This week we asked the man and woman in the street about the new $5,000 bill. Their responses follow.
Eon Walton, Businessman – `It is a good thing, if you have a large sum of money you can just get it in $5000 notes instead. But you might find yourself with a lot of counterfeit notes. Perhaps later on, people will get to know the money better.’
Rajin (only name), vendor – `I think it is a nice move for business people. First if I had $100,000, it used to be a big slab of money but now it’s just a few bills.’
Satesh Sawh, clothes vendor – `That’s strictly for business people, who handle large sums of cash. When people come to you with that, it does be very difficult to get change. The good thing is that the money won’t be that bulky like it used to be.’
Roy Persaud, stall owner – `It does be very difficult to find change when people come up with that money. When one customer come with a $5000 bill, all we change gone, what are we gonna do when another comes with $5000? I don’t think we are ready for that in our country.’
Anthony Singh, businessman – `I think it is a good idea if you have to move around with large sums of money because it will not be as bulky. However, I think it is too much money to be in one note but for Guyana, it seems ok.’
Sudesh Persaud, driver – `It is good to reduce bulkiness, otherwise the note is too high for such a small economy. We are not doing well enough for such a big note. Most people are getting problems with the note, finding change is the biggest issue.’
Veronica Lashley, Stall owner – `Well I don’t know what to say. It reduces bulkiness but one week after the money came out, they found a guy with counterfeit. Seems easy to make counterfeit $5000 notes.’
Nechell Benjamin, teacher – `It has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, the other day I went to the bank and instead of getting a big bulk of money, I got just a handful. But the other day, I was at
home and wanted to take a taxi, I had $10,000 in $5000 notes, now I can’t give the taxi driver that. Bottom line is that I like it but it is difficult to get change with it.’
Marcelle Rahaman, business owner – `I think it will help to devalue our dollar because just how you can pass $5 and $10 coins on the road, soon you will pass $20 on the road. Also getting change for customers is very difficult. The colour and design is also very close to the $1000 note, which I think will make it easy to be counterfeited.’
Quincy John, Butcher – `I think it is just a wrong move. Some business people don’t even do $3000 or $4000 sale a day. It is very difficult to make change for the $5000 bill.’
