On 25 November, 1975 the independent Republic of Suriname adopted an official coat of arms. The motto reads Justitia - Pietas - Fides (Justice - Piety - Loyalty). It further constists of two natives who carry a shield. The left half of the shield symbolizes the past, as slaves were abducted via ship out of Africa. The right half, the side of the present, shows a Royal Palm, also the symbol of a just person {"The just person should blossom like a palm"). The diamond in the middle is the stylized form of the heart, which is regarded as the organ of love. The points of the diamond show the four directions of the wind. A modern coat of arms is derived from the medi val practice of painting designs onto the shield and outer clothing of knights to enable them to be identified in battle, and later in tournaments. ... It has been suggested that Chattel slavery be merged into this article or section. ... Africa is the worlds second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia. ... Species See text Roystonea (Royal Palm) is a genus of 10-12 species of palms, native to tropical regions of Florida, the Caribbean, and the adjacent coasts of Central and South America. ... For other uses, including the shape â—Š, see Diamond (disambiguation). ... Wind is the roughly horizontal movement of air (as opposed to an air current) caused by uneven heating of the Earths surface. ...