Finance Minister Halts Printing of New $100 Bill Featuring Steelpan Coat of Arms; Central Bank to Issue Update Soon

In a surprise move, Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo has ordered an immediate halt to the printing of Trinidad and Tobago’s new $100 polymer banknote, which was set to feature a revised national coat of arms. The updated design, which replaced Columbus’s ships with the national instrument —the steelpan —had been approved earlier this year and was expected to go into circulation by September. However, without providing a reason, the minister has instructed both the Central Bank and its printer to cease all design and production work.8 This marks the second delay for the new note, which was originally due in late 2024. The Central Bank says it will issue a formal update soon.