Sandals Barbados is back on the Ministry of Health’s list of accommodations approved as COVID-19 quarantine hotels, days after being removed.
Sandals was officially delisted on January 5, after the Ministry said it had received several complaints of breaches of COVID-19 protocols by visitors in quarantine at the sprawling, all-inclusive resort, but the resort had denied there were any such breaches.
In a statement late Tuesday, Sandals Resorts International said it had once again been named an officially approved accommodation.
“This news comes on the heels of reports which also included information regarding protocol breaches by visitors implied to be associated with Sandals.
“Sandals Resorts wishes to go on record to extend thanks to the Ministry of Health and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for dispelling the latter reports and for quickly convening with Sandals representatives for ongoing discussions,” it said.
Sandals noted that on the immediate invitation from the resort, a detailed inspection was carried out, led by Ronald Chapman, Head of the Barbados COVID Monitoring Unit, and afforded a first-hand, closer observation of the resorts’ protocols in action.
Those protocols included the separation of its two resorts – Sandals and Sandals Royal – to allow for adherence to quarantine requirements.
Sandals General Manager Ramel Sobrino said with only five days passed since the initial decision, the reversal of the delisting speaks to the “commitment and robust nature” of Sandals’ procedures “which have always closely aligned with the national requirements of the Barbadian government and serve as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the resort team members charged with its implementation”.
“We are more than pleased with these findings which show our Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness working as they should. We are delighted our protocols have been endorsed by Mr. Chapman, the CMO and Ministry of Health which has led to the reinstating of the resorts. As partners in this together, we are heartened at the timely reversal,” Sobrino said.
Sandals Resorts said that since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has taken steps to ensure the health and safety of its guests and team members.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Health and the CMO to ensure that all the national protocols are adhered to and aligned with our own protocols.
“And we look forward to closer and more proactive two-way communication with officials to keep the channels of communication open, transparent and avoid any undue complications in the future,” the statement from the resort added.
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