The Honourable Samal Mojah Duggins is the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources; Sports; Small Business, Entrepreneurship, Cooperatives and Creative Economy. Born in 1984, Mr. Duggins excelled at school and was named valedictorian of the graduating class in both primary and high school.

In 2004, Mr. Duggins became a math and science teacher at his alma mater, where he launched the ‘Samal Duggins Academic Excellence Award,’ which offered annual scholarships to the Dr. William Connor Primary School. This program was later expanded to include two more schools.

In 2006, his passion for entrepreneurship, marketing, and the creative arts grew and gave birth to Island Xpressions – a strategic brand development and marketing firm. 

As a result, Samal has been the creative mind behind some of the most innovative brand campaigns as well as video and audio advertisements on the local and regional market. He is also an accomplished poet and rapper, songwriter, music producer, and television personality whose credentials include penning the UNESCO Small Islands Voice global theme song, performing on the St. Kitts Music Festival, and hosting the St. Kitts Visitor Channel.

In 2017, he then furthered his education in Entrepreneurship and Marketing by obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree (Hons) from the University of the West Indies in Management Studies. Additionally, in 2017, Samal added the title farmer/food hero to his resume by founding the award-winning Montraville Farms, which grows fresh produce using sustainable agro technology, including hydroponics. As a result, he was recruited by the Ministry of Agriculture to serve on its Agricultural Advisory Committee to advance the food and nutrition agenda in St. Kitts-Nevis. In 2021, he was named the Man of the Year in the area of agriculture by the Ministry of Gender Affairs.

Honourable Samal Duggins was officially appointed Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Cooperatives, and Sports and Creative Economy in August 2022.

St. Kitts and Nevis established the Ministry of Creative Economy to ensure that all creatives have access to the knowledge to succeed in the local and international markets. Mr. Duggins has embarked on an ambitious policy to galvanize, cultivate, and preserve the creative and cultural industry in St. Kitts and Nevis. The nation is diversifying beyond tourism and fisheries by focusing on developing a solid model of how creative industries, innovation networks, creative clusters, and digital transformation can give the country the foundation for a strong sustainable future.

Additionally, as Minister with responsibility for Sports, his ministry has implemented the National Sports Policy and Strategic Plan 2022-2026, which seeks to expand the role and influence of sports across various sectors and foster the professional development of athletes. The policy aligns with recent initiatives to strengthen health and wellness provision in schools throughout the country, as well as leveraging opportunities such as Intellectual Property in Sports, a global first initiative in St. Kitts and Nevis, for revenue generation through sports tourism and recreation.

Mr. Duggins was tasked with modernizing the agriculture sector and bringing it into the 21st century as part of the government’s Sustainable Island State agenda. To ensure food security, his ministry is focusing on activities geared towards deepening climate-smart agricultural practices and promoting sustainable agriculture through the 25 by 25 agenda.

These ministries truly embody Samal Duggins’ profound expertise and experience, as he possesses a wealth of knowledge in each of their domains. Food Hero, Producer, Composer, Entertainer, Entrepreneur, Youth Activist, Change Agent, Samal Duggins’ diverse talents and accomplishments set a new standard for young leaders in St. Kitts-Nevis and beyond.