Beaches Resort does not owe TCI Gov’t; both sides want multi-million dollar dispute resolved

#TurksandCaicosIslands – January 30, 2019 – Sandals Resort International, SRI, is again speaking out regarding the indefinite closure of Beaches Resort Villages and Spa in 2021 and the issue of a multi-million-dollar figure in dispute between the resort company and the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.

The company last night said they welcome the statement by Premier Sharlene Robinson that the TCI Cabinet is giving the matter full attention.

In a startling twist, the statement by Beaches Resort overnight explained that the Turks and Caicos Tax Department imposed taxes and penalties “at a preposterously crippling rate of 10 percent per month, compounded, which translates to more than 213 percent per annum.”

The statement shared that it was actually a “disregard of the prevailing legally binding agreement in writing” which led to the compounded rate charges and SRI emphasized that, “To the contrary, it is Beaches Resorts that is currently owed many millions of dollars in over paid taxes.”

SRI explains in that press release that the company does not owe the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, that SRI is an exemplary payee and that despite widespread reports and chastisements aimed at Beaches Resort for trying to ‘side-step paying taxes’ to TCIG, that is simply not the case.

“Beaches TCI, has for the past 23 years in which it has operated in the Turks and Caicos Islands, punctually and accurately paid taxes according to law.  As a matter of fact, we are first in line to pay our taxes.”

Premier Sharlene Robinson, in a statement on Monday also warned against the accusatory remarks clarifying that ‘it has not been a matter of Beaches avoiding taxes or of the former Governments or Ministers of Finances before me… intentionally leaving this matter unaddressed.”

Premier Robinson added, “I implore those, void of facts, to resist casting wild accusations and unwarranted attacks on elected and public officials and well as Beaches Resort itself.”

Beaches Resort calls this tax matter an “injustice” and said it did find some satisfaction that the Government, led by Premier and Finance Minister Sharlene Robinson, had “undertaken to remedy the egregious wrong but in spite of assurances has been unable to do so for over two years.”

Beaches TCI revealed that it was forced to take legal action against the TCI Government for breaches of the binding agreements.

Still the country’s leader expressed this, “I assure the people of the TCI that this matter will be settled in the very best interest of all the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.  I ask those employees of Beaches, taxi drivers, other hotel operators, airline agents and airline workers who contacted me frantically for representation to know that they are being held in highest consideration.”

Premier Robinson said a lot of work has been vested toward a conclusion on the matter and confirmed that a hand delivered letter was received weeks ago by Government; issued by Beaches Turks and Caicos.

And as these statements come from the two leading entities in this unfolding saga, there is a three-page letter in circulation which paints a concerning picture about Government and Foreign Investor relations.  The letter, though authentic in appearance, is an unconfirmed document.

The Premier in her Monday comment said, at the time, she was unable to disclose anything more than her statement explained; adding that she plans to be fully transparent on the issue and will set out the terms as soon as the occasion arises.

Some 50,000 people have read our original story of the ‘indefinite closure of Beaches TCI’ at MagneticMediaTV.com, which was posted on Friday, January 25, 2019.