Durrant Pate/Contributor

Finance and the Public Service Minister Fayval Williams will provide greater details on the nation’s $1.4 trillion national budget for 2026/2027, which starts next month.

She will also delve into the planned $29.4 billion tax package as well as the national expenditure plans for the upcoming financial year, whilst focusing on the government’s revenue performance during the current 2025/2026 financial year.

She is expected to speak on the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NARA), which has recently been established to lead rebuilding efforts post Hurricane Melissa. Williams, who will be making her second Budget Debate presentation in her current capacity, will also touch on the hike in the estimated damage and losses from the Category 5 storm, which struck the island on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

The Planning Institute of Jamaica revealed two weeks ago the latest damage assessment of US$12.232 billion (J$1.952 trillion), up from the initial estimate of US$8.8 billion. With this increase, Melissa damage represents 56.7% of the country’s 2024 GDP. 

This figure confirms that Melissa was over four times more destructive than Hurricane Gilbert.

Come this Thursday, the debate continues with Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Julian Robinson, who will present his party’s critique of the budget and spending plans whilst offering some alternative suggestions and national spending priorities.

He will be followed by Opposition Leader Mark Golding on Tuesday, March 17, before Prime Minister Andrew Holness speaks on Thursday, March 19, 2026. The following Tuesday, March 24, Williams will close the budget debate.