Today, I sat down with our local manufacturers and had a very serious and important discussion about the future of our economy. I know many of you have been seeing the headlines about the 2026/27 Budget, and I want to share what is happening in simple, honest terms. For the past ten years, we worked hard to hold the line on no new taxes, but the reality is that we now have to make some difficult decisions to protect our economy, rebuild our infrastructure, and keep supporting our people. One of the decisions we discussed is a new approach to raising revenue while also encouraging healthier lifestyles. This includes a small increase on sweetened drinks. This applies whether the drinks are imported or locally produced. The goal is to help close the recovery funding gap from Hurricane Melissa while also encouraging healthier choices for our long-term wellbeing. I understand that no one likes to hear about price increases. I also understand the concerns from our manufacturers about their production costs. But I want you to know that this was not an easy decision. We will continue to balance rebuilding our economy while protecting jobs, supporting businesses, and investing in roads, schools, and homes for our people.(Andrew Holness)