Kingston (Jamaica)

Heraldry of the World

Jamaica heraldry portal
Civic heraldry of Jamaica

KINGSTON AND ST. ANDREW CORPORATION

Kingston was a separate parish until 1923 when it merged with St. Andrew Parish. Colloquially the name remained Kingston, administratively it is Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation.

Official blazon

(old) Argent a chevron embattled azure between two pineapples in chief and on a mount a coffee tree in base proper on a chief wavy gules a lion passant guardant or. Crest: On a wreath of the colours, a demi South American Indian, the dexter arm embracing a cornucopia inverted, in the sinister hand a bundle of sugar canes all proper and on an escroll over the crest the words "Regis opus." Supporters - (Dexter) a lion rampant guardant or, murally crowned azure, charged on the breast with a conch proper; (sinister) Neptune, his mantle of a marine green, edged argent, on his head an Eastern crown or his breast charged with a conch as on the dexter, his trident erect proper resting on the exterior arm. Motto - "Natura monstrat perficit industria"
(current)

Origin/meaning

The arms above are for the Corporation since ? (but adopted after the merger of 1923).

The cross is the symbol of St. Andrew. The books indicate education and learning as well as the two parishes, the bee symbolises labour and the tower the fortifications. The lion and Indian are taken from the previous arms.

The previous arms were granted to Kingston parish/city:

The arms show in chief the English lion, which is also used as one of the supporters. The two pineapples are taken from the arms of Jamaica. The embattled chevron indicates that the city was a fortress. The base shows a coffee tree (actually coffee is a shrub), which, together with the pineapples and the sugar cane stalks and cornucopia in the crest, indicate the agricultural production in the area.

The supporters are the English lion and Neptune as an indication for the harbour of the city. The crest shows a Native Indicanwith sugar cane and a cornucopia.