Editing Flag of Suriname (section)

== Shapes and design ==
=== Flag of Suriname ===
The flag was designed as a result of a national competition, with the winning design being accepted by the Surinamese parliament in 1975.<ref name="smith">{{cite web |url= https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Suriname |title= Flag of Suriname |last= Smith |first= Whitney |date= 25 September 2019 |website= Britannica |publisher= Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date= 8 October 2020 |archive-date= 29 May 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200529151039/https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Suriname |url-status= live }}</ref> Jack Pinas, art teacher and graphic designer, won the design competition. However, some changes on Pinas' design were made.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.waterkant.net/suriname/2016/09/17/oorspronkelijke-ontwerper-surinaamse-vlag-overleden/ |title= Original designer Surinamese flag passed away |author= <!--Not stated--> |date= 2016 |access-date= 16 November 2020 |archive-date= 25 April 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230425002356/https://www.waterkant.net/suriname/2016/09/17/oorspronkelijke-ontwerper-surinaamse-vlag-overleden/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

The green horizontal band on both the top and bottom of the flag represents the richness of the country's agricultural lands; the white horizontal band represents freedom and independence and red symbolizes progress and hope. The star on center of the flag reflects the sacrifices endured for the Surinamese independence as well as the unity of the country and a bright future.<ref name="smith" /> The Surinamese political parties are indicated by the different colors that are used in the flag.<ref name="hoefte" />

=== Coat of arms ===
[[File:Coat of arms of Suriname.svg|thumb|Suriname's coat of arms]] 
In 1770, the coat of arms belonged to the City of [[Amsterdam]].<ref name="hollingsworth">{{cite web
 | last = Hollingsworth
 | first = Anwar Ignatius
 | title = The Indigenous Peoples Conservation Rights in Suriname a United Nations (UN) Declaration: Review of the Declaration Implementation
 | date = 2014
 | url = http://web.isanet.org/Web/Conferences/GSCIS%20Singapore%202015/Archive/df8d18fe-15c3-4c92-b2d8-5c4877266cae.pdf
 | access-date = 10 October 2020
 | archive-date = 23 October 2021
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211023204927/http://web.isanet.org/Web/Conferences/GSCIS%20Singapore%202015/Archive/df8d18fe-15c3-4c92-b2d8-5c4877266cae.pdf
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref> However, in 1975, the year of Suriname's independence, Suriname introduced a new coat of arms to acknowledge and respect the indigenous population as well as to represent the new country.

It consists of two Arawak Indians who represent the unity of the Indigenous people. The bright yellow star in the center symbolizes the people that migrated to Suriname including America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe.<ref name="hollingsworth" /> The green diamond shape in the middle represents a hart.<ref name="hollingsworth" />

The oval shape shield that is divided into two portrays a boat on the left side and rain forest on the right.<ref name="smith" /> The boat on the left side represent the history of slavery in Suriname and the people that were shipped from Africa. The right side of the shield, symbolizes justice. At the bottom shield there is a banner stating 'JUSTITIA PIETAS FIDES'. Justitia means 'justified', Pietas means faithfulness towards God, family and country, and lastly, Fides means loyalty to commitment.<ref name="smith" />

In 1682 the coat of Suriname still belonged to the Dutch West India Company, until Suriname established the '[[Society of Suriname]]' in 1683.