Effective tomorrow, Jamaicans will be paying more to talk on their telephones.

Finance Minister Audley Shaw last night announced an increase in the tax on telephone cards, telephone calls, and instruments from 20 per cent to 25 per cent.

The minister also announced an increase in departure tax from $1,000 to $1,800.

The earning from both tax measures is expected to yield $1.7 billion for the government, which is seeking to run a Budget deficit of 8.7 per cent, up from the $6.6 billion which Parliament approved in April.

"In light of the significant fallout occurring within various sectors such as bauxite,alumina, tourism ... there is need for additional revenue," Shaw said.

Interest charges of $16.2 billion, as well as the reduction in Government tax revenue by $12.9 billion helped to throw the Government's budget out of line.

"It is a time for unselfishness and sacrifice to triumph over selfishness and greed," he said. "In these worst of times we can square our shoulders and be determined to unearth the best of times."

Opposition spokesman on finance, Dr Omar Davies, in his contribution to the debate on the Supplementary Estimates, continued to call the Government's Budget "incredible".