CABINET NOTES: The Cabinet invited the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, his Deputy, a Legal Advisor and a technician to address the brewing ABST discord with Sandals Resort and Spa.
The Prime Minister has learned from the IRD that the resort has not been paying-over all the ABST which it has collected from its customers, upon checkout.
The ABST is a tax which is imposed on the totality of the bill that a guest at the hotel has incurred during their stay.
It is the Government’s money, collected by the hotel on behalf of the Government.
During the previous administration, an arrangement had been made with the property for it to deduct a portion of the ABST to compensate for the marketing of the Antigua destination when the resort was advertised.
When the Gaston Browne administration learned of this practice, it immediately reversed that policy and required the hotel to pay 100% of its ABST collection to the Inland Revenue Department.
It appears that the resort has re-commenced making similar deductions; the IRD has made a demand for an amount exceeding $24 million collected between 2017 and 2021.
The IRD is continuing its audit to investigate the deficit in payments made in 2022 and 2023.
The Cabinet has also learned that workers at the hotel are not allowed to accept tips from customers but must place all tips received into a pool, which goes towards funding the Sandals Foundation.
The Cabinet is considering legislation that will compel hoteliers to pay tips to workers and not to divert those resources to other ends.
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“The Cabinet has also learned that workers at the hotel are not allowed to accept tips from customers but must place all tips received into a pool, which goes towards funding the Sandals Foundation.”
WOW! A SO WICKED SANDALS BE TO THEM WORKERS????? EMPLOYEE TIPS BEING USED TO FUND THEIR SO-CALLED SANDALS FOUNDATIONS????? WHAT A SCAM!!! IF THE GUESTS ONLY KNEW!!!! A BUNCH OF CON ARTISTS RUNNING SANDALS???? NO WONDER THEY LIKE TO HIRE PLENTY JAMAICANS…..THEIR OWN KIND WITH A CERTAIN MENTALITY. WELL WELL WELL.
Careful with Sandals cause dem feel dem bright.
That place will play tricks on anybody to improve their Balance Sheet.
They been doing some sneaky tingz in that Accounts department for the longest while.
Take your time and Audit them properly. SRI has the true figures if things dont seem right.