Durrant Pate/Contributor

The 2025-26 Budget Debate continues this afternoon (March 20) with the much-anticipated presentation by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, who will resume expounding on government plans being rolled out while accounting for the national expenditure programme for the fiscal year.

The explanation of these plans and programmes was first articulated by Finance Minister Fayval Williams, who opened the Budget Debate last Tuesday.

Holness is expected to announce several initiatives including giving details of the J$1.1 billion allocated to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to provide individual grants of J$20,000. The prime minister made this announcement at a special conference in November 2024 at the National Arena.

Addressing Opposition’s proposals and criticisms

He will also address the criticisms and proposals articulated by the Opposition through its leader Mark Golding and shadow finance minister Julian Robinson in the current Budget Debate. 

In his presentation at Gordon House, which is set to start at about 2:30 pm, Holness will himself unveil some goodies for the Jamaican public and share his concerns with the plight of many not feeling the economic benefits of his administration.

The prime minister will speak in his Budget Debate presentation on his plans for roads and parks under the government’s major infrastructure projects. This is being done by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, which accounts for J$30.6 billion or 49 per cent of the J$62.1 billion allocated to capital expenditure.

He will also give specifics on the Restoration and Maintenance of Major Corridors and Gullies Programme, of which J$4.6 billion has been allocated in the budget. Holness will also speak on the progress of the National Identification Systems (NIDS), which is designed to provide every Jamaican with a secure, verifiable identity, enabling seamless transactions in a growing digital society.

Three billion has been allocated in the budget for the Office of the Prime Minister for the roll-out of the NIDS programme with the issuing id ID cards being done on a small scale. As this year’s constitutionally due general election draws closer, the prime minister is expected to touch on the J$1.96 billion allocated in the budget to the Electoral Office of Jamaica to support the holding of national polls.