Open Letter To Executive Governor Weeks, Central Bank of Liberia

Dear Governor Weeks,

I write in response to the Press Release posted on the website of the Central Bank of Liberia titled “Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) to Issue New Bank Notes Soon” dated, July 27, 2016.

Governor Weeks, I applaud the CBL Team for attempting to mitigate every loophole within our struggling economy with a result driven monetary policy. I must also applaud the Research and Policy Department of the Central Bank for its informative resources.

However, I am equally curious to understand why didn’t the Central Bank made clear in her Press Release the total amount of additional notes to be printed and released into the economy?

On another issue Sir, I applaud the Bank’s efforts to reduce the risk associated with toting bundles of Liberian notes. The introduction of the Five Hundred Bill is good for portability purpose but Sir, who are those pictures that the L$500 Bill will be carrying?

I believe it would have been good enough were you to inform the Liberian people of your intent to include anyone on the new legal tender. Give the Liberian people their space to enjoy their rights, privileges and decide what goes on their public resources.

The purpose of the legal tender carrying a portrait of someone is either to lift historical contributions or strategic and specific roles such individuals are involved within the Liberian economy.

My recommendation is that the 500 Bill carry a portrait of our mothers and sisters who were sitting in the open field at the James Spring Payne Airfield praying 24/7 and made representation at the Accra Peace Conference in 2003 of which their heroic efforts fast-tracked the peace process to a logical conclusion. 

Thank you for the efforts so far in driving our nations’ monetary policy.

With Regards,

Joe Wilson,
[email protected]