Protecting the environment or just another tax?

GOVERNMENT Senator Rose Marie Bennett-Cooper and her Opposition counterpart Allan Bernard disagreed strongly about the impact of the Environmental Protection Levy as the legislation was debated in the Upper House on Friday.

Bennett-Cooper argued that the levy, which becomes effective October 1, is much more than a tax as it will ensure measures are implemented to protect the environment. However, Bernard questioned how much has been actually done to protect the environment since the levy was first implemented in 2007.

“I believe that, in considering this Bill, we must distinguish between the instrument and its purpose. The levy is the instrument. But the greater purpose is environmental protection. And so, as we consider this legislation, we must keep our eyes firmly on the environmental mischief that it seeks to address. We must focus on our responsibility to protect the Jamaica that we have inherited, not only for ourselves, but for the generations that will come after us,” said Bennett-Cooper.