Loyse Vincent
Customers in Tobago are upset, as they believe more should be done to inform customers about the guideline for the exchange of the old for the new $100 dollar notes to ensure customer safety. Checks with several banks indicated that while there were no long lines, several persons were upset because they were sent away with cash in hand.
One customer a fruit and vegetable vendor from the north-eastern end of Tobago attempted to exchange his notes on Tuesday, but he was told he needed to have two forms of identification and a utility bill to exchange the notes.
“So I have to go back home with this cash and come back, thieves might be looking for opportunities like these.”
He said the exchange process is “putting people in place.”
Another customer a female in her early fifties from the Bon Accord area said the exchange process “does not take everyone into consideration.”
“I am the treasurer for my church we are doing work on the building we need to keep cash in hand.”
She said she went to the closest bank to make the exchange and was turned away because the church does not have an account at the bank.
And even after trying to make the exchange by depositing the cash into her personal account through the ATM, then trying to make a withdrawal, the machine dispensed old notes.
“This is counterproductive I cant line up in the bank every day to exchange cash it's not safe and tradesmen and suppliers have already started demanding new notes.”
Meanwhile, customers banking with Scotia Bank in Tobago will have to wait until Wednesday to replace their old $100 dollar notes for the new ones as the coast guard delivered the notes to the Lowlands and Scarborough branches at around 2:00 pm on Tuesday.