What’s khaki colored and bearing the face of the former Prime Minister Hugh Shearer? The answer: the new $5000 bill. This new bill will be introduced May 18, 2009, but not available for the population until September 2009. Worth $55 in the US, the government hopes that this bill will help improve the economy of Jamaica. However this bill will also celebrate the life of the former Prime Minister.
So how do the people feel about this bill? Well there are mixed reviews. Many have commented on this issue that cannot be changed. The people want their hero on this new bill. Who is that? The one and only, Bob Marley. Not only do they want him on the bill but they want him to be acknowledged as a national hero. The people feel that it should be up to them who are placed on the new bill not the government. But who opposes the face of Bob on the bill? His son Ziggy Marley. He feels that that is not the place for Bob because it (Babylon) was something that he opposed. However a great honor Bob Marley is on two thick gold platted coins that honored him on his 50th and 60th birthday.
So here are the rules for eligibility: you must be a deceased Prime Minister or a national hero. Now this rule has been broken once on the $20 bill (out of circulation) which holds the image of Noel Nethersole a former minister of finance. Bob Marley is neither and the only candidate left is Shearer. Hopefully this note will help Jamaica improve its economy over the years as it is planned, and hopefully people will realize that this is not where Bob would like to be remembered.
