QUEEN OFF OECS $
In keeping with the sentiments in the region to do away with key aspects of British colonialism, a sub-grouping of the 15-nation Caribbean Community has decided to wipe off the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II from its unified currency notes.
The nine-nation Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) this week announced its decision at its 105th meeting of the grouping’s central bank and said that by early next year, a final decision on what new image will appear on EC bank notes will be made and implemented. The latest meeting was held in St. Vincent.
The late British monarch’s image has been on regional notes for decades but the bank and the grouping have decided that the time has come for a more native, indigenous and more inclusive image should adorn the currency rather than a late British queen.
To get the new system in place, the OECS will hold public consultation, giving people in the region a chance to determine what the new image will be. In the meantime, however, the central bank logo will be used. The consultations will last until year end. Those bearing her image will still be treated as legal tender, the bank said in a statement. “The use of the ECCU (central bank) logo on the EC currency is subject to a process of public consultation. A consultation process until December 31, 2023. During this time, the public will be invited to comment on the proposal to replace the Queen’s image with the ECCU logo and to offer any other suggestions,” the monetary authority said.
Dollar notes bearing the Queen’s image circulate in Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and St. Vincent.
The not so surprising move comes in the midst of growing support across the region for countries to make the switch from mere independent nations to republics, joining Guyana, Trinidad, Dominica and Barbados. Barbados’ move in late 2021, televised worldwide, has spurred supportive comments and ambitions from Jamaica, Belize, The Bahamas, Antigua, St. Vincent and others to follow suit. Of these, Jamaica has made the firmest move, setting up a constitutional review commission to effect the change including the holding of a referendum to amend entrenched clauses to allow for the change to a republic, the abandonment of a British monarch as their head of state and installing a native person as president as Barbados has done without incident or controversy. The image has been on notes since the currency system was established back in 1965.
