KINGSTON, Jamaica — The controversial and outspoken People’s National Party (PNP) member Damion Crawford took to social media a short while ago in criticism of the Government’s announcement that money earmarked for the implementation of the $1.5 million tax break was used by the previous administration.Crawford’s post in full:

Crawford said in a Facebook post, that it seems Minister of Finance and Public Service Audley Shaw went to his portfolio ministry searching for money that was already spent and money that the government has not yet earned.

He argued that within the $9.5 billion gas tax revenue that the government intended to use to finance its tax break was money that was already used and money that would have been earned over the March 2016- March 2017 financial year.

“The first category of money Mr Shaw seemed to have expected to find was money collected for an oil price insurance scheme called a hedge. Being that a hedge was purchased in 2015 of which Mr Shaw was aware, as he said it was a waste of money, how on earth could he have seen the money that he said was wasted on purchasing the exact thing for which it was collected,” Crawford said.

In addition, he explained that Shaw expected to see future money when he took over the role of finance minister on March 7.

“The second category of money Mr Shaw expected to see was $6.7 billion expected to be collected between March 2016 and March 2017. Yes, Mr Shaw is complaining that he went to the Ministry of Finance and did not see money that was not yet collected. Mr Shaw expected to see future money” Crawford said.

Annually, the gas tax should bring in a revenue of $6.4 billion, according to Shaw.

Crawford further expressed that he is “not holding the JLP to the implementation of the tax plan because everything I have learnt in school tells me it cannot be implemented without creating greater negatives for the same people it was suppose to assist as well as to add negatives to those that were not to be assisted”.

It seems Mr Shaw went to Ministry of finance looking for two categories of money. These two categories were (1) Money that was already spent and (2) Money that is yet to be collected. Fortunately Mr. Shaw found none as if he did the Gods would have been crazy

The 1st category of money Mr Shaw seemed to have expected to find was money collected for a oil price insurance scheme called a hedge. Being that a hedge was purchased in 2015 of which Mr Shaw was aware as he said it was a waste of money how on earth could he have seen the money that he said was wasted on purchasing the exact thing for which it was collected.

 In essence Mr Shaw is saying to his former tenant that he sees the TV but he does not see the TV money… what TV money the TV purchaser asks…The money that is to be used to buy the TV replies Mr Shaw… I used it to buy the TVs says the tenant… don’t you see the TV asks the tenant… yes, replies Mr Shaw I see the TV but I don’t see the money I put down to buy the TV…how on God’s earth would you see both the TV and the money used to buy the TV cried the tenant… I don’t know shouts Mr Shaw but by God I want to see it.

The second category of money Mr Shaw expected to see was $6.7 billion expected to be collected between March 2016 and March 2017. Yes Mr Shaw is complaining that he went to the Ministry of Finance and did not see money that was not yet collected. Mr Shaw expected to see FUTURE money.

This is like Mr Shaw going to his boss and saying boss where is my October pay… the boss replied you got it back in October… no shouts Mr Shaw…. yes u did says the boss here is the pay slip to prove it… Mr Shaw grabs the pay slip looks at it and says boss you take me for a fool or what this was pay for October 2015, I want my pay for October 2016… October 2016? The boss asks…. yes October 2016 says Mr Shaw in anger… How on earth are you going to get paid for October 2016 in March of 2016 the boss asks…. How are you going to see money in your account u have not yet earned… I don’t know shouts Mr Shaw but by God I want to see it.

All I am saying to Mr Shaw is that unlike the rest of the PNP I am not holding the JLP to the implementation of the tax plan because everything I have learnt in school tells me it cannot be implemented without creating greater negatives for the same people it was suppose to assist as well as to add negatives to those that were not to be assisted.