BRA puts 29 properties up for auction

A shopping mall in the high-traffic Warrens, St Michael business hub, is among 29 properties listed for auction this month by the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA).

One Accord Plaza, which to date has 25 shopping and entertainment independent shops, is on the auction block, for outstanding property taxes of more than $20 million. The listings, published last week by BRA, indicated that One Accord Plaza, located at Warrens Industrial Park, was the property of J& D Hardware Supplies Ltd, sitting on 58 689 square feet.

Officials at BRA told the Sunday Sun that it was seeking to recover $20 million from its first public auction for 2025.

BRA advertised the properties last week, indicating they would go on the auction block on March 27. These are properties which have unpaid taxes for more than a decade.

The lists included a mix of buildings and land.

Businessman Paul Bynoe, owner of Bs Recycling Plant, has two properties at Cane Garden Park, St Thomas on the list. When contacted, Bynoe admitted that he owed taxes but said BRA made an error in publishing his properties since a decade had not passed as yet.

“I went into the BRA office and they apologised to me and said it was an error,” Bynoe stated.

Another property which is also in full operation is the Old Jamm Inn at St Lawrence Gap, Christ Church which is operating under another name but is said to be one of the popular spots along that tourist belt. Fairholme Hotels at Maxwell, Christ Church and the dilapidated and unoccupied Oasis Hotel Apartments at Rockley, are among the Christ Church properties listed.

Last resort

More than 500 square feet of land at the upscale Adams Castle, Christ Church, the property of Adams Castle Development Inc., is also up for auction.

In St Michael, the listing includes a parcel of land situated at Broad Street, the property of M. I. Juman & Sons Ltd. It is 1 452 square feet or thereabouts, with the buildings on it.

Erica Lazare, Communications specialist at BRA said: “For this round of property auctions, the Barbados Revenue Authority is seeking to recover over $20 million in outstanding property taxes for properties where amounts have been unpaid for more than a decade. While the Land Tax Act CAP 78A allows for properties with three months of outstanding taxes to be listed for sale, the Authority prioritises engagement and resolution before pursuing such measures. Property auctions are always a last resort, undertaken only after multiple efforts to encourage settlement have been exhausted.

“Properties may be included in the auction listing where taxpayers have come forward to make arrangements with the Authority with regard to settlement. Where a taxpayer had a previous agreement and breached the same, the Authority may re-publish the property for auction. Affected taxpayers may re-engage with the Authority in such instances. The Authority is always willing to work with taxpayers to bring their arrears up to date.”

Lazare explained that taxpayers could still go to BRA to settle their arrears or enter into payment arrangements before the March 27 scheduled auction.

“To date, eight property owners have already stepped forward to settle their arrears, contributing to the ongoing effort to resolve outstanding tax debts without enforcement action,” she said.

She noted: “The Authority remains committed to fairness, transparency and due process in all tax collection efforts. We encourage property owners with concerns about their debt obligations to engage with us directly to seek guidance and explore available settlement options.” (MB)