SANDALS Resorts International (SRI) and Sagicor Life Jamaica yesterday lashed a Gleaner newspaper report for a “misleading” article regarding Sandals’ decision not to renew its lease of the Sagicor-owned Dunn’s River property in St Ann.

Sandals decided to terminate its lease and cease operation of the Sandals Dunn’s River Villaggio Golf Resort & Spa property near Ocho Rios on July 31, 2010, saying it no longer “fits our current business model”.

But the newspaper on Monday suggested that Sandals was losing the property and quoted an unnamed Sagicor source. Yesterday, in a joint statement both Sagicor and Sandals charged that the inaccurate report had misled the public.

“Sandals Resorts International (SRI) and Sagicor Life Jamaica feel it is necessary to set the record straight with respect to an article published in The Gleaner on Monday, November 30, 2009 which contained several inaccuracies,” the companies said in a joint statement. “Unfortunately, the public was misled on the matter of Sandals’ non-renewal of the Dunn’s River property owned by Sagicor,” it said.

In October 2009, Sandals had formally communicated to Sagicor that it would not renew the lease on the Dunn’s River property in St Ann when it expires on May 31, 2010, although by mutual agreement Sandals would remain in possession until the end of July 2010, in order to accommodate existing bookings.

“SRI has enjoyed a good relationship with the owners. The decision to vacate was amicable as evidenced by a statement from Sandals issued last weekend which was shared with and agreed to by the owners,” the joint statement said. “SRI and Sagicor look forward to a smooth transition and handover of the Dunn’s River property.”

Asked for comment, Sandals Group communications director, Rachel McLarty said that as part of the resort’s new Luxury Included® concept and strategy, “the company continually strives to improve its products for consumers and therefore requires the flexibility to implement changes without restrictions and to improve, upgrade and maintain its resort product on an ongoing basis. This was not possible under the lease terms at Sandals Dunn’s River”.