Jamaica's Remittances Climb 4.2% as Montego Bay Readies for Its Diaspora Conference

Bank of Jamaica data shows remittance inflows of US$542 million in the first two months of 2026, up 4.2% on the same period last year, with February the strongest month since 2022. Remittances still anchor the economy at roughly 15% of GDP, with nearly two-thirds coming from the United States and much of the recent strength tied to rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa. The timing matters: the 11th biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference runs June 14–18 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, where officials are expected to repeat a now-familiar push — that the diaspora move beyond sending money toward structured investment. For Jamaicans abroad weighing how to help, the conference is a concrete window to compare remittance, philanthropy, and investment channels side by side.

Source: Bank of Jamaica; Jamaica Observer; Caribbean National Weekly.