Three prominent Vincentians are among the 10 people selected to replace the late Queen Elizabeth II on Eastern Caribbean (EC) banknotes.
They are the first prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the late Robert Milton Cato; former prime minister of St. Lucia, the late John Compton, who was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and the late Sir K. Dwight Venner, a former governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).
The ECCB unveiled the designs of new EC banknotes, featuring national heroes and regional icons, from among its eight member countries of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) on Thursday.
The ECCB said that the banknotes, which exist in $100, $50, $20 and $5 denominations, have been redesigned “to honour the people, heritage and achievements” of the eight member countries of the ECCU.
Governor of the ECCB, Timothy N.J. Antoine, unveiled the new designs, marking a historic milestone in the evolution of EC currency.
Circulation of the redesigned notes is expected to begin in late 2027 when, for the first time, the banknotes will no longer feature the likeness of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Instead, the new designs showcase distinguished national heroes and prominent figures from across the ECCU, reflecting the region’s shared identity, history and achievements.
The $100 banknote features Nobel laureate in economic sciences, Sir William Arthur Lewis, and former PM Compton.
The $50 banknote features Venner, who was governor of the ECCB from 1989 to 2015, and The Right Excellent Sir Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw.
The $20 banknote features the late Right Hon. Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Sr, the first prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and the late Hon. Dame Mary Eugenia Charles, former prime minister of Dominica and the only female to feature on the notes.
The $10 banknote features the late Most Excellent William Henry Bramble, a union leader and a political party leader from Montserrat, and the Hon. James Ronald Webster, a politician from Anguilla.
The $5 banknote features Cato and Sir Kirani James, Grenada’s first-ever Olympic medalist, and the only living person to feature on the notes.
At its 105th Meeting on July 21, 2023, the Monetary Council approved replacing the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II on the EC currency and directed the ECCB to conduct public consultations.
“Those consultations, conducted between July and December 2023, confirmed strong public support for featuring national heroes and nation builders on the redesigned currency,” the ECCB said in a press release.
“The new series represents a significant step in the evolution of the EC currency. It honours the cultural diversity and enduring legacy of the people who have shaped the Eastern Caribbean. It also preserves the security, integrity and trust that have long defined the EC dollar,” the release said.