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Caribbean Brief: Jamaica's Hurricane Budget, T&T Radar Gone, Guyana Plays Football & The US Removes Military Gear from Tobago

Monday, March 30, 2026 | Caribbean Brief

Jamaica Tables a Hurricane Budget

Jamaica’s Finance Minister Fayval Williams has opened the 2026–2027 budget debate, navigating a JA$1.4 trillion national budget with a hole left by Hurricane Melissa — which struck in October 2025 and wiped out an estimated 40% of GDP. New taxes are on the table for the first time in ten years, including a levy on sweetened beverages expected to generate JA$10.1 billion. Williams noted it took a Category 5 hurricane for the government to introduce new taxes. Jamaica is rebuilding. The math is difficult.