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Government Unveils Strategic 2025/26 Budget That Prioritises Recovery and Sustainable Growth

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Kingston, Jamaica, February 17, 2025 – The Government has announced a $1.26-trillion Budget, strategically designed to navigate the current economic climate while investing in Jamaica’s long-term prosperity.

The Estimates of Expenditure for fiscal year 2025/26 was tabled in the House of Representatives on Thursday (February 13) by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams.

The Government plans to fund the Budget from anticipated revenues and grants of $1.09 trillion in the upcoming year. Tax collections are forecast to rebound by 5.9 per cent next year to $949.5 billion.

The Budget strategically increases allocations for sectors critical to Jamaica’s growth and development.

Capital expenditure, which refers to new acquisitions, upgrades or maintaining physical assets like roads and hospitals, increased while recurrent expenditure, which relates to the ongoing cost of running and maintaining government services like salaries, supplies and utilities, decreased marginally.

Funding for healthcare, education and social welfare programmes will be maintained to ensure all citizens have access to the requisite resources to thrive. For example, the capital budget for the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information has increased by $4.2 billion. About $1.7 billion programmed for the Education component is geared towards infrastructure improvements in primary and secondary schools.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness’ allocation has risen by $3.3 billion, with significant funds being earmarked to support compensation for staff and infrastructural work at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH).

Recognising the invaluable contributions of public-sector workers, the Government is prioritising its largest financial obligation – $496 billion – to cover new pay rates and retroactive pay for essential civil servants.

Another big-ticket Budget item is infrastructure development. The Government has committed to upgrading the nation’s infrastructure to facilitate economic growth and improve the quality of life for all Jamaicans.

Consequently, significant allocations have been made to key projects. These include the Shared Prosperity through Accelerated Improvement to our Road Network (SPARK) Programme – $8 billion; Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP) – $2.5 billion; Portmore Resilience Park – $2.5 billion, and Montego Bay Perimeter Road – $14 billion.

Meanwhile, debt servicing is expected to be $340.3 billion in 2025/26, a significant improvement over previous years.

Additionally, the debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio is projected to fall to 63.7 per cent at the end of the next fiscal year, in March 2026. This is indicative of the Government’s commitment to reducing the debt burden and creating a more stable economic future.

While the economy experienced contractions in the July-September and October-December quarters, projections indicate a return to growth of 2.2 per cent in fiscal year 2025/26.

CONTACT: ANDREW LAIDLEY

Photo Caption: Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, addresses the House of Representatives during Thursday’s (February 13) tabling of the Estimates of Expenditure for Fiscal Year 2025/26.

Photo by Donald De La Haye

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Widow’s Testimony Recounts Night Haiti President Was Killed

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MIAMI, Florida — Emotional testimony from Martine Moïse, the widow of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, has given jurors in a U.S. federal courtroom a chilling account of the night gunmen stormed the presidential residence and killed the country’s leader.

Martine Moïse took the stand this week in Miami as part of the ongoing trial of several men accused of helping plan and finance the July 7, 2021 assassination, a crime that plunged Haiti into political crisis and remains only partially solved.

She told the court that armed men forced their way into the president’s private home in the hills above Port-au-Prince during the early morning hours, firing multiple shots at her husband while she lay beside him. She testified that she was also wounded in the attack and survived by pretending to be dead until the gunmen left the room.

According to prosecutors, the plot involved a group of foreign mercenaries, including former Colombian soldiers, along with Haitian and Haitian-American suspects. Investigators say some of the men believed the mission was to detain the president, but the operation turned into an assassination.

The Miami trial is focusing on the alleged role of South Florida businessmen and others accused of organizing or financing the plan, part of a wider international investigation that has stretched across several countries.

More than four years after the killing, the question of who ultimately ordered the assassination remains unanswered, with suspects still in custody in both Haiti and the United States as the case continues to unfold.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Jamaica Joins Afreximbank Agreement, Strengthening Africa–Caribbean Partnership

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CARIBBEAN — Jamaica has become the 13th CARICOM member state to accede to the African Export-Import Bank Establishment Agreement, further strengthening economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

The development was confirmed during the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, where an Afreximbank delegation led by George Elombi and Kanayo Awani met with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness to advance cooperation.

Prime Minister Holness thanked the bank for its support following Jamaica’s recent hurricane, noting that Afreximbank financing helped restore critical infrastructure including water, electricity, sewage systems and roads, while also assisting reconstruction efforts aimed at building stronger resilience to future disasters.

The meeting also focused on broader development opportunities tied to Jamaica’s membership in the agreement. Discussions included rebuilding and modernising infrastructure such as railways, hospitals and other public facilities, while strengthening regional transportation and trade networks to improve the movement of people and goods across the Caribbean.

Afreximbank has been expanding its presence in the Caribbean as part of its strategy to connect Africa with the region often referred to as “Global Africa.” The bank has already committed billions of dollars in financing and trade support to Caribbean economies in recent years, including funding for infrastructure, trade facilitation and private sector investment.

By joining the agreement, Jamaica gains expanded access to Afreximbank’s financial instruments, technical support and trade networks designed to promote commerce between Africa and CARICOM states.

Regional leaders say the growing partnership could unlock new opportunities in areas such as trade, logistics, tourism, manufacturing and cultural exchange, strengthening economic cooperation between the two regions with deep historical and diaspora ties.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion  

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Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.

The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.

“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.

“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”

Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.

Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.

Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”

Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.

Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.

Photo Caption: 

TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain

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