Former prime ministers, Olympian, honoured
GRENADA IS honouring prime ministers Sir Eric Gairy and Maurice Bishop, as well as successful Olympian, Kirani James, as the island continues with activities to celebrate its 50th anniversary of political independence from Britain on today.
Sir Eric, the island’s first prime minister, and Bishop, the first person to head a government following a successful coup in 1979, and James are among persons being featured on an EC$50 (one EC dollar = US$0.37 cents) note in observance of the occasion.
“Grenada is the first member of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union to have attained political independence. On the occasion of this 50th anniversary, Grenada is creating another first with the launch of a commemorative circulation note simply called the Grenada 50,” said Timothy Antoine, the Grenada-born Governor of the St Kitts-based Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB).
He told a ceremony here that commemorative simply means “We are celebrating the special occasion on this golden jubilee and circulation simply means that you will be able to use it in everyday business transactions”.
He urged the authorities to allow for the commemorative note to be circulated and not be kept as memorabilia.
“I know some of you will want to keep it for prosperity … but you can spend it, don’t take it out of circulation, it is legal tender and because it is legal tender it means that it can be spent in any member of the currency union,” he added.
The Monetary Council of the ECCB at its meeting in July in St Vincent approved the issuance of the commemorative EC$50 note to mark Grenada’s 50th anniversary.
Antoine said that the note is scheduled to be circulated in the second half of 2024. Besides featuring the former prime ministers and the top athlete, the note also features the Maurice Bishop International Airport, the Annadale Waterfall, Big drum players and dancers of Carriacou, cocoa pod, and the bougainvillea flowers.
Grenada will be celebrating its 50th independence anniversary today with the highlight being the military parade and rally.
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell is expected to name several people who will be awarded for outstanding service to the country at the rally that will also be attended by several visiting regional leaders and members of the diplomatic corps.