{"id":10883,"date":"2018-01-02T09:57:30","date_gmt":"2018-01-02T13:57:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=10883"},"modified":"2018-01-02T10:13:27","modified_gmt":"2018-01-02T14:13:27","slug":"uk-agents-criticised-for-massive-bill-at-sugar-ridge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/uk-agents-criticised-for-massive-bill-at-sugar-ridge\/","title":{"rendered":"UK agents criticised for massive bill at Sugar Ridge"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Three (UK) Border Force officials ran up a bill of more than \u00a318,000 when they stayed in a luxury resort hotel in the Caribbean for a work trip, it was reported yesterday.<\/p>

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The officials, who are based in the region, stayed at the Sugar Ridge Resort in Antigua for three weeks at the taxpayers\u2019 expense as they advised the local authorities on drug trafficking.<\/p>\n

The Home Office said the idea of government officials staying at a luxury resort might \u201craise concerns\u201d but added that the resort offered the right balance between \u201ccost and security\u201d.<\/p>

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The trip was revealed after a Freedom of Information request by Mail Online, which said it included \u00a312,126 for accommodation between the three officials. Another \u00a34,144 was spent on subsistence, \u00a31,310 on\u00a0car hire and \u00a3994 on flights. The Sugar Ridge website describes it as \u201cAntigua\u2019s newest 4-star luxury boutique resort\u201d with rooms wrapped round \u201can exotic tropical hillside providing undisturbed seclusion\u201d. Rooms cost as much as $600 a night. It has an infinity pool, spa, fitness centre and access to a private beach. The officials stayed there between January 14 and February 5, 2016.<\/span><\/p>

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Antiguan customs authorities asked The Border Force to \u201chelp them build the capacity and capability\u201d at the country\u2019s main airport. The Home Office said: \u201cThe UK Border Force staff provided practical assistance and training for local customs officers in border protection techniques and how to prevent current smuggling methodologies.\u201d<\/p>\n

It added that the officials\u2019 safety was paramount and they could have been under observation by criminal gangs. \u201cTo find suitable and safe accommodation, Border Force would usually select a business chain hotel. For this deployment, none exist on the island.<\/p>\n

\u201cSugar Ridge, whilst some distance away, offered the requisite level of security as recommended by National Crime Agency and Foreign and Commonwealth Office colleagues. It also offered a significant discount on their standard tourist rates.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chloe Westley, at the TaxPayers\u2019 Alliance, said: \u201cThe Home Office should be more respectful of taxpayers\u2019 money and reconsider whether these working visits abroad are needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Thetimes.co.uk)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Three (UK) Border Force officials ran up a bill of more than \u00a318,000 when they stayed in a luxury resort hotel in the Caribbean for a work trip, it was reported yesterday. The officials, who are based in the region, stayed at the Sugar Ridge Resort in Antigua for three weeks at the taxpayers\u2019 expense […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10884,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[68,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-2","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nUK agents criticised for massive bill at Sugar Ridge - Antigua News Room<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/uk-agents-criticised-for-massive-bill-at-sugar-ridge\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UK agents criticised for massive bill at Sugar Ridge\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Three (UK) Border Force officials ran up a bill of more than \u00a318,000 when they stayed in a luxury resort hotel in the Caribbean for a work trip, it was reported yesterday. 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