Country Saint Kitts and Nevis Area 14 km² | Capital Saint Paul Capisterre Population 175.71 / km2 | |
Saint Paul Capisterre is one of 14 administrative parishes that make up Saint Kitts and Nevis. It is the second smallest parish on St. Kitts, and third smallest in the federation. The parish capital is Saint Paul Capisterre Village.
Contents
Map of Saint Paul Capisterre Parish
Economy
The parish of Saint Paul Capisterre is the most agricultural in the entire nation, its rich volcanic soils, gentle terrain and high rainfall all owing to its successes. The bulk of the population once toiled on the surrounding sugar cane estates, however, the local sugar industry was shut down in 2005, following plummeting world sugar prices and a growing national deficit. More residents from Saint Paul Capisterre were left unemployed than in any other parish. To ease the burden of unemployment, tracts of land have been leased and sold to former sugar workers and are now used to produce a wide variety of other produce. Tourism is also an industry in the parish. The Rawlins Plantation Inn, in the parishs eastern interior, employs some local persons. There is a restaurant located at the inn as well as an atelier owned by British artist, carver, sculptor and weaver Kate Spencer. She also owns a display and shop in Basseterre. Her works include still life, watercolor prints St. Kitts/Nevis style, silk pareos and an array of souvenir material adorned with her colorful images. Belmont Estate, whose name graces the local Belmont Estate rum, is of cultural significance; home of the legend of The Bull in local folklore. It is also the start point for hikes by Gregs Safari Tours and other thrill seeking companies.