Security features to combat counterfeiting: Narube
 

Press Release

Fiji Government Online

www.fiji.gov.fj

22.09.06
 

The Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) Mr. Savenaca Narube today unveiled the security features of the new design of currency notes at the RBF conference room.

In his address, the Governor revealed that the notes will be circulated earlier next in 2007.

Mr. Narube was aided by Mr. James Hussey the Managing Director of DeLaRue, an international company which designed and has been designing Fiji's currency notes since 1914.

Mr. Hussey has been the Managing Director of the company since 1998 and he said that the relationship between Fiji and the company has come a long way. He added that before the company came to the scene, the notes that were printed and circulating in Fiji were controversial in the sense that at one stage, notes were printed behind newspaper cuttings.

These all changed when the DeLaRue company was given the tender to produce the notes for the country in 1914 and the relationship has continued ever since.

On the other hand, Governor Narube conveyed that the improvement in the designs and the security features of the currency notes was necessary because of the increased incidence of counterfeiting.

Likewise, the new features and designs will increase the durability of the notes said Governor Narube.

Mr. Hussey explained that most of the features of the existing notes was still in place but was only enhanced by the new designs and additions.

The new features include a Kaleidoscope of colours, a feature which has been given the name of Gemini where colours seen under a visible light was singular but under a UV light , there are multiple colours.

In addition, there are 'Optiks' in the notes which is transmitted by UV lights and in some notes you can actually see right through the notes which makes it impossible for counterfeiting.

The monetary value of these new designs have been valued around $FJ17m and it has taken the Reserve Bank of Fiji up to three years to finalise the new designs, a delicate process which had to wait the final approval of the cabinet.