KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced that 50,000 vulnerable Jamaicans are to benefit from a new $1 billion ‘Solidarity Programme’.

He made the disclosure Thursday during his contribution to the 2025/26 Budget Debate at Gordon House.

He said the $20,000 benefit will be paid to vulnerable Jamaicans not enrolled in the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), who are not receiving social pension, National Insurance Scheme (NIS) benefits, and who do not qualify for the Government’s Reverse Income Tax Credit.

“Even Jamaicans who are not attached to anything, the State has compassion for you, the State is concerned about your welfare; the State cares about you. We stand in solidarity with you,” Holness stated.

He said the initiative will support elderly people in need, youth not engaged in education or employment, microbusinesses affected by disaster, low-income informal workers, medically indigent individuals, and persons with disabilities facing economic hardship.