Antigua government Denies Sandals’ Request to Import Private Vehicles For Guests

1. I attended a Town Hall in English Harbour last Monday and we learnt that the government’s National Parks Authority will be establishing a container park to compete directly with the local businesses in English Harbour. How is this different, Mr. PM? Or is the protection of local businesses just selective? Sandals is not doing anything different to what is done by the Barrett Hotels who established their own in house tour company in direct competition with local businesses.

   • @Biggs- Actually re English harbor container park, it will be an area for local vendors to sell in a more organized manner. Really have to be an education deficit where you can’t see the difference between locals competing against each other vs an overseas brand closing the doors to locals and repatriating all the profits overseas

2. I will calculate what I believe is fair, so I will not comment about whether the PM is right or wrong at this time.

   And I want to make it clear that I will allow the fact sandals fired me for accepting tips offered to me for doing a great job and the PM refusal to assist me by acknowledging my crime and terrorism advocacy and research endeavor is of national and international importance so that I could have used that to encourage the police (COP) and other government agencies to grant accommodations to me that only include them deciding my applications on the merit in a reasonable time.

   These factors will be considered in my calculation but in a fair manner. Then I will decide based on the totality of the circumstances what is fair/if the PM is right or wrong.

   Whether Sandals or the PM/family are not sharing opportunities with others, will also be considered.

3. I rarely back Prime Minister on anything. However, he needs to curtail and then put the brakes on Sandals out and out greed and “sales” mission creep.

   On the whole the citizens of this great country gets no real benefits, and here’s why;

   1) The majority of the tourists that stay at this all inclusive resort rarely venture outside the complex to spend money where the locals regularly frequent or run their snall businesses

   2) Sandals doesn’t pay fair or equal salaries. One of my friends have confirmed they are regularly overlooked for overseas workers – especially in managerial appointments

   3) They need to pay their fair share of taxes like the rest of the hardworking Antiguans – or we should get tax breaks/or concessions as well

   4) The current hourly rates of pay needs to be increased drastically to allow for the rise in the cost of living

   5) Every staff member should be on secure and long-term contracts

   And now Sandals want to corner the private “luxury” vehicle market to the detriment of local businesses.

   Sandals greed, avarice and monopoly is now getting out of control.

4. Reply to the Bling. You are incorrect. The container park will be in the New Park and Ride area at Marsh Village and will be owned and operated by NPA. Get your facts straight and stop spreading lies to blindly drink soup.

5. I have personally witnessed the poor treatment of workers in the service industry by Sandals, both in Jamaica and in the DR,so at least I understand where this PM is coming from, not that he is the first to call out Sandals on their greed and penchant of treating their workers like second class citizens, but right is right and wrong is wrong.

   So Mr PM the question is..if Sandals is not paying their fair share of taxes, to the tune that you have to take them to court, and the fact that they are not treating the Antiguan’s who works there fairly,then what good are they for the island of Antigua, and why not squeeze them more to incorporate the local employees a little more in their company?

   That’s what the people are asking for, for the government to be on the side of it’s hard working citizens.

   So though I agree with you MR PM, way more needs to be done on the labor side when these companies are negotiating for the benefits of the 365 white sand beaches that spreads all across the island. You must do a better job for your people when you are giving up these prime land to these bastards..afterall, you are the one who are calling them out loudly and proudly.

   Time for all the talk talk talk.
   Start looking out for you people at these negotiating tables when these blood suckers come to with their fancy talk.

   It’s high time for Antiguan’s to benefit from its land where millions flock to every year to spread out on its white sand beaches. If these companies don’t like the terms, then they can leave, at least I agree with you on that, especially if they are not even paying their taxes.

   Enough said.

6. Here’s a thought .. someone that’s related to him has a business with luxury cars .. what a tangle web we weave when we practice to deceive…

7. All inclusive hotels are low end tourism. Of which Sandals are one of the better brand. Recently Mr.PM you heard of the molds and the unsanitary kitchens at the other all inclusive next door to Sandals and you said nothing. You heard complaints where locals are being laid off , while they import Hispanics to work even in the entertainment and you said nothing. They wanted Peter Kelsic removed and you jump to the beat. They blocked off the northern portion of Dickerson bay / halcyon beach by building their bungalow and you did not hush environment and DCA on them.
   You blocked Sandals from building at Long Bay and allowed Barrette to build at an illegal distance.
   Barrette cut out the taxi drivers and brought in his own Vehicles that is wrong as well.
   So PM please deal with all of them the same.

8. So taxi drivers were put out a work wen Barnet bring in his private vehicle u never stop him from doing it I believe u dnt like sandals this why u do what u do

9. Ok so they denied the concessions, sandals has enough money to bring them in without the concessions… nothing will change…

10. If they want luxury transport let them go to Dominion

11. This is a very interesting and unfortunate situation. Maybe I missed the beginning of this development. Firstly, are the majority of workers unionised and have a bargaining agent? When did this unfortunate situation arise? Can an organisation take tips and unilaterally decide what to do with them? Is that even legal? Butch Stuart has died and it appears that the Conglomerate is moving in a direction that is not necessarily in the best interests of the workers. So as Antiguans what can we do and what’s the best way forward?

12. This company can only do this in the Caribbean and it’s sad to say if they keep these practices up they will only be found exclusively in “Jamaica” they say they are a Caribbean brand but they come in these Caribbean countries with there “culture”and mindset and expect everyone to conform and yet they don’t do o it in there own country expect pay the people not in US but in the Jamaica dollar ….it’s sad to see a company that still has a poor mindset yet it says it’s has achieve so much , being fair is not asking for to much and follow the countries laws to protect it’s own citizens

13. @Franklyspeaking to add to your comment: A gaston own LongBay hotel now!

14. My, Oh my: as so the tide of conscience so easily ebb and flows with selective persuasion. It is indeed heartening, yet so effusive and repulsive to emote the cringing of concern for the bottom feeding
    local entrepreneurs; now that the chickens have come home to roose-with your eloquence of concern. Sir! Mr. PM: You surely can’t blink and eye to some, and not all; if your intentions are to be sincerely in the best interest of the people. By that, I-mean: you cannot espouse closing the barn gate when the horses are already out to pasture. For far too long you have let foreign interlopers run rough shod over the people’s patrimony by your callous wanton selling off of our inheritance without tangible effects realized for our upward mobility. It is by extention, a mea-culpa for it to be said that you have now just gotten a clarity of sight that you now can see the total disparity inherited when you neglect your charge to be the steward as guarantor and guardian of our patrimony (aka) our treasury as for you to now come with your “pickon” sawn song about Sandals Resort fleecing our people.
    It surely would be remiss of me not to be a conscientious compatriot; and christen your noble innititve with an accolade of Bravo! Eureka! But for the solemnity that it would be funny-if it was not genuinely a wasted thought. A coo yah! A coo dey! Eh.

15. Bravo Mr. Prime Minister. Sandals has gotten away with a lot in these small islands over the years.

16. Bravo Mr. Prime Minister. Sandals has gotten away with a lot in these small islands over the years. It’s time someone has the balls to put the brakes on Sandals.

17. Prime Minister Browne is correct in his rejection of Sandals request.
    The time has long passed for governments of the region to become truly independent, work for their citizens best interest – and not only for themselves and their personal bank accounts.
    Look at Jamaica where Sandals is from, there are rampant crimes in and around the city of Montego Bay, St. James, Sandals’ home turf.
    Primarily, Sandals, followed by several multi-national hotel chains flock to that country yet many citizens thereof, in and around the resort areas are living in poverty due in large part of the all inclusive policies that Sandals had mastered – if not pioneered.
    Tourist that visits the island does not venture out of the hotel property to patronize the businesses of locals due to the monopolistic business concept of “All Inclusive”.
    The wider society and hotel workers does not benefit from the natural atmospheric wealth that the beautiful country that is been advertised by the Tourist Board as well as the hotel themselves to attract tourists to its shores, they are only enjoyed primarily by Sandals and other All Inclusive Hotels.
    Ladies and gentlemen, over time because of the frustration and hopeless of citizens due to inequity and poverty which has tacitly been permitted by the government have driven many to a life if crimes within the country.
    In Jamaica Sandals has monopolized every aspect of visitors to its properties on the island leaving only the very low wage they pay to their much unfortunate, tired, overworked and poorly treated members of staff.
    I’m an effort to burnished itself to the ignorant, annually Sandals would venture into a marginalized informal community – primarily Flankers in Montego Bay – hand out thousands of Jamaican dollars – in kinds – thereafter vaunting about how much it has donated to worthwhile charitable causes, which everyone knows the value of the Jamaica dollar is JA $158 to $1 USD! Thereafter reclaiming the funds through tax write off.
    As such, what Prime Minister Browne did was serving his country and the citizens therein well in regards to Sandals unreasonable and creeping monopolistic request.

18. I’m from The U.S a d I saw this monopolized method in Jamaica they want you to stay at their resort book excursions with companies they own. I was like what’s left for the locals…if they want to start a small business..

19. PM you must carry the same energy when PLH importing loads of cheap labour and cutting out the local contractors.

20. Bravo Mr. Prime minister

21. More governments around the Caribbean need to stand up to investors to protect local businesses and the environment I congratulate the prime minister in standing up to one of his largest investors

22. Sandals business model is that they want to have the whole cake and eat it too. No one else should benefit from their business. It started in the Water Sport Department. They start denying local providers to sell tours at the hotel. And those that they did allow to sell got a lot of red tape to adhered too. One had to take out insurance and such an astronomical amount and Sandals was to be the beneficiary of it. Therefore in case of any claim, the money would be given to Sandals. Short Shirt with his Glass Bottom Boat was one of the very first that was prohibited from selling it’s tours to Sandals Guests. Therafter Sandals targeted the Water Scooters and other providers. Sandals bought their own boat and took their guests on their own excursion. Peter Kelsick suffered from this arrangement at Sandals. Vendors were not allowed to vend infront of the hotel as this was seen as harresment of the guests. I have nop problem what Sandals does inside its perimeter, but when it comes to the beach I really think our authorities have given Sandals too much layway. In Antigua the beaches are free for everyone to enjoy, but not infront of Sandals. And I also understand we need to protect tourism product from beach bumbs, but one should draw the line where the freedom of the locals is concerned. I mean in Jamaica all these things are allowed. Infact in Jamaica many of the beaches where hotels are, are close for the locals to go. Security with big guns are patrolling the beach and stopping anyone from coming infront of the hotel. I withness that firsthand. And let me tell you I can understand that tourism comes with a price. We will from time to time have to give up some of our liberty. And one such place is Mill Reef Club. So cannot djeaperdize the security of these high networth individuals by having any and every body come on the premises or on the beach. Kidnappings are real. And if any one of these wealthy individuals children while palying on the beach get kidnapped, it will be bad for our country.
    Sandals is also presuring the taxi drivers and more then often want to send their own car to pickup certain VIP’s.
    The government needs to sit down with these hotel owners and discuss the working plan of these situations. Locals should and must have a stake in our tourism product. Sandals believe that because they spend all the marketing dollars that they are the only one that should benefit. But they don’t realize that it is our Sun, Sea and Sand. You are selling our country and theirfore we should have some benefit from it as well. You market your property and that is where you make your money.
    Sandals you need to rethink your business model and know that an unhappy worker is bad for your company.
    On the otherhand I must compliment Sandals for the good work they have done in taking the tourism product to a very high standard. Some have come from very humble beginnings and are now at the level of Butler.

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