Hard stop date of january 15, 2026 for the relief of import duty and general consumption tax as a result of hurricane melissa

 

Kingston, Jamaica: Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Reference is made to Ministry of Finance and the Public Service Press Release of November 6, 2025 regarding the relief of customs duty and general consumption tax (GCT) on a specified list of items.

The Government of Jamaica wholeheartedly thanks all those who responded to the devastation of the Category 5 Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica with the outpouring of relief supplies. We are grateful for the many efforts in cash and/or kind. This has helped families and Jamaica’s relief effort significantly.

We understand that due to the Christmas season and the intervening holidays, the capacity of shippers, freight forwarders, brokers and the ports were significantly constrained. As a result, some donors may not have had their donations arrive on or before December 31, 2025, which is the cut-off date for relief of import duty and GCT upon importation of selected items. As such, the Government of Jamaica is extending the period of relief to January 15, 2026. This date will be a hard stop.

While the Government of Jamaica welcomes the gifts and donations, the decline in tax revenues at Customs since Hurricane Melissa has been significant, totaling approximately JMD $12 billion. 

As Jamaica transits from the relief phase to recovery & reconstruction, we ask our friends and families abroad to help by utilizing the normal channels for items sent to Jamaica for relatives and friends as the January 15, 2026 deadline is a hard stop with respect to the relief of import duty and GCT that was provided as a result of Hurricane Melissa.

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For further information contact:

Corporate Communication & Public Relations Branch

Ministry of Finance and the Public Service

30 National Heroes Circle

Kingston 4

Tel: (876) 932-4656/4660/4655

Email:  [email protected]; [email protected]

Contact: Shakiel Rochester Shorter/Suzell Wray