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PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, December 16, 2019 (CMC) – The Trinidad and Tobago government dismissed reports, today, that counterfeit copies of the new, one hundred dollar bill were in circulation, after a video surfaced on social media, claiming to show the fake bills.
National Security Minister, Stuart Young, said that it is near impossible to duplicate the polymer bill that went into circulation, last week, and is due to replace the old one hundred dollar bill that will no longer be legal tender, here, as of December 31, this year.
The government had introduced the new bill, in a bid to counter money laundering and other illegal activities.
“At this stage, there is no evidence of counterfeiting or anyone counterfeiting, in mass, the new polymer bill. As we have said, and the Central Bank (of Trinidad and Tobago) …the experts on this, the polymer note is almost impossible to counterfeit.
“Persons should make themselves aware, via the education of the Central Bank, of what are the security features of the new polymer note,” Young said, adding “just by touching a polymer bill, compared to a cotton or paper bill, you will immediately be able to tell the difference”.
He said what was being circulated on social media “does not have the transparency security feature”.
“At this stage, there is absolutely no need for persons to be following the road of the social media …or having any cause for concern,” he said, urging people, here, “just be aware”.
Meanwhile, at least one private sector group has brushed aside counterfeit dollars going into circulation, here.
President of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA), Gregory Aboud, said that people should take comfort in the fact that there has been no counterfeit version of the TT$50 note that has been in circulation for more than a year.
“We don’t expect to have much of an issue with any counterfeit polymer note. The truth is, the polymer note, specifically, has a number of features, which make it appealing,” he said, adding “it is almost impossible to counterfeit or to copy a polymer note”.
