‘Kina’ will remain Sir Yano’s profound legacy throughout generations
APART from many other significant contributions Sir Yano Belo made to this country during his time in politics as Papua New Guinea’s First Works Minister, PNG’s Legal Tender ‘Kina’ will remain as one of his profound legacy throughout generations.
Sir Yano first entered into politics in the Second House of Assembly at Downtown, Port Moresby from 1968-1972. He was again elected into the Third House of Assembly from 1974-1977 and from 1977-1982 he represented the people of Kagua in the Southern Highlands in the National Parliament.
The NBC reached out to Sir Yano at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby this week after his return from Australia with Prime Minister, James Marape following the historical address to the Australian Parliament.
Sir Yano proudly told of his contributions towards nation building but one significant contribution he highlighted was his submission of PNG’s traditional monetary item ‘Kina shell’ to become legal tender for PNG which was eventually approved in the National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting.
“Ol Sepik bin tok Haus tambran, Papua tok Lakatoi na planti nem ol I bin kisim ikam tasol mi tok Kina na mi tok Kina em mipla sa stretim hevi, baim meri na strong bilong em I moa long pik na ol narapela samting na ol I tok orait na approve (Apart from other names , I suggested ‘Kina’ to be the legal tender and explained its significance and NEC eventually approved),” Sir Yano said.
The 82 year old said his elder son ‘Kina’ who now works with the Central Bank was named after his submission was approved. He his grateful that his legacy will live on forever.
He reiterated that Kina was used as traditional money used in the Highlands and Momase regions, while the Toea was named after the arm-shell widely used in the Papuan coast.
Meanwhile on the 19th April 1975, PNG’s first issued its own currency the Kina and Toea. This was one of the many moves towards nation building.
Just like the national flag, the national anthem and the national crest, PNG currency the Kina and Toea is the national symbol which depicts elements of PNG’s culture, tradition and heritage.
The Central Bank during the 32nd Anniversary of Kina and Toea in 2007, outlined that PNG currency has come a long way from paper substrate to polymer substrate, and with the introduction of high denomination K50 in 1998 and K100 in 2005 with a shift towards mixing traditional and non-traditional designs.
It is anticipated that on the 19th April 2024 PNG will mark its 48th Anniversary of the Kina and Toea while Sir Yano will be up for his 83rd birthday.
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