ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Jun 26 2015 – The Antigua and Barbuda government says Rex Resorts was aware of the decision to end the lease on the 210 room Halcyon Cove Hotel and sell the property to the Sandals Group.
“The pending sale is as much news to Rex Resorts as it is to the rest of the world. Bearing in mind our registered lease, any sale of the property would be subject to the lease,” Rex Resorts said in a statement.
Managing Director Richard Bryson said the announcement and press coverage were having an adverse financial impact and hurting visitor bookings, and as a result, the company is consulting legal advisors.
But Government’s Chief of Staff, Lionel “Max” Hurst, said Rex Resorts was aware of the situation.
“Yes this is something they were aware of,” he said on Observer Radio Friday, adding that the decision to terminate the lease should not be viewed as an attack on the firm.
“We are not interested in having him out of the hotel merely because we have some antipathy towards him…it is nothing of this sort,” Hurst told radio listeners.
In the statement, Rex Resorts said it has not been contacted by either the government or Sandals on any negotiations or sale.
Further, the company said it’s not in breach of the long-term lease nor has it been notified of any breach of any terms or conditions.
