Sandals denies owing Hotel Accommodation Tax

Sandals Resorts International has been made aware of allegations circulating in certain sections of the St Lucian community which falsely state that Sandals owes outstanding amounts of Hotel Accommodation Tax (HAT) to the Government of St Lucia. These comments are most unfortunate. We do not wish for them to prevail as truth and therefore emphatically deny that any such arrears exist. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the year 2011 Sandals Resorts International paid USD4.1 million in Hotel Accommodation Taxes, which represents 34% of the total HAT collected by the Government of St Lucia. We remain a staunch supporter of the Hotel Accommodation Tax as it goes towards supporting critical infrastructure necessary for the development of the tourism industry and the overall fabric of the St Lucian community. On behalf of the 1,400 employees who work at our three signature Sandals Resorts in St Lucia, I would like to thank the Government and people of St Lucia for their continued support which has been the bedrock of our success during the last 20 years of doing business here. —Jeremy Jones, Regional Director, Sandals Resorts International