Dear Editor,

The Government of Jamaica and the National Road Operating and Construction Company have been forced to roll back the increase in toll rates that was applied due to a shortage of coins. The motoring public is happy.

Was the shortage real, imagined or created?

Truth be told, the value of most of our denominational coins is “zero” as most cannot purchase goods and services. If the attempt is made it would be time-consuming. Our supermarkets and other retail outlets offer us candy instead of change (coins) when a purchase is made; take it or leave it, or return the goods to the shelves.

If one should take a walk within close proximity of our commercial banking district and retail outlets downtown, uptown or town centre, and you were not “stoosh”, you could pick up any amount of coins that are thrown away by customers who have conducted business and left them behind.

When I was a youngster, the Government Savings Bank, later the Workers’ Bank, had a piggy bank savings facility in place. Schoolchildren were encouraged to save in a piggy bank, which was issued by the bank, and when it was filled, you would return it. At which time it would be opened and the contents counted and lodged to your piggy bank account. We found joy in finding coins.

Back then, coins could purchase postage stamps. Who can forget those 19/- 11d (19 shillings and 11 pence) purchases in our retail stores and receiving a ‘Willie’ penny for your change.

Diving for coins was a pastime for many young boys in the Corporate Area, as tourists and sailors used to throw coins into the sea at Victoria Pier, downtown Kingston, and boys from would dive for these foreign coins. They would surface with them in their mouths.

But inflation has taken its toll on economies around the world and a coin can no longer purchase goods. Candy in our stores is between $5 and $10 minimum.

The Government may well have to consider the use of plastic in order to alleviate future shortages of coins. Motorists traversing our highways would pre-purchase their cards for use at toll plazas as the shortage of Coins is going to be as perennial as the grass.

It was Nostradamus who predicted that plastic would rule the commercial world. Although cash is “king”, retailers ask for your card (debit or credit) at the cash register.

I know that reference is going to be drawn to our neighbours up North; however, denominated packets are sold in retail shops and the denominational coins can be placed in their respective packets and sold to banks and retail outlets who gladly purchase them to make change.

Our economy has lost monetary value due to the wanton disregard for the denominational coins issued by the Bank of Jamaica. Money is literally going to waste.

Joseph Michael Cornwall Sr, JP

tranquillityfh@yahoo.com