It was during the independence from the United Kingdom the national flag of Belize came into existence on 21 September 1981. The flag was constituted in 1950 when British Honduras (the name it had during the colonial era) won its victory. The two stripes which were added in the flag came into existence with the Belizean coat of arms situated in the centre. The symbol of the coat of arms shows how the mahogany tree and its utilization in the making of boats is of importance to the local residents.