The coat of arms is a token of peace and justice. It’s represented by two women; one standing and holding a twig of green olive that stands for peace, and the other knelt before an altar as a sacrifice attribute as she begs for justice under a Latin motto reading Pax et Justitia. The coat of arms was designed in the 19th century and since then it has undergone a number of changes. From 1889 to 1907, it wasn’t that different from today’s version, yet it didn’t feature the altar with an eye as a centerpiece and the slogan Peace and Justice, but the words Saint Vincent splayed on it. From 1912 on, a new emblem with some changes was adopted. At a time when Saint Vincent was a commonwealth state of the United Kingdom (1969-1979), the official blazon was used as an insignia on the right side of the British flag until the island’s independence in 1979. However, this was never recognized as an official flag. The coat of arms used to single out the island as a nation. From 1979 on, a new flag was adopted featuring the coat of arms as a centerpiece in it spread over a breadfruit leaf. During the times of slavery, breadfruit was the foodstuff of choice after Captain William Bligh brought it to the island.