New polymer notes easier for the blind

TT Blind Welfare Association executive officer Kenneth Suratt thanked governor of the Central Bank Dr Alvin Hilaire and the government for making the new polymer notes accessible to the visually impaired.

The new polymer notes have a tactile (raised dots) feature similar to the Braille system used by the blind to read and recognise characters.

Suratt said on Wednesday that this was a great opportunity for people who are blind to be independent and they now have the freedom to exchange money on their own with ease.

“Now we can identify our (money) without assistance.”

The Central Bank will circulate the new polymer $5, $10 and $20 through all banks from November 2.

Suratt added because the notes are polymer, the tactile feature will last longer than if it were on a paper note.

“It could withstand the pressure of change from one hand to the other,” he said.

All of the notes, on the bottom right-hand corner, have the raised tactile feature. The $5 has a raised L-shape feature; the $10 has a C-shape; the $20 has a triangle; and the $100 polymer note, already in circulation since December 2019, has an X-shape.