NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Sandals says a few of its properties in Exuma that ended up on an public sale listing revealed by the Division of Inland Income (DIR) are errors that can be rectified.
“We’re conscious of latest media experiences suggesting that personal properties owned by Sandals in Exuma are slated for public sale,” Sandals mentioned in an announcement, including, “We want to state categorically that it’s an error stemming from inaccurate data on the Bahamas Division of Inland Income.
“We’ve got been assured that the error can be rectified, and the Division of Inland Income will settle for no bids for these properties,” Sandals mentioned.
The Jamaica-based lodge group mentioned it “stays absolutely dedicated to The Bahamas” and that “we proceed to take a position closely within the area and look ahead to constructing on our longstanding partnership.”
The Division of Inland Income (DIR) has demanded that Sandals Resorts pay US$30.8 million in again taxes, however Sandals has challenged that evaluation.
5 properties in Exuma labeled as “Farmers Hill, Sandals Seashore Models “are among the many properties listed on the market within the discover revealed on Might 12, 2025. The values of the parcels vary from $1.15 million to $2.7 million.
Final 12 months, the Division of Inland Income started exercising its energy of sale beneath the Actual Property Tax to get better greater than US$700 million in delinquent actual property tax arrears. It makes use of the lien or cost over these properties to promote them by way of a public public sale on June 24, 2025.
The Division’s audit findings, which lined six years between 2017 and 2022, claimed the tax arrears had arisen as a result of Sandals Emerald Bay and its operator, Clearview Administration Ltd, had under-reported gross income earnings for the interval by greater than US$284 million.
In response to paperwork filed with the Supreme Courtroom, the dispute seems to end result from Sandals’ company construction and enterprise mannequin. All visitor bookings and funds are made to the resort chain’s company mum or dad, Sandals Resorts Worldwide 2000, and its third-party reserving platform and gross sales agent, Distinctive Journey Company. Each these entities are domiciled in Panama.
