Avellon Williams
KINGSTON JAMAICA- The Jamaican government has announced a series of changes to its banknotes, including the launch of a brand-new $2000 note.
Michael Manley and Edward Seaga, the former Jamaican prime ministers, will both appear on the newly created banknote.
The announcement was made by the Caribbean country’s finance minister, Dr. Nigel Clarke, who said the move was aimed at promoting and increasing unity in the country.
“We must restore unity in the country and there was no better way to do it than to have the political rivals appearing together on the $2,000 note,” Clarke stated on Tuesday.
As part of the overhaul, all national heroes whose images were taken off of banknotes will be inserted into the new series, which will enter circulation later this year.
According to Clarke, since Jamaica has seven national heroes, four deceased prime ministers, and six banknotes, it was inevitable that two images would appear on the same banknote.
There is only one exception to the rule, and that is Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jamaica’s first national hero and pan-Africanist leader, who will appear alone on the upgraded $100 note.
Garvey was previously on the $20-dollar coin.
Nanny of the Maroons and Sam Sharpe, national heroes, will appear on the upgraded $500 note. As of this writing, Nanny of the Maroons is still the only woman featured on Jamaican currency.
On the upgraded $5,000 note, former prime ministers Hugh Shearer and Donald Sangster will appear together.
A new $1,000 banknote will be issued that includes the images of Norman Manley and Sir Alexander Bustamante, both of whom are national heroes.
On the upgraded $50 note, National Heroes Paul Bogle and George William Gordon will be featured together.
In addition, the minister of finance announced that one-off payments of $10,000 each will be given to Jamaican families most in need who will be adversely affected by rising inflation rates.
It is expected that the new banknotes will enter circulation later this year.
Recent Comments