Senate Withdraws Defective Environmental Levy Bill, Passes Corrected Version After Certification Error

Summary

Updated Oct 1, 2026

The Senate withdrew a levy Bill lacking required money-Bill certification, tabled a corrected version and passed it without further amendments.Jamaica Gleaner +1
The Environmental Protection Levy on imported and locally made goods is set to take effect on October 1.Jamaica Gleaner +1
Government and opposition senators disagree over revenue lost from the five-month delay, citing estimates of $646 million and about $1.6 billion.Jamaica Observer
Opposition senators question the levy’s targets, reporting and demonstrated results, while government says it funds environmental protection.Jamaica Observer

Automatically summarised from the coverage below.

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Coverage

Sep 28, 2026

Protecting the environment or just another tax?

Senator Rose Marie Bennett-Cooper and Opposition Senator Allan Bernard clashed in the Upper House over the Environmental Protection Levy, set to take effect on October 1. Bennett-Cooper said the levy is meant to fund environmental protection as Jamaica faces growing pollution and waste, while Bernard argued the law lacks clear targets, reporting and proof that the levy has delivered results since 2007.

Sep 27, 2026

Massive revenue hole

Opposition Senator Ramon Small-Ferguson said the five-month delay in implementing Jamaica’s revised Environmental Protection Levy could put about $1.6 billion of the projected $3.6 billion revenue at risk, warning that government finances are already under strain. Government senators defended the delay as the result of consultations with industry, while citing a lower estimated shortfall of $646 million.

Sep 27, 2026

Senate blunder!

Senators had to restart debate on the Environmental Protection Levy Bill after discovering the version before them lacked the speaker’s certificate required for a money Bill. The Senate withdrew the defective copy, tabled the corrected one, and passed the Bill without further amendments, underscoring concerns about rushed tax legislation in Parliament.

Sep 26, 2026

Bill blunder - Environmental levy bill withdrawn, replaced after certification cock-up

Debate on Jamaica’s Environmental Levy Act 2026 was suspended in the Senate after lawmakers found the bill had been tabled without the required money-bill certification. Acting opposition business leader Floyd Morris called the mistake a serious breach, while government senator Dana Morris Dixon said the incorrect version was withdrawn. The bill would impose an environmental protection levy on imported and locally made goods.