July 7^th, 2026, marks the date when 50 years ago in 1976, the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD/EC) was fixed against the United States Dollar (USD) at a rate of EC$2.70 to US$1.00 creating what is known as the EC Dollar Peg.

The fixed exchange rate has delivered five decades of stability, credibility and economic confidence for the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU), according to Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Governor Dr. Timothy Antoine.

Speaking during a July 1^st panel discussion marking the 50th anniversary of the EC dollar peg, Antoine described the arrangement as “one of the greatest achievements in regional cooperation anywhere in the world.”

Antoine stressed that monetary stability must serve a broader purpose. “Stability is not a destination. It is a foundation which we must leverage for faster growth, higher incomes and a better quality of life for all,” he said.