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Dolphin flag of Anguilla (1967.09.29-1980.05.30)

Last modified: 2005-07-23 by antonio martins
Keywords: dolphin (orange) |
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[1967 Anguilla flag afloat]
by Gvido Petersons and António Martins, 15 Nov 2000
See also: Other sites:
  • Current supporters’s website: «This flag although unofficial in the eyes of the establishment is the Flag of Anguilla»
    reported by António Martins, 19 Jul 2005

About the flag

Design

On 12 July 1967 Anguilla seceded from the Associate State and adopted the white flag with three dolphins (standing for friendship, wisdom and strength).
by Mark Sensen, 07 Jul 1996

The three dolphins are coloured orange, to represent endurance unity and strength, and are in a circle for continuity. The flag has a white background, for peace and tranquility, with a turquoise-blue base representing the surrounding sea and also faith, youth and hope.
Dov Gutterman, 02 Mar 2002, quoting from http://www.gov.ai/flag.htm

The coat of arms of Anguilla has a bottom stripe of light tourqoise-blue. In the flag that stripe is light blue. The reason: the Goverment of Anguilla could not afford the money for flags with a correct shield, as the special shade of bluish-green would have risen the costs for the flags. So the manufacturer decided to make the shield white and blue to keep the costs lower.
Ralf Stelter, 10 May 1999

Usage

It (the “dolphin flag”) seems to be unofficial. Shaw [shw94] says that Anguilla has had a design which was «unofficial...since 1967», or shortly after the U.K. forces landed. Crampton [cra90] simply says it was «adopted shortly after its secession in 1967», with no word on the adopting body. It seems to me that there is no reason why the dolphin flag may not still be being used on Anguilla itself. Indeed using its design in the Blue Ensign flag badge seems pretty much to legitimise it to me. Yes, the dolphin flag is still used on Anguilla in its original capacity -- unofficially. Its design was taken as the island’s official coat of arms in 1990, and therefore its use was legitimized on a Blue Ensign to form the official flag of the dependency.
Steve Kramer 27 Sep 1996

The Union Jack and the Three Dolphins flags were used for many years [1967.09.29-1980.05.30?].
Dov Gutterman, 02 Mar 2002, quoting from http://www.gov.ai/flag.htm

History

I think the Anguillan status from 1969 to 1980 should be regarded as a limbo, during which Anguilla technically remained part of the Associated State of St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla. They were all still a British colony, and the St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla ensign was probably the legal flag for Anguilla although I would imagine that the British did not deliberately aggravate Anguillans by flying it. The British Commissioner probably flew the UJ and may have turned a blind eye to any appearance of the Anguillan independence flag.

It was neglect from the government in St Kitts which led to Anguillan desire for separation, and from 1969 St. Kitts and Nevis institutions apparently willingly continued that neglect by dropping the name of Anguilla and any pretence of association with Anguilla. For example the St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla Defence Force in 1969 dropped "Anguilla" from its name. But Anguilla’s status remained in limbo and governed by a series of “interim agreements” with Britain, pending formal resolution of its constitutional status.

St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla was granted self-government by Britain on 27 Feb. 1967 — a step towards independence. Anguilla had resented association with St K-N since the early 19th century, and took this step toward independence as an opportunity to rebel against that final fate (while they still had a perhaps more fairly minded Britain with which to negotiate rather than a sovereign government in St. Kitts and Nevis). On 30 May 1967 Anguilla evicted its police who symbolised the St Kitts government, and on 11 July they held a referendum on secession from St K-N (result: 1,813 in favor, 5 opposed). Anguilla consequently set up its own legislative council, and had in effect seceded — but the St K-N-A situation was really a stalemate.

In Dec. 1967, two British MPs worked out the first of several interim agreements whereby a British official (Tony Lee) would «exercise basic administrative authority» in conjunction with the Anguilla Council for a period of one year (January 1968 to January 1969). By the end of that period the St Kitts government and the Anguilla Council had failed to reach any agreement on their future status. Tony Lee left, and Anguilla held a second referendum. Result: 1,739 to 4 against returning to association with St Kitts. Anguilla declared itself an “Independent Republic”. The crisis was heating up, and Britain sent another envoy, William Whitlock, with proposals for another interim British administration. He was expelled within hours of his arrival in Anguilla on 11 March 1969. Eight days later, a small contingent of British paratroops landed on the island to “restore order”. The only resistance was spitting and swearing, and the paratroopers were soon followed by army engineers who embarked on public works projects to make up for all the neglect from St Kitts. Tony Lee returned as “Commissioner”. Anguillans were soon happy with their relationship with Britain, and reluctant to let the troops leave. Lee worked out another “interim agreement” in 1971, and it was not until 19 Dec. 1980 that Anguilla formally disassociated itself from St Kitts as a separate colony. And then St Kitts-Nevis became independent without Anguilla on 13 Sept. 1983.

T.F. Mills, 08 Jul 1999


Version afloat

[1967 Anguilla flag afloat]
by Gvido Petersons and António Martins, 15 Nov 2000

The flag was manufactured in two proportions: 1:2 for use at sea, and 3:5 for use on land.
Ralf Stelter, 27 Jun 1999