Public affairs and political analyst Kevin O’Brien Chang says he does not expect any surprises when Finance Minister Fayval Williams opens the budget debate in Parliament this afternoon.

The debate will commence at 2 PM and Mrs. Williams is to provide details on allocations in the $1.3 trillion 2025/2026 budget.

The sum of the new budget, which is about the same as the 2024/2025 budget comprises recurrent expenditure of $1.197 trillion and capital expenditure, of $62.595 billion.

Speaking to IRIE FM News this morning, Mr. Chang noted that Mrs. Williams took over the Finance Ministry from Dr. Nigel Clarke at a good time.

He said he does not expect that there will be new taxes.

In the same breath, he is hoping that Mrs. Williams will deliver the debate in a manner that can be easily understood.

On Thursday, March 13, Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Julian Robinson will make his debate presentation, followed by Opposition Leader Mark Golding, next Tuesday, March 18.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness will make his contribution on Thursday, March 20, and the Finance Minister will close the debate on Tuesday, March 25.