Daily Observer: Could Queen Elizabeth II be the last British monarch to feature on the currency of the Eastern Caribbean?
Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Governor Timothy NJ Antoine alluded to that possibility, saying his evaluation was that there is “no appetite” in the region for its continuation.
Speaking at a media briefing as the ECCB sought to highlight its 40th anniversary calendar of events, Governor Antoine said that the decision would be left up to the Monetary Council, which is made up of the member states’ Finance Ministers.
“With the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, it is a fair question: what comes next? That is a decision that our Monetary Council, most of whom are Prime Ministers, will make in due course,” he said.
King Charles III automatically became the British monarch following the passing of his mother in September.
The death of Queen Elizabeth last year has reopened the debate on the type of relationship that former British colonies in the Commonwealth, including many of the Eastern Caribbean states, will have with the United Kingdom.
The Reserve Bank of Australia—its central bank—has already announced its intention to not include King Charles’ portrait on its $5 banknote (although Royal Australian Mint noted that King Charles will replace his mother on the country’s coins).
Governor Antoine said, regardless of the decision made by the Monetary Council, it would be years before any change is made about a new banknote design.
“I have said before that there is no imminent change to our existing currency; we have in stock three to four years of mint condition [bank]notes. We are not going to burn them up or throw them away, we invested heavily in them,” he explained.
The ECCB Governor continued that, in his discussions around the region, there was more interest in replacing the monarch with another Caribbean icon.
“What I heard was people enquiring when we will have more of our own…at the moment we have Sir Arthur Lewis, a Nobel Laureate, and Sir K Dwight Venner, the longest serving [ECCB Governor],” he said.
However, Governor Antoine noted that any decision on a new face on the banknotes would require a consensus by eight separate member countries—a challenge within the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union.
“The challenge with eight member countries is how are you going to make those decisions…if it was one country, it could be easily determined. That is not so easy with eight member countries and so one of the things we also heard is that we should feature more prominence of existing landmarks,” he explained.
The status of the British monarchy remains a fiercely debated topic in the region, as the spectre of British slavery of Africans in many Caribbean countries looms large.
Visits by British royals to countries in the region have been met with protests, calls for reparations for the damage caused by slavery and the end of the monarchy as the head of state, with an eye on becoming a republic.
In September 2022, Prime Minister Gaston Browne hinted that a referendum could be called to decide whether Antigua and Barbuda would move to become a republic, shortly after Charles III was announced King.
The Prime Minister’s comments also followed Barbados’ transition to a republic last year, officially removing the monarch as its head of state with Sandra Mason, Barbados’ last Governor General, becoming its first president under the new political system.
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Absolutely correct, why should the Caribbean region continue with any royals on our bank notes?
Another commonwealth country has already said they will not put king Charles lll on there $5 notes.
I applaud Australia 🇦🇺 for this very sensible move.
As I’ve mentioned on many many occasions, that I’d rather have eminent and prominent Caribbeans who made a difference (and not forgetting the pride and prestige it will give to our children in witnessing these new distinctions).
The only people that want to keep king Charles lll on our coinage and banknotes are those with a vestige interest; like those with worthless commemorative titles, trinkets and medals, also not forgetting the plethora of lickspittlers and Kowtowing boot-lickers who love this foolishness …
King Charles III represents the monarch and should be given due respect! His image should be on the ECCB currency. People must stop with petty behaviour of cutting nose to spite face. History occurred the way it did and we must embrace it.
What the people should be working on is to get money into the hands of more common people. You think the majority of people care who is on the money if they are not getting enough? Put the horse before the cart. Australia is rich enough for people to be concerned about who is on their money.
… and Antiguans should now be confident enough to step out and be able to determine their own destiny @ Bilbo from All Saints.
Many of us are educated enough and determined to remove the monarchy and UK shackles; and aren’t afraid to stand on our own two feet and move Antigua & Barbuda forward (just like Barbados 🇧🇧, and probably a better comparison to Australia) unlike the few who continually hide behind the constant cloak of colonialism.
The Honourable Mia Mottley is on the right track regarding Republicanism.
Stop being so emotional and use logic with reason to determine destiny! Many of use are educated to understand that the Head of State is just a figurehead with no power. Why spend millions of dollars to remove that figurehead now when poor people want money? Wouldn’t it be better to alleviate poverty for your brothers and put them into a better position.
A few of you got some college education so you believe that the country belongs to you and marginalize your uneducated brethren who did not get the chance to go to college. Why not focus on getting more people into college. When at least 35% of the adult population over 25 is educated then that will be a good time for certain decisions on superficial stuff to be taken.
Barbados is going through financial turmoil right now because they put the cart before the horse. Imagine people were hungry and calling out for help since 2013 in Barbados and the leadership decided that being a republic is a priority. Trinidad and Haiti are republic and what is the benefit? We don’t need to spend money on superficiality right now.
The monarch is not harming or interfering with Antigua. The UK sends its tourists down on a regular basis. Stop the madness.
I respect your own views and opinions, but on this particular subject we must agree to disagree Bilbo, because the tide is turning, and like it or not Republicanism is coming to our beautiful country. 🇦🇬 some time soon!
Change may not come in our lifetime, but change will come eventually.
As more and more Historians of colour reveals the other side of UK’S monarchy devilish ways, this can only bode well for the future of our children’s children to stay enlightened.
Enjoy the rest of your day sir, I thoroughly enjoy constructive debates … over recent years, ANR has vastly improved in this parlance.
There may also be the issue of getting rid of the current notes that are in circulation in the OECS and printing new ones. Our resources can be put to more effective use. These days the question of King Charles remaining as the Head of State is a topical and pertinent issue so we should be wise about these decisions.
The Monachy serves no purpose other than a reminder of the heinous crime Committed against black people. In 1952 the British army operated a concentration camp in Kenya where 500 000 black were enslaved, torture and murdered in the name of King and Country.
Coincidentally the late Queen was on holiday in Kenya during that period of enslavement , it was there she received the news that her father had died and she was to be the Queen. She presided over murderous acts against humanity.
Charles is not no shirking violet either, let’s not forget his unscrupulous behaviour towards Diana because his current Queen had passed the age to provide him with offspring to an outdated racists institution.
PM Browne has banged on about making Antigua a Republican state, hopefully after his removal from office. Also, it would be interesting to see if he will put principles before status and boycott the Coronation of Charles and instruct the Governor General not to attend.
PM, put your money where your mouth is at.
Well said @ Antigua4ever, you are a person who knows their HISTORY. I appreciate and applaud you your chronological consciousness and candour … 👏
Knowing history is not enough but to understand it is. Slavery was not uncommon in history. The British people led the way in its abolition. People look back hundreds of years ago and call people barbarians because of their way of life. Hindsight is 2020. The people living hundreds of years ago thought they were so advance in their ways like how we think today.
Teenage pregnancy for instance is now frowned upon. Was this so hundreds of years ago? People look down on people in the past for riding horses and sleeping on hay. When people acquire knowledge without understanding it is a terrible thing.
Keep judging the British monarch on todays standard for historical days prior. You yourself would come to face judgement for things that are legal today but illegal tomorrow. Hate is a terrible thing.
I nominate Sir Vivian Richards.
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