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image by Pascal Gross, 13 March 2006
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We discussed a few weeks ago about the presence on civil flag
and ensign of Venezuela of the Coat-of-Arms (Whitney Smith writes
there is no Coat of Arms)
I phoned for confirmation to Venezuelian Embassy in Paris, they
answered me very strongly that there is always a CoA on all flags
& ensigns.
So, who is right ?
Armand Noel du Payrat , 25 Febuary 1998
After a second query (including speaking to venezuelians), I
come to the conclusion that the flag with the Coat of Arms is the
state flag (and naval ensign), and that the civil flag &
ensign has no Coat of Arms (only triband with arc of stars in the
blue stripe).
Armand Noel du Payrat, 17 September 1999
The State Flag (with the coat of arms) is of civil use as
well, and I have not seen an presidential standard, or military
flag or naval ensign that would be different to that flag. I
have, though seen that,in formal rooms, like the office of the
Presidents and the heads of Congressa flag with a golden-yellow
fringe (not a border) is used. I am told it is mainly decorative.
Every citizen is allowed to use the flag, although it should be
respected . I have never seen a flag on an office building
without the coat of arms on the hoist end of the yellow stripe.
Guillermo Aveledo, 24 September 1999
I have seen the Venezuelan national flag flown at the border
crossing on the international bridge between Colombia and
Venezuela (State of Táchira - San Antonio and the Department of
Norte de Santander, Cúcuta) without the Coat of Arms. At the
same time, half a block up the street, at the Headquarters of the
National Police, the flag did have the Coat of Arms. In my
travels to Colombia, always to the border area, I frequently go
from Cu'cuta to San Antonio. I see the Venezuelan flag without
the Coat of Arms on public and government buildings as often as I
see the flag with the Coat of Arms. There seems to be no
consistency in the use of the flag, at least not in the border
area between the State of Táchira and the Colombian Department
of Norte de Santander. In fact, I saw a Venezuelan flag in front
of the Venezuelan conulate in Cúcuta without a Coat of Arms.
Hunter Hutchinson, 21 January 2000
And I have seen the venezuelan flag with an
"outlined" Coat of Arms, that is, just the outlines
where there and the Coat of Arms was black outlines
"filled" in yellow. It was either on TV (most likely)
or in a newspaper photo that I can't find right now.
Jorge Candeias, 21 January 2000
All of this is true and it happens. Venezuelan Flag Law is not
heavily enforced, and there are no attemps to do so. Many
Official State buildings use flags with no Coat of Arms (I must
remind you that the Venezuela flag with the Coat of Arms is the
State flag, according to the law). Even so, many flags are
manufactured, again, under almost no quality checks, with
oultined Coat of Arms, and Jorge described. I've been told that
its is due to the fact that to print or to sew a Coat of Arms
would result in flags with prohibitive costs for the buyers.
Nonsense, flags are done that way, and common buyers shouldn't
need a Coat of Arms on their flags. But, in any case, it happnes,
just as it happens with the shades of the tricolori, the size of
the Coat of Arms, the width and lenght of the flag and the arch
of stars I have with me a desk flag stand with the Spanish and
the Venezuelan flag, made in Spain, and the Spanish flag has the
proper colours on its Coat of Arms, whereas the Venezuelan flag
has an outlined Coat of Arms. It happens, thought it shouldn't
happen, and it doesn't raise any eyebrows...
At top there are what would be a "right" depiction of
the flag and here are some wrong variants.
Guillermo Aveledo, 29 Febuary 2000
About the coat of arms, everybody knows in this country that
the official and war flags DO HAVE
the coat of arms, but the civil flag DO NOT. I am not an
authorized specialist on this theme, but I can assure it
Pablo Acosta Ríos, 14 June 2000