{"id":216164,"date":"2024-11-13T08:12:12","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T12:12:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=216164"},"modified":"2024-11-13T08:12:13","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T12:12:13","slug":"pm-browne-calls-sandals-greedy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/pm-browne-calls-sandals-greedy\/","title":{"rendered":"PM Browne Calls Sandals \u201cGreedy,\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PM Browne Calls Sandals \u201cGreedy,\u201d Accuses Resort of Prioritizing Profits Over Local Economy<\/strong><\/p>

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Prime Minister Gaston Browne has described Sandals Resorts International as a \u201cgreedy\u201d company, accusing the hotel chain of exploiting Antigua\u2019s resources while neglecting its obligations to the local economy. Speaking candidly on Pointe FM, Browne outlined a series of grievances with Sandals\u2019 business practices, arguing that the company prioritizes profits over its contributions to the country and undermines the livelihoods of local workers and businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re greedy,\u201d Browne stated, explaining that Sandals has consistently sought financial benefits and concessions from the government without reciprocating through sufficient reinvestment. He highlighted that despite enjoying nearly 40 years of corporate tax exemptions and other incentives intended to support tourism, Sandals has not fully lived up to its commitments in Antigua and Barbuda.<\/p>

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Browne also pointed to Sandals\u2019 recent request to import a private fleet of vehicles to transport guests, a proposal he said would have sidelined local taxi drivers who depend on airport transfers as a key source of income. \u201cThey want everything,\u201d Browne remarked. \u201cWhat room is left for the taxi drivers now at the airport?\u201d This denial is part of the government\u2019s broader strategy to protect the local economy from what Browne described as Sandals\u2019 relentless drive to capture as much profit as possible without sufficient regard for the local community.<\/p>

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The Prime Minister further criticized Sandals\u2019 approach to employee tips, mentioning the resort\u2019s no-tip policy, which requires staff to deposit tips into the Sandals Foundation instead of keeping them. Browne argued that this practice deprives workers of additional income that could help improve their quality of life, calling it an exploitative measure that reduces costs for the resort while impacting employee earnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Browne emphasized that while Antigua and Barbuda welcomes foreign investment, such companies must operate fairly and contribute to the nation\u2019s prosperity. \u201cThey cannot treat us like a plantation,\u201d he said, likening Sandals\u2019 approach to a \u201ccolonial construct\u201d that prioritizes foreign corporate interests over those of the Antiguan people.<\/p>

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The Prime Minister\u2019s remarks are the latest in a series of criticisms aimed at Sandals over its handling of tax obligations and its recent \u201cfrivolous\u201d lawsuit against the government. This lawsuit, Browne suggested, is an attempt to delay a $27 million tax assessment related to discrepancies in Antigua Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) collection, which Browne contends Sandals has undercharged at 13% rather than the required 14%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sandals has not yet responded publicly to the Prime Minister\u2019s statements. <\/p>

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PM Browne Calls Sandals \u201cGreedy,\u201d Accuses Resort of Prioritizing Profits Over Local Economy Prime Minister Gaston Browne has described Sandals Resorts International as a \u201cgreedy\u201d company, accusing the hotel chain of exploiting Antigua\u2019s resources while neglecting its obligations to the local economy. Speaking candidly on Pointe FM, Browne outlined a series of grievances with Sandals\u2019 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":215951,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-216164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nPM Browne Calls Sandals \u201cGreedy,\u201d - 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\/pm-browne-calls-sandals-greedy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"PM Browne Calls Sandals \u201cGreedy,\u201d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"PM Browne Calls Sandals \u201cGreedy,\u201d Accuses Resort of Prioritizing Profits Over Local Economy Prime Minister Gaston Browne has described Sandals Resorts International as a \u201cgreedy\u201d company, accusing the hotel chain of exploiting Antigua\u2019s resources while neglecting its obligations to the local economy. 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