. |
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The
Guyana Police Force was established under Public Ordinance 10 of 1891 and was
continued under Chapter 77 of the Guyana Police Ordinance from independence
in 1966 until 1977 when it was repealed and replaced by the Police Act,
Chapter 16:01. The Force is administered by Commissioner of Police under the
control of the Ministry of Home Affairs |
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British Guiana Police cap badge
(1936-1952) |
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British Guiana Police cap badge
1952-1966 |
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Guyana Police emblem (present) The motto of the
service is SERVICE AND PROTECTION |
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Guyana Police cap badge (present) |
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Ordinance
No. 12 of 1891 provided for an Active Force and a Reserve of British Guiana.
Britsh Guiana Militia cap badge
British Guiana Artillery cap badge The Guyana Defence Force was formed on 1
November 1965.
Guyana Defence Force emblem
GDF Headquarters flag |
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Coast Guard |
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The Coast
Guard came into being in February 1990.
Guyana Coast Guard emblem |
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Air Force |
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The air
wing of the GDF was created in 1968. In 1970 it was redesignated
the Air Command,
Emblem
Wings
Roundel |
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© Hubert de Vries 2010-02-18. Updated
2018-07-09
Heraldry of the World