And while the design may be criticized - the fact is the new notes will resemble international currency in circulation worldwide and in the Caribbean.
Here's more on that:
Stuart Rost, Banknotes Designer, De La Rue Printers
"We wanted to create banknotes that Belizeans would not only use but also cherish."
That hasn't quite been the reaction though. Minutes after Belize's new family of currency notes was launched yesterday, an avalanche of backlash was unleashed on social media and one of the main criticisms was that the new notes closely resembled the Mexican peso.
Well, maybe not only the peso. This YouTube short showing currencies from all over the world depicts the norms of global currency and you can see that Belize's new currency fits right in.
It's part of an attempt to modernize the currency notes.
Gareth Evans, DeLA Rue Printers
"It is important for the Central Bank to consider the wider regional and global trends to ensure it evolves and safeguards the currency against current and future counterfeit threats. Looking around this region Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas and the countries of the Eastern Caribbean have all recently introduced new banknotes with enhanced features."
The purpose they say is to make the new notes secure and durable which means that tactile experience will change from that trusty cotton paper.
Gareth Evans, DeLA Rue Printers
"Durability is a key aspect of the new notes. Banknotes work very hard in circulation. They're a vital part of everyday life, passing constantly among citizens, businesses and banks alike. Therefore the new banknotes incorporate materials and processes that ensure they withstand the test of time."
"The traditional cotton banknote paper has been reinforced and coated with special durability treatments to ensure the new series is crafted to withstand the wear and tear and demands of daily use in Belize."
The designers hope it will be embraced as something like a business card for Belize.
Gareth Evans, DeLA Rue Printers
"In featuring notable Belizean figures, iconic landscapes, national symbols and the unique flora and fauna that make Belize so special, we aim to inspire national pride and unity in every citizen so that when you hold one of these banknotes you are not just holding currency, you are holding a piece of Belize itself."
De La Rue has been printing Belize's currency notes ever since the Central Bank was established in 1982.
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