THE Governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI) Dr Luke Forau and the Minister of Finance and Treasury (MOFT) Harry Kuma and yesterday launched the country’s new $10 note under an SBD $4 million initiative to mark the biggest event to occur in the country – 17th Pacific Games.
The 17th Pacific Games is the first Pacific Games to be hosted by Solomon Islands since the inception of the premier regional sporting event in 1963 and CBSI and the National Government took the initiative to highlight the historical significance of the games to the country through this commemorative note.
Addressing the press during the historical launch, the CBSI Governor Dr Luke Forau said, “As far as I am aware, this is history in the making for Solomon Islands as it is the biggest ever event and the first time for Solomon Islands to host the Pacific Games since its inception.
“Therefore, this morning we are here to witness the launching and declaration of the new $10 polymer note.”
Dr Forau said the commemorative $10 note will become part of the currency in circulation and this is the fourth in a series of new polymer bank notes to be issued for circulation since 2018.
He said this commemorative $10 note project took almost two years to complete from its conception stage to the planning stage and from the design stage to the delivery stage.
On that note, Dr Forau thanked CBSI’s partner De La Rue for its continuous support. De La Rue is a leading commercial banknote printer, security paper maker and provider of security products and software solutions in the United Kingdom. As a trusted partner of governments, central banks and commercial organisations globally, De La Rue is at the forefront of the battle against the counterfeiter. As the world’s largest commercial banknote printer, De La Rue provides customers with a fully integrated range of sophisticated products and services which are available
Underscoring the features of the new currency note and importance, the CBSI Governor said, “The new $10 commemorate note retains the same dimensional size, the reddish colour and most features of the current $10 note but with a few enhancements to the security and design specifications.
“We need to be in pace with the ever-changing technology, hence the need for the enhancement in security. As well, the design needs to be in line with the event that we are marking or commemorating – the 17th Pacific Games.
“The significant visible changes you can see from the current $10 paper note includes the design images which clearly portray the Pacific Games logo and theme and of course, the images of some of the individual who will be participating in the sports event.”
On that note, he thanked the athletes featured on the note for giving their permission for the usage of their images.
Dr Forau said the featuring of athletes on the new commemorative $10 note will give the athletes the motivation to excel and win more medals this year.
He added that the other visible change from the $10 note to the new commemorative $10 note is the replacement of the current substrate to the polymer substrate.
“So, it’s a positive change to one with a clear window and an eagles head created by the three paddles of the Pacific Games Logo and the new serial numbering.
“The changes to the design substrate and security specifications are necessary so as to appropriately reflect the event that we are commemorating which is the Pacific Games.
“Secondly, they are to ensure more durable notes that can withstand the harsh environment in our country and lastly, it is to counter threats from counterfeit notes.”
Dr Forau said he has no doubt that the country will appreciate the fact that the major themes on the commemorative $10 note and designs have been specifically revised and enhanced to capture its values and norms towards its success in its historical hosting of the games.
“Of course, we live in a community of people with diverse cultures and sometimes complex belief systems in an ever-changing society so there is no one particular design that can represent all our cultural values and beliefs and unite us together.
“Against this backdrop and recognising our cultural values, we look for commonalities that even during our darkest moments can still merge us together as one people and one nation.”
The polymer commemorative $10 note is the third commemorative note to be launched by CBSI. The first commemorative note was a $2 polymer note to mark CBSI’s Silver Jubilee in 2001 and the second commemorative note was the $40 polymer note to mark the country’s 40th Independence Anniversary in 2018.
By TERRY FLOYD & IAN LADDS
Solomon Star, Honiara
