The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank has launched an Essay Writing Competition to mark the 50^th anniversary of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Peg, inviting secondary school and community college students across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) to participate.

Students are encouraged to explore the significance of the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD), which has been pegged to the United States dollar at EC$2.70 to US$1.00 since July 7^th, 1976.

Organisers say the fixed exchange rate has contributed to economic stability, strengthened confidence in the EC dollar, and supported trade within the region.

Before 1976, the EC currency had been tied to the British pound sterling, but shifting global economic conditions and the growing influence of the United States as the region’s primary trading partner prompted the move to the US dollar peg.

Secondary school participants will address the topic, “The EC Dollar and Me: How the Peg Impacts Daily Life in the ECCU,” while community college students will examine “The Future of the EC Dollar Peg in an Era of Global Economic Disruption.” Entries will close on May 31^st, 2026. For more details on entry and submission, persons can visit the ECCB Facebook page @ECCB Connects.

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