BARBADOS - Barbados also hosted a competition to design a national flag as its independence from the UK in 1966 approached. The winning flag is rectangular and has a gold vertical stripe to represent the beach. This is sandwiched by two ultramarine blue vertical stripes to represent the sea and sky. At the center of the flag lies the trident of the mythical sea god Neptune. Its shaft is broken to symbolize Barbados breaking ties with the UK.