The color of Belize’s flag is red, white, and blue. The red, white, and blue flag of Belize is a symbol of the unity of our nation. Before independence, the People's United Party (PUP) proposed a blue flag with the Coat of Arms in a white circle. Because of the close association of the flag with the PUP, public opinion was divided as to its suitability to act as a unifying symbol. The United Democratic Party (UDP) did not propose a flag but called for a flag that could rally all citizens, regardless of their political affiliation. Therefore, the bi-partisan National Symbols Committee invited citizens to submit designs for a national flag. The design selected by the Committee is a royal blue flag with one horizontal red stripe at the top, one at the bottom, and a white circle with the Coat of Arms in the center.
In the center of the flag, there is a white circle, and inside is the Coat of Arms. The shield of the Coat of Arms is divided into three sections by a vertical line and an inverted V. The base section represents a ship in full sail on waves of the sea. The two upper sections show tools of the timber industry in Belize: a paddle and a squaring ax in the right section and a saw.
Supporting the shield are two woodcutters, the one on the right holding a beating ax over his shoulder in his right hand, and the one on the left holding a paddle over his shoulder in his left hand. Above the shield rises a mahogany tree. Below the shield is the motto scroll. A wreath of leaves encircles the Coat of Arms. The motto says: "Sub Umbra Florero", meaning "Under the shade I flourish." The Coat of Arms embodies an important aspect of the history of Belize, as the mahogany industry formed the basis of our economy in the 18th and 19th centuries.