Special coin honours frontline workers

A literal glowing tribute for Barbados’ essential workers was unveiled by the island’s leading financial institution.

The Central Bank of Barbados has presented a limited edition glow-in-the dark circulation coin in honour of Barbadians across all sectors who worked during the national COVID-19 curfew imposed at the end of March.

At a virtual launch this evening, Prime Minister Mia Mottley said the coin, which was originally developed for We Gathering brought to a halt by COVID-19, represents the Bajan spirit.

“This limited edition coin represents that Barbadian spirit. For when COVID-19 put paid to We Gathering, the Central Bank quickly recognised that there was a different category of Barbadian who, by their diligence and sacrifice since the year opened, would now be even more deserving of that coin than anyone who might have been targeted in the original plans. I speak of our frontline workers.”

Mottley, who noted that though the viral illness “shook” and “bruised” the island,  Barbadians excelled in their fight against COVID-19.

She especially heaped praises on the nurses, doctors, their support staff, personnel at the Best Dos Santos Laboratory, workers across the tourism sector, Customs and Immigration personnel, bus and coach drivers, supermarket cashiers and packers.

The construction team who transformed the old naval base at Harrison’s Point into an isolation facility and assisted with the development of quarantine facilities at the St Lucy District Hospital, the Elayne Scantlebury Centre and the Blackman and Gollop Primary School, was also hailed for their work.

“It is Barbadians like these to whom this coin is dedicated. It is but a tiny token of what we really owe them,” she said, adding that accolades received from the World Health Organisation’s Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and cruise line operators about the island’s handling of the pandemic were a reflection of the work of frontline personnel and Barbadians who did what was required of them.

Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haymes also praised Barbadians who went above and beyond the call of duty.

“While we were under lockdown, they were on the frontlines keeping us healthy, keeping us safe. They made sure there was food available, that we could access the money we needed to purchase it, that our island was clean, that the public was updated… that all the services we needed that could not be facilitated remotely continued efficiently so Barbados could continue to function.”

The Bank’s Deputy Director of Currency, Octavia Gibson, revealed that the Central Bank of Barbados is the first one in the region to issue a painted, glow-in-the-dark coin.

The one-dollar coin, on which the flying fish and waves are now painted blue, will go into circulation on Tuesday, December 1.

“When you go to the supermarket, the bank, wherever you go and you’re getting change, you will see the one dollar painted coin in your change,” Gibson said.

While most of the coins will be put into circulation, the Central Bank has specially packaged some of them which will be distributed to essential workers from different sectors.