Five-year supply of currency arrives amid tight security
A five-year supply of local currency from Thomas De La Rue Ltd of England arrived in Guyana yesterday and it includes $500 and $1,000 notes with upgraded security features. According to reports, the army was requested to provide an escort from the airport and security at the bank for the cash, which arrived late in the afternoon. Members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), armed to the teeth, stood guard around the Bank of Guyana yesterday afternoon while the cash was being transported and policemen diverted traffic from Avenue of the Republic and Robb Street, Water and Church streets up to Carmichael Street and from Main and Quamina streets. Some amount of confusion was created as the traffic was diverted from around the area and curious passersby congregated. Traffic also piled up along the route from the airport as the convoy was given priority. Meanwhile, the Bank of Guyana says it will soon issue the $500 and $1,000 currency notes with upgraded characteristics which would circulate concurrently with the existing currency notes of the same denominations. A statement yesterday from the bank said that as part of the continuing process of currency reform, the upgrades are designed to enhance security and facilitate easier identification. Both notes would carry the enhanced security feature of a wider "windowed security thread." The windowed security thread is a feature where the thread appears on the surface at regular intervals so that the metallic sheen may be seen. The complete thread is visible only when viewed against light. The $500 note carries a clear text thread with "Guyana," repeated on it while the $1,000 note bears a colour shift thread which changes between magenta and green depending on the viewing angle. The denomination of the currency notes displayed at the top left corner of the face of the notes has been enlarged to facilitate easier identification by the visually impaired. New optically variable devices in the form of holograms have also been added to both denominations. The size of the map of Guyana has been reduced on the face of the $500 note and a small silver foil hologram in the shape of the map of Guyana has been inserted in the upper right corner. The holographic feature is multi-redundant and reflects two distinct images in the form of smaller maps of Guyana and the text "BOG". Additionally, the Parliament Buildings featured on the reverse side of the note has been slightly reduced to accommodate the new security features. The upgraded $1,000 currency note shows a reduction in the size of the map of Guyana on the face of the note while the smaller superimposed map in gold colour foil has been replaced by a hologram of similar foil in the shape of the BOG crest. The holographic feature which is located at the upper right hand corner of the note carries a single registered image with two sets of smaller multi-redundant images bearing the text "BOG" and the figure "1000". The colour scheme along the bottom margin of the face of the note has been amended to reflect more precise intaglio colour splits. The other attributes of these currency notes remain the same as those currently in circulation. 
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