Despite lively debates last week, the question was settled yesterday by the Bank of Jamaica: much to the dismay of Bob Marley's supporters, it is indeed the former prime minister, Hugh Lawson Shearer, who will appear on the new 5,000 Jamaican dollar note.
The controversy resurfaces in Jamaica whenever a new banknote is announced. As far back as 1997, Anthony B, with his song Marley memories, campaigned for Bob to appear on the next 1,000 dollar note. In vain… The Bank of Jamaica has regularly dismissed the argument, claiming that only former prime ministers and national heroes can have a banknote bearing their likeness.
Bob Marley, who is still not officially considered a national hero, will therefore have to make do with the two collector coins (50 and 100 dollars in gold and silver), issued for his fiftieth and sixtieth birthdays (see news of 29/08/06).