NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Sandals says some of its properties in Exuma that ended up on an auction list published by the Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) are mistakes that will be rectified.
“We are aware of recent media reports suggesting that private properties owned by Sandals in Exuma are slated for auction,” Sandals said in a statement, adding, “We wish to state categorically that it is an error stemming from inaccurate records at the Bahamas Department of Inland Revenue.
“We have been assured that the mistake will be rectified, and the Department of Inland Revenue will accept no bids for these properties,” Sandals said.
The Jamaica-based hotel group said it “remains fully committed to The Bahamas” and that “we continue to invest heavily in the region and look forward to building on our longstanding partnership.”
The Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) has demanded that Sandals Resorts pay US$30.8 million in back taxes, but Sandals has challenged that assessment.
Five properties in Exuma labeled as “Farmers Hill, Sandals Beach Units “are among the properties listed for sale in the notice published on May 12, 2025. The values of the parcels range from $1.15 million to $2.7 million.
Last year, the Department of Inland Revenue began exercising its power of sale under the Real Property Tax to recover more than US$700 million in delinquent real property tax arrears. It uses the lien or charge over these properties to sell them via a public auction on June 24, 2025.
The Department’s audit findings, which covered six years between 2017 and 2022, claimed the tax arrears had arisen because Sandals Emerald Bay and its operator, Clearview Management Ltd, had under-reported gross revenue income for the period by more than US$284 million.
According to documents filed with the Supreme Court, the dispute appears to result from Sandals’ corporate structure and business model. All guest bookings and payments are made to the resort chain’s corporate parent, Sandals Resorts International 2000, and its third-party booking platform and sales agent, Unique Travel Corporation. Both these entities are domiciled in Panama.
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