Three (UK) Border Force officials ran up a bill of more than £18,000 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’ expense as they advised the local authorities on drug trafficking.
The Home Office said the idea of government officials staying at a luxury resort might “raise concerns” but added that the resort offered the right balance between “cost and security”.
The trip was revealed after a Freedom of Information request by Mail Online, which said it included £12,126 for accommodation between the three officials. Another £4,144 was spent on subsistence, £1,310 on car hire and £994 on flights. The Sugar Ridge website describes it as “Antigua’s newest 4-star luxury boutique resort” with rooms wrapped round “an exotic tropical hillside providing undisturbed seclusion”. 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.
Antiguan customs authorities asked The Border Force to “help them build the capacity and capability” at the country’s main airport. The Home Office said: “The UK Border Force staff provided practical assistance and training for local customs officers in border protection techniques and how to prevent current smuggling methodologies.”
It added that the officials’ safety was paramount and they could have been under observation by criminal gangs. “To find suitable and safe accommodation, Border Force would usually select a business chain hotel. For this deployment, none exist on the island.
“Sugar 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.”
Chloe Westley, at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “The Home Office should be more respectful of taxpayers’ money and reconsider whether these working visits abroad are needed.”
(Thetimes.co.uk)
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These bill should be settled before since it is for a specific time. Funny that the law should be in dispute for any amount of funds that should have been paid before they entered showing a good example. And anything over should be settled before they leave. It is not personal it is business.
Yawnnnnnniiiinnnnggggg…..teach ANTIGUANS practical drug smuggling techniques…..lmaoooooo
When those same agents are paid by drug dealers to take their bags off plane and secure dem….
ANTIGUA NEED UPDATED BODY SCANNERS … TRAINED CAVITY CHECK AGENTS… TO SENT ABROAD FOR TRAINING…
ITS ALL ABOUT WHO YOU KNOW AND YOUR PRICE …EVERYBODY CAN BE BOUGHT..
PRIME MINISTER…. AIRPORT SECURITY ….CUSTOM AGENTS….
WHEN THE ISLAND IS SLEEPING DRUGS ARE BEING LOADED AT PORTS ….SECLUDED BEACHES..
THEM RIGHT FE RUN UP BILL ….WHY NOT …ITS ALWAYS GOOD IN ANTIGUA…ONLY IN ANTIGUA
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