Some Small Islands Get It Right!
Posted on: 22/04/2025Great article by Ruth Comerford at BBC News!
A mere 58 years after the planets first ATM was installed in the UK, some are finally installed on Tuvalu.
The Moon has been visited and Concorde has come - and gone - whilst the public in Tuvalu have waited to see an ATM.
Those living on the nine islands that make up this nation are joyously celebrating- but the rest of us should be ashamed of the time they have waited.
The shame should especially be felt by those who have declared a “War on Cash” and fund the likes of the “Better Than Cash Alliance”.
They did not give one seconds thought to the needs of the people of Tuvalu and similar countries.
Stupidity and greed, in equal measure.
As the Payment Choice Alliance has made clear before, slogans about “ending world poverty” - hasn’t this messaging been on a bus side? - are nonsensical, since it will NEVER be achieved.
Well done to Feleti Teo, the prime minister of Tuvalu, for leading his country to this historic improvement in cash services.
Intersting also to note the coverage of the new ATM network. Roughly 1 Free-to-Use ATM for every 1250 adults.
That’s better than the UK today. To achieve that ratio would require there to be 45,000 Free-to-Use ATMs available to the British public; there are around 9,000 less than that number!
Tuvalu is perfect for holidays - Cash IS King there - and ATMs are now easier to find! Long Live The TRULY Small Islands!
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