Jamaica's remittances climb again in early 2026 as the diaspora keeps rebuilding after Melissa

The Bank of Jamaica reports remittance inflows of roughly US$542M in the first two months of 2026, up about 4.2% on the same period last year, with February the strongest month since 2022. Remittances now represent around 15% of GDP, and close to two-thirds of the money originates in the United States, with Britain, Canada and Cayman next.

Officials read the rise partly as the diaspora financing recovery from Hurricane Melissa — families abroad wiring funds to rebuild damaged homes. It is a familiar role: Jamaican households overseas have repeatedly behaved as emergency responders when crisis hits the island.

What this means for you: The strength is real but the channel matters more than ever. With the new U.S. 1% levy on cash-style transfers, the same support now costs more if you send by storefront wire. Route through a bank- or card-funded service to keep the full amount landing with family — especially for recurring rebuild payments.