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But while the PM didn't want to speak about the Cabinet's plans to remove the queen from our currency (or anything else), the DPM wasn't afraid to praise the decision. He told us today that it's all about asserting Belize's independence. He also reassured the worriers that our dollar won't be devalued just because a monarch isn't on it.
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister
"That's a big deal, we are mighty proud of that decision, I mean ultimately, it's about independence, it's about sovereignty, it's about stating our right as an independent nation, asserting our sovereignty, asserting our independence, asserting our identity, our nationhood. It's about our people and ultimately, man, the queen was on our money for way too long. And if we don't have the queen we're going to have the king? This is an opportunity for us to do something different, for us to make a very clear statement to our people that we have the right to self determination, we have the right to assert ourselves, we have a right to lead ourselves and ultimately the agreement is that our two national heroes will be put on the money."
Reporter:
"When can Belizeans expect the new money in circulation?"
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister
"I think it's later this year, I think there is some procedural stuff, there is some requirements that Central Bank will have to deal with but I think it's sometime this year."
Reporter:
"How do you reassure people, because they're afraid that once you remove the queen, the money will be devalued."
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister
"Man, we too wah wah sometime. In the Caribbean, we have this, we do this, in the Caribbean they have had their national heroes on their money for some time in some of the countries. We're gonna be okay, we're going to be okay."
And how do regular folks feel about it? Later on in the news - we'll show you what the streets were saying about any possible change - right after the Queen died.
