Beaches Resort and Spa parent Sandals will go ahead with its legal challenge against the Turks and Caicos despite being offered a multi-million dollar olive branch.
The TCI government offered a $76 million tax penalty write off but that hasn’t placated Beaches which will press ahead with a lawsuit.
Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson offered the tax amnesty but the company maintains it has already overpaid its tax dues and should be given a refund.
The government claims that Beaches owes $26.7 million.
The resort has always ‘punctually and accurately paid taxes,’ it says.
"As a matter of fact, we are always first in line when it comes to paying our taxes."
After agreeing to expand the resort, a tax audit was then carried out, Beaches said.
Government officials found ‘no violation of our agreement (and) unilaterally and without warning, imposed back taxes in breach of the host country agreement’.
Based on this ‘injustice’ it said the lawsuit which ‘regrettably we have been compelled to file’ will move forward.
