Windfield Estate is booming once again with small businesses, announces Samal Duggins

2025-08-01 17:36:04

Minister Samal Duggins with a small business owner at the Windfield Estate (PC - Facebook)

St Kitts and Nevis: Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Samal Duggins announced that the Windfield Estate is booming once again with the vibrancy of small businesses. He invited all the residents and citizens of St Kitts and Nevis to visit as the place has something for everyone to enjoy. While sharing glimpses of the location, Minister Duggins said that there is a sense of renewal in the air as the Wingfield Estate blossoms once again. He said that the place is thriving from the simple pleasures of coconut water to the thrill of ATV rides, open safari tours and zip lining adventures which shows that the community is coming back to life. According to Samal Duggins, it is evident that the economy is bouncing back stronger than ever after the challenges of COVID-19. [caption id="attachment_69013" align="alignnone" width="100%"]

Minister Samal Duggins with a local vendor at the site (PC - Facebook)[/caption] He further added, “So let’s cherish the beauty of this evolving landscape and continue to support one another on this journey of renewal, understanding the crucial role that local and small businesses play in enriching our community and sustaining its prosperity.” In addition to this, citizens and residents also lauded the Minister for featuring the historic site, with several of them taking to Facebook to appreciate Samal Duggins for putting the vows to work. “Constituency number 4 doing well because of minister Samal Duggins he is helping the small business to progress it is better under labour,” wrote a user named Brenda Warner while another user Naomi Warde said, “Keep pushing comrade. Shut out the negative and continue to serve to best of your ability. God bless.” [caption id="attachment_69014" align="alignnone" width="100%"]

Thriving small businesses at the historic site[/caption]

About Windfield Estate

It home to the ruins of an 17th century Sugar Cane Plantation and Rum Distillery and was the first land grant and permanent plantation settlement in the English West Indies. The property was owned by the Jefferson family who are the ancestors of Thomas Jefferson the 3rd US president. From 1625 to the 1650’s the plantation’s original crops were tobacco and indigo. Sugarcane was grown on the site for 350 years from the 1650’s to the mid-2000s. In 2013, current estate owner Maurice Widdowson and archaeologists discovered the original rum distillery, which was buried for many years. Rum production had begun on the estate in 1681 but ceased after the estate was abandoned. Today, visitors who explore Wingfield Estate will see the ruins of the aqueduct, chimney, mill house for crushing cane, boiling house, distillery, lime kiln and the subterranean tunnel and much more. The owner of the property Maurice Widdowson and his son Jack Widdowson have recently begun producing and bottling their rum called “Old Road Rum” at the site.

Monika Walker

Monika Walker is a senior journalist specializing in regional and international politics, offering in-depth analysis on governance, diplomacy, and key global developments. With a degree in International Journalism, she is dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices through factual reporting. She also covers world news across every genre, providing readers with balanced and timely insights that connect the Caribbean to global conversations.