No inflation or higher prices expected from GUY$5,000 bill

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:00 by GxMedia

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday said the introduction of the GUY$5,000 bill is not expected to fuel inflation or higher prices but the law should be amended to cater for the minimum transaction using the new bill.

“The Chamber does not envisage inflationary pressures or increases as a result of the introduction of the new denomination,” the city business organisation said in a statement.

The new bill goes into circulation on December 9.

While the GCCI acknowledged that the GUY$5,000 bill would help with large transactions by companies and individuals, it wants the law activated or amended to state the minimum transaction for which the note should be accepted.

“The only inconvenience envisaged is the use of the $5000 notes to carry out small transactions that would require vendors offering a good or service to provide many smaller notes in return as “change.”

Already, minibus conductors and vendors are expressing concern about the burden that the new note would bring to their business.

The GCCI suggests that the Central Bank issue an advisory, if permitted by law, on a minimum amount during a transaction where a $5000 note can be tendered. If the law does not provide, a legislative amendment should be made,” the Chamber said.

On the issue of inflation, the GCCI said it was banking on assurances by Bank of Guyana Governor Lawrence Williams back in 2012 that the new note was not intended to increase Guyana’s money supply but rather shift the dependency from the $1,000 note to the new, larger $5000 denomination.

The Chamber recalled that Williams had informed that international standards and principles usually dictate that the highest currency denomination usually account for around 20 per cent of total currency notes or 60 per cent of the total value of money in circulation.

In Guyana’s case, the $1000 note at the time accounted for 59 per cent of the quantity of currency notes in circulation and around 94 per cent of the total value of money in circulation.

Also, on that occasion, Mr. Williams posited that from an historical context inflation decreased when larger notes were introduced into the economy.

The Governor, the Chamber noted, had also advised of the significant savings that will accrue as a result of lower printing costs for notes. According to the Governor, it costs the central bank between $600 million and GUY$700 million to print current notes and the new GUY$5,000 would reduce the volume of notes being printed.