This week, Sandals Resorts International has once again been named as an officially approved accommodation in the island of Barbados by the Ministry of Health.

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.  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. This included the unprecedented steps already implemented since mid-December to separate the two resorts, allowing for adherence to quarantine requirements.

“With only five days having passed since the initial decision, this reversal speaks to the commitment and robust nature of our 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,” stated General Manager Ramel Sobrino. “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.”

Since the onset of this pandemic, Sandals Resorts has taken industry-leading steps to ensure the health and safety of its guests and team members, including the creation and implementation of our Sandals Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness.These protocols have helped to ensure all proven measures recommended by leading international public health authorities are taken in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and minimize risks to the maximum extent possible, including cleaning procedures, practicing smart public health behaviours, among others. Sandals wishes to reaffirm its commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Health and the CMO in these very challenging times, 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.