Reserve Bank of Fiji defends new banknote designs amid calls for wider representation

The Reserve Bank of Fiji has defended the selection of designs for the new polymer banknotes after questions were raised about representation of other communities including Chinese and Banabans.

Deputy Governor Esala Masitabua acknowledged today that choosing what appears on Fiji’s five banknotes was an extremely challenging process.

“It’s a difficult task to come up with,” Mr Masitabua said at a press conference today following the official unveiling at the Grand Pacific Hotel.

“We want to highlight all the communities. You see some of our banknotes in the past have been quite big.

“So, if you notice the designs that the Reserve Bank has been coming up with in recent history has been just a bit simpler.”

The new $50 note features a Girmitiya lady with the Leonidas ship, honoring Indo-Fijian heritage, while the $100 depicts an iTaukei man in traditional attire holding kava.

Mr Masitabua said the bank had to balance multiple considerations when selecting designs.

“At the end of the day, we want something that reflects our country, like progressive, paying homage to our history, unity and diversity, inclusivity,” he said.

“We only have five notes, and land on five designs. We took the decision to have one dominant design.”

He acknowledged that not everyone would be satisfied with the final selections.

“At the end of the day, we're not going to please everyone. We went through a very rigorous process to arrive at these designs. We just have to trust the process and trust that more people will probably be proud of it.”

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