The present design emerged from those sent in by the public in a national competition. It was originally designed with horizontal stripes, but this was considered too similar to the flag of Tanganyika (as it was in 1962, only the yellow stripes are thinner), and so the saltire was substituted.
An earlier interpretation of the colours was, “hardships there are but the land is green and the sun shineth” as stated in the government Ministry Paper 28 – National Flag dated 22 May 1962. Gold recalls the shining sun, black reflects hardships, and green represents the land. It was changed in 1996 to black representing the strength and creativity of the people which has allowed them to overcome difficulties, gold for the wealth of the country and the golden sunshine, and green for the lush vegetation of the island, as well as hope. The change was made on the recommendation of the Committee to Examine National Symbols and National Observances appointed by the then Prime Minister P. J. Patterson and chaired by Milton “Rex” Nettleford.