The cost of replacing the depiction of Columbus’ ships on Trinidad and Tobago’s Coat of Arms with the steelpan will be minimal.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley gave the assurance as he contributed to the debate on the National Emblems of Trinidad and Tobago (Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the Lower House on Monday.
“Once the Parliament approves this, as fast as they do the frequent reordering of new bills, the new bills will come with the new logo, and there will be a period of time when you will have the old one and the new one. And the old one just gets phased out.”
Prime Minister Rowley said everyone ought to be proud to see the change as the steelpan represents the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
“The cost is minimal, minimal because you are not wasting anything to replace it with something new. The passports that we have will be used up, but when you come to change it, you’re going to get a new one with a new logo. Why is that so difficult to understand? As a matter of fact, the only real cost is the cost of actually changing the template from the old to the new. And in today’s technology that is minimal.”
Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Randall Mitchell, piloted the Bill in Parliament and championed the change.
“Madame Speaker, I beg to move that a Bill entitled an Act to amend the National Emblems of Trinidad and Tobago, Regulation Act Chapter 19:04 to provide for a new Coat of Arms and other related matters be now read a third time and passed.”
The Bill was passed unanimously.