<Tr> <Th> Compartment </Th> <Td> Waves of the sea, issuing on the dexter a mount of three peaks representing the Trinity Hills, and on the sinister an isle representing Tobago, all proper . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Motto </Th> <Td> "Together we aspire, together we achieve" </Td> </Tr> <P> The coat of arms of Trinidad and Tobago was designed by a committee formed in 1962 to select the symbols that would be representative of the people of Trinidad and Tobago . The committee included noted artist Carlisle Chang (1921--2001) and carnival designer George Bailey (1935--1970). </P> <P> The palm tree crest at the top of the coat of arms was taken from Tobago's coat of arms before it was joined in political union with Trinidad . The shield comprises the same colours (black, red, and white) as the nation's flag and carry the same meaning . The gold ships represent the Santa María, La Niña, and La Pinta: the three ships Christopher Columbus used on his journey to the "New World". The two birds on the shield are hummingbirds . Trinidad is sometimes referred to as the "Land of the Hummingbird" because 18 different species of hummingbird have been recorded on the island . "Land of the Hummingbird" is also believed to have been the Native American name for Trinidad . The two larger birds are the Scarlet Ibis (left) and the Cocrico (right), the national birds of Trinidad and Tobago . Below the Scarlet Ibis are three hills, representing the Trinity Hills in southern Trinidad, which, it is believed, convinced Columbus to name the island after the Holy Trinity . The island rising out of the waters beneath the Cocrico represents Tobago . Below these birds is the nation's motto, "Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve ." </P>

Coat of arms symbols of trinidad and tobago