Belize removes Queen Elizabeth’s image from banknotes
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The new dollar bills will feature George Cadle Price, regarded as the father of Belize's independence.
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Belize’s $100 bill design showing George Cadle Price, undated. (Government of Belize press office.)
Belize has made a “significant step” in shedding vestiges of colonialism by replacing the former Queen Elizabeth's image on its dollar bills with depictions of national heroes.
During the unveiling of the new banknote design on Thursday, Kareem Michael, the governor of Belize’s central bank, highlighted that, in addition to enhanced security and anti-counterfeit measures, the “new family of notes also allows us to recognize and celebrate our heritage and the rich history of Belize.”
The new banknotes, set to enter circulation in June, will replace the queen’s image with George Cadle Price, Belize’s first prime minister and widely regarded as the father of the country’s independence from British rule.
The fifty-, ten-, and two-dollar bills will feature Philip Goldson, a founding member of Belize’s major political parties—the People’s United Party and the United Democratic Party—renowned as a champion of national pride.
Belize’s Prime Minister, Johnny Briceño, said the new images “exemplify our national heroes who symbolize our resistance.”
Speaking to local media he said, “I know some people will say, ‘We don’t have the queen [on the note].’ Well, the queen has died, and that has nothing to do with the Belize dollar."
“While the primary reason for this change was to incorporate technological advancements into new notes for increased security features and durability, it is one more way for us to remember the sacrifices of those who came before us. Each time we look at the faces of our national heroes on our new currency, we are seeing history, we are seeing leadership, we are seeing the great work that led us to where we are today,” Briceño said.
The new notes sparked mixed reactions from the public, with some questioning the need for the redesign and others concerned about its potential impact on the value of the Belize dollar.
For those advocating for Belize to sever ties with King Charles as head of state, however, the removal of the British monarch from the currency marks a key milestone in the nation's journey toward becoming a republic.
