Jamaica Flag Design Competition: How the 1962 Flag Was Chosen
The story of the 1961 public competition, why it produced no final winner and how a bipartisan parliamentary committee created the flag used at independence.
Why did Jamaica hold a flag competition?
With independence approaching, Jamaica needed national symbols that could represent the new state. A national flag design competition was held in 1961 to invite ideas from the public.
Why was there no single winning design?
Jamaica Information Service records that the competition did not yield a winning model suitable for direct adoption. The process therefore moved from an open competition to parliamentary development.
The bipartisan House committee
In early 1962, a bipartisan committee of the House of Representatives designed the national flag in time for the independence celebrations. This gave the final emblem broad political ownership rather than tying it to one party or one competition entrant.
The final black, gold and green flag
The finished flag uses a gold diagonal cross separating four triangles: green above and below, black at the hoist and fly. It follows a 1:2 ratio, and each arm of the gold saltire is one-sixth of the flag’s length.
The flag was ready for the transition to independence in August 1962 and has remained Jamaica’s national flag ever since.
Design competition FAQ
Did one person win the Jamaica flag competition?
No. Official sources state that the competition failed to produce a winning model.
Who finalized the design?
A bipartisan committee of the Jamaica House of Representatives.
When was the final design created?
In early 1962, ahead of independence on August 6.
Jamaica Information Service — Jamaican Flag
