Bob Marley’s Face Could Feature On JA Money But There Are Caveats

bob-marley
Bob Marley

Jamaican Minister of Finance Dr. Nigel Clarke is not ruling out the placement of the likeness of cultural figures such as Bob Marley and Usain Bolt, on Jamaican currency “subject to there being a higher note” in the future, and whether those cultural figures are so inclined to have their image and likeness being used on banknotes.

Dr. Clarke’s comment was shared during a news item on Radio Jamaica on Friday.  His statements come in the wake of complaints from members of the public,  foremost among them veteran Dancehall selector Foota Hype about the absence of Marley from the slew of new notes announced last week.

However, the Minister, in explaining why the government did not consider placing “other significant national figures” on Jamaica’s new series of upgraded notes, and a new $2000 bill, which will go into circulation later this year, said that such a move would not be as easy as it sounds.

“The process of getting someone on a bank note is quite lengthy.  You have to do permissions and so forth and not everyone wants to necessarily be on a commercial thing like a bank note,” Dr. Clarke said.

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Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke displays in Parliament Tuesday mock-ups of new notes.

The Minister may have been referring to the Rastafarian Bob Marley, because as wealthy as he was, he was never ostentatious, but humble and preferred simplicity and nature. Tuff Gong’s stance on money also appeared ambivalent.

“Possession make you rich? I don’t have that type of richness. My richness is life, forever,” Marley had responded in an interview when asked about his wealth and whether he had millions of dollars.

“Money is numbers and numbers never end. If it takes money to be happy, your search for happiness will never end; Your life is worth much more than gold; I have a BMW. But only because BMW stands for and The Wailers, and not because I need an expensive car; Money can’t buy life; Don’t gain the world and lose your soul.  Wisdom is better than silver and gold,” are among other quotes attributed to him, regarding money and wealth.

Upon the announcement of the new bank notes, Executive Director of the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI) Dr. Damien King had complained about the fact that images of Marley and Bolt, were not on the Jamaican currency.

“Politicians put politicians on currency notes as a way to market the idea that politicians are important. The notion that Donald Sangster, who was Prime Minister less than 30 days, is more worthy of this iconization than Bob Marley, Usain Bolt, or Mary Seacole is just laughable,” the former University of the West Indies lecturer declared.

Veteran music selector Foota Hype, in an Instagram rant, had ripped into the Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding, condemning them for placing what he described as “four white men” on the larger notes and omitting Bob Marley.

However, there has been no comment from the Marley family or Bolt, regarding being placed on the Jamaican currency.  Their expressed permission would have to be sought in order for their images to be put on the money.

Foota especially took exception to former Prime Ministers Michael Manley and Edward Seaga being placed on the currency, arguing that were known to be the architects of gun violence in Jamaica, which resulted in the infamous bloody 1980 General Elections which resulted in more than 800 Jamaicans being murdered, in a conflict influenced by political ideology.

“Dem nuh respect di music enough fi put Bob Marley pon di money. Dem a put Michael and Seaga weh a  two wicked, weh di two a dem evolve gun business inna Jamaica!” Foota shouted.  “Mi jus a talk di truth enuh.  Michael Manley and Edward Seaga responsible fi di gun phenomenon in Jamaica!” he added.

“Why Bob Marley nuh deh paa money? A Bob Marley create di peace.  A Bob Marley stop di war.  A Bob Marly carry Brand Jamaica guh all ova di world!”

Foota said along with Bob Marley, the politicians had also disrespected Pan-Africanist, Mosiah Garvey by putting him on one of the lowest denominations, after all the work that the two men did to empower black people worldwide.

“Di two man dem weh fight fi black empowerment and black upliftment worldwide.  Dem man deh nuh ungle war fi Jamaica. dem man deh war fi black livity; black unity; black upliftment worldwide,” he argued.

“Bob Marley fi deh pon money.  An Marcus Garvey fi deh pon one a di big note dem weh a use everyday!” he added.

He then renewed criticisms of the politicians for failing to make Bob Marley a National Hero, but were using his image to promote tourism.

“All now oonu caan even establish Bob Marley as a national hero or put him pon a money, but oonu use him outa airport when di tourist dem a walk in though… but oonu caan see it fit fi gi him a national honour as a Hero inna wi business,” he stated.