A new, 50-dollar commemorative banknote was unveiled on February 5, 2024 in St. George's, Grenada by Dickon Amiss Thomas Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, in the presence of Her Excellency, Dame Cécile La Grenade, the Governor-General of Grenada, Timothy Antoine, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Olympian Kirani James, and other officials and dignitaries.
The banknote commemorates the 50th anniversary of Grenada's independence from the United Kingdom. Independence was granted on February 7, 1974 under the leadership of Eric Matthew Gairy, who became the first prime minister of Grenada. Grenada opted to remain within the Commonwealth, retaining Queen Elizabeth as Monarch, represented locally by a governor-general.
The obverse of the banknote prominently features Eric Gairy (1922-1997), Grenada's first prime minister, in the top half of the banknote. Olympic sprinter, Kirani James (born 1992), is portrayed in the background design at upper right. A man, woman and child standing in silhouette look towards Annandale Waterfall with a map of Grenada in the center. An Ilyushin IL96 airplane at Maurice Bishop International Airport is shown at the bottom of the banknote.
The reverse of the banknote features Maurice Rupert Bishop (1944-1983), Grenada's second prime minister, in the top half of the banknote, above a woman singing with Big Drum players/dancers of Carriacou behind her. A harbor scene of St. George's is shown at the bottom on the banknote.
The transparent window features Grenada's coat of arms, cocoa beans, nutmegs, nutmeg branches and leaves and bougainvillea flowers.
The banknote was printed by De La Rue, measures 65 x 132 mm and was printed on Safeguard®. The banknote will be only issued in Grenada beginning in June 2024. It will be a circulating banknote and can be spent in any East Caribbean country.
The entire unveiling ceremony can be viewed here:
Donald Ludwig, February 6, 2024
