The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) has described the Government’s recently announced revenue measures as interesting, noting that they have been carefully designed to not only increase revenue but also have a behavioural impact.

Finance Minister Fayval Williams, who tabled the estimates of expenditure and the revenue measures in Parliament on Thursday, said they should result in earnings of over $29 billion during the 2026/2027 fiscal year.

Mrs. Williams said the measures are necessary to address the massive fallout from Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall on October 28, 2025.

Speaking with IRIE FM News, JCC Treasurer, John Butler, said the measures were expected and reflect the fiscal responsibility of the Government after such a major natural disaster.

Mr. Butler, who is also the Deputy Chair of the Economic Affairs and Taxation Committee, noted that some stakeholders, such as those within the tourism industry, will have concerns about remaining competitive in relation to other countries.

He was referring to the 15 per cent General Consumption Tax (GCT), which the Finance Minister proposes will be levied on people offering tourism activities.

This is an increase from the 10 per cent currently being charged to persons within this group.

Mr. Butler said that with the measure taking effect on April 1, 2027, the sector will have some time to prepare for the increase.

Taxes on international digital services, non-alcoholic sweetened beverages and an increase in the Environmental Protection Levy are among the revenue measures the Government plans to use to fund the 2026/2027 budget.

An increase in the Special Consumption Tax for pure alcohol and cigarettes is intended to boost the Government’s earnings by over $2 billion.