Opposition Spokesman on Finance, Audley Shaw (right), and Clive Mullings, Opposition Spokesman on Mining, Energy and Telecommunications, greet each other prior to the start of a post-Budget Debate press conference at the Jamaica Labour Party's Belmont Road, New Kingston, headquarters yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Opposition spokesman on Finance Audley Shaw has called for Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies to outline how the new environmental levy on imports will be spent.

Mr. Shaw asked for the details of how the new taxes would be dispensed yesterday while speaking at a post-Budget Debate press conference at the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) headquarters on Belmont Road, New Kingston.

We need the details

He said: "We need the details as to how the levy will be spent and if we don't get those details then the very clear and present danger that exists is that he (Dr. Davies) will simply collect the money and put it to general revenue and make it become part of the Consolidated Fund, to continue to service his debt to all of his creditors while the environment continues to languish in the country."

Last week, Dr. Davies had announced that the Government would be imposing the environmental levy, which amounts to 0.5 per cent of the cost, insurance and freight (cif) value of all imported goods.

The levy is expected to yield $1.2 billion and is to be implemented on June 1.

Yesterday, Mr. Shaw insisted that the money from the tax should be used in a clear and specific way to improve the environment. He also warned the minister against using the money to finance the expenses of the National Solid Waste Management Authority.

"That's not our understanding of what the environmental levy must do," he said. "The environmental levy is something that must be specific, dedicated to the overall sustained clean-up of the environment."