By Sue-Ann Wayow
PRESIDENT Christine Kangaloo has been gifted with a newly designed Coat of Arms, built entirely out of Lego.
The presentation was made to Kangaloo and her husband Kerwyn Garcia at the President’s House on Tuesday by the Lego Club of Trinidad and Tobago.
The impressive model, which began in May and was completed in July, measures five feet by five feet and contains 36,864 Lego bricks on 64 baseplates.
It was constructed by nine students of the Lego Club, each contributing to the story of its creation, a release from the Office of the President stated.
For the first time, the Coat of Arms incorporates the steelpan, the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago, which was internationally recognised earlier this month on World Steelpan Day, August 11.
“The inclusion of the steelpan highlights its status as a global symbol of the nation’s creativity, resilience, and cultural heritage,” the release stated.
Kangaloo praised the young builders for their extraordinary achievement and was in awe of the remarkable accomplishment.
She extended congratulations to the nine members of the Lego Club, their parents, and the directors and shared that the project was not just about Lego bricks, it was about what Trinidad and Tobago’s 63rd Independence should truly represent — unity and national pride.
She said, “Every piece, every effort, speaks to the strength of our people when we work together.”
The Lego Club, formed in 2015 and incorporated in 2016, has produced several heritage-inspired projects, including:
• 2019: The first Lego Coat of Arms, presented to then President Paula-Mae Weekes on the 57th Independence Anniversary.
• 2022: The Tobago Crest, presented to the Chief Secretary.
• 2023: A Lego Hummingbird, now displayed at Brick World – SBCS Trincity.
• 2024: The US Coat of Arms, presented to the US Embassy in Port of Spain.
• 2025: The new Coat of Arms featuring the steelpan.
The project brought together not only children, but also their families, who dedicated weekends to building, sharing meals, laughter, and teamwork.
The true legacy, the Club notes, is not only the finished model, but the bonds and unity forged in the process.
Looking ahead, the Lego Club will continue to highlight the creativity and potential of children through events marking:
• International Day of the Girl Child (October 11–12, 2025)
• Universal Children’s Day (November 20, 2025)
• International Day of the Boy Child (May 2026)
The release stated, “This new Coat of Arms, presented on the eve of Trinidad and Tobago’s 63rd Independence Anniversary, stands as a symbol of national pride, unity, and imagination — values that continue to define the Republic.”
