There is a brand new and attractive project in Anguilla that adds much to the business industry and the promotion of tourism on the island. It is the Anguilla Sea Salt and Miniature Golf project, at Island Harbour, which replaces the former Anchor (Island Pub) Supermarket owned by Mr and Mrs Maclean Webster.
The owners of the new business are the couple’s son, Matthew (Micky) Webster, and their daughter-in-law Mrs Kimdra Webster, who have employment engagements and business ownerships in New Jersey. Working with them are Matthew’s sister, Mrs Mesha Irish, and her husband, Mr Carl Irish, both of whom run the Anguilla operations of the project.
A write-up in the marketing brochure, described the project as “An all-natural sea salt company that adds to the flavours of your favourite dish and originates from the crystal clear waters of Anguilla”.
The unique business enterprise, built on premises once owned by Matthew and Mesha’s grandparents, the late Edward Webster Snr and Emelda Webster, has as its centrepiece that couple’s traditional home, now substantially refurbished to serve as a most attractive gift, sales and information shop.
At the back and eastern side of the traditional home is the miniature golf course embedded in an array of lush tropical floral and ornamental plants, with streams from waterfalls and fountains cascading through the property and alongside the comfortable narrow walkways, but well away from the punctuated 18-hole golf course areas.
The entrance to the project opens up to a sprawling surfaced area bedecked with seating accommodation and tables, and there is a special facility supplying energy drinks and other refreshments particularly for the golf course players.
The operations of the Anguilla Sea Salt Company are located further to the back of the project, where the seawater is pumped into green houses for the processing work.
There was a grand opening ceremony on Saturday evening, November 15. Speaking on behalf of Mr Haydn Hughes, Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism – Mr Jerome Roberts, Minister of Home Affairs, said in part: “The Government of Anguilla is indeed happy to see ventures such as this in which our people are speaking to the reality of vision…I was totally impressed with what I saw. I want to say to the Webster family, Micky and Kimdra, and the rest of the team, on behalf of the Government of Anguilla – job well done. You have created another avenue whereby the many visitors to our shores will not just concentrate on sea, sun and sand, but have this miniature golf course and also the exhibition of Anguilla’s national culture [to visit]. I wish you well and every success as you forge ahead. The Government is fully behind ventures such as this and whatever we can do to help, we will be happy to do so.”
The ribbon to the project was cut by Mr Maclean Webster who represented his wife, Mrs Zelma Webster, and family. The invited guests toured the golf course premises and marvelled at its exquisite beauty and layout. The following day was a family and friends event which attracted many persons, some of whom formed teams to play competitive or non-competitive games.
Away from the milling throngs of the past two days, and on the first day of business, on Monday, November 17, Matthew Webster, a former US Marine Corps in the telecommunications field, and now a qualified business professional, and his wife, a fellow Anguillian and professional micro-biologist, spoke to The Anguillian about their dream project.
“My wife and I always wanted to do something back in Anguilla and we always thought about what was the best thing for us to do,” Matthew recalled. “We didn’t want to do something that my father did because everybody has a supermarket and bars, but we wanted something different so we came up with Anguilla Sea Salt. We live in New Jersey and my wife is a scientist and I am a business owner.”
Matthew’s wife Kimdra, joined him. “We wanted something that Anguilla could be known for. We just threw around ideas and came up with sea salt,” she further explained.
Asked about the sea salt operations, without actually giving details about the processing system, Matthew replied: “The salt comes directly from the sea. I pumped the water into greenhouses. There is a scientific method behind it, and in less than a month I can create almost a thousand pounds of salt. At the end of the day, sea and sun create Anguilla Sea Salt. In a month’s time, in this phase of the business, I can create six thousand pounds of salt. I can have it coarse, semi-coarse and fine, and right now it is coarse in the bottles. The salt is bottled here in Anguilla and is exported to Florida, New Jersey and Vermont. Hopefully, by this time next year, we will be actually bottling the salt in the United States. I will be making it here and bottling it in Florida.”
He continued: “This weekend we launched Anguilla Sea Salt. We are now open to do business in Anguilla and we are actually going to start selling salt to locals right here in Island Harbour at Anchor Complex and at Anguilla Sea Salt gift shop. You will be able to purchase your bottles of salt there. This product will not be sold in supermarkets. It is an exclusive item. If you want the salt, you will have to come to our location. The retail sale is US$8.00 a bottle.” The salt is also available in refillable one-pound bags, and Matthew explained: “There are up to three to four refills, so you get more for your money if you buy a refillable bag, gaining about an extra bottle of salt.”
He stressed that there is no bleaching or chemicals involved in the salt. “We have a pure white pristine colour that is beautiful to see,” he went on. “One thing about our salt is that unrefined or refined, it helps you with your blood pressure. When people say you are using too much salt that is when you are using refined salt. Unrefined salt, which we are producing, and which is natural salt, helps balance your PH. It helps with blood pressure and cholesterol – and if you have a cold, you can gargle with the salt and it will clear up your cold. Salt has a lot of good things if it is used in its natural state, and that is what we are providing for Anguillians, and also tourists who can have a bottle of salt on their dinner tables and remember their experiences in Anguilla.
“There are other sea salt companies but there is no other place better than Anguilla because this was our industry. We did in the past and depended on it and provided neighbouring countries with salt. It has been gone from here for over forty years and we are proud to know that we were able to revitalise it and rebrand the way it is made. There are a lot of good things in the making for Anguilla Sea Salt because we have some serious companies in the United States requesting the salt, so we are in the process of doing good things for Anguilla… We are also known as Virgin Islands Sea Salt so we are going to be selling salt in the US Virgin Islands as well.
“I thank my parents for allowing us to utilise the property. When you come here you not only get sea salt, but you can also play miniature golf. It is another form of golf, and it is easier to play. It is competitive and smaller but we have 18 holes just like a regular course. There are obstacles but on a lower level, but they can be very difficult just as if you are playing on a larger golf course.
“We have a waterfall, three fountains; and the landscape is one to see. When you step on the property, you sometimes do not think you are in Anguilla. We just wanted to provide some type of amusement for anyone who stops by and want to buy a bottle of salt. They can take the time out and play some miniature golf.”
Matthew acknowledged that the landscaping was done by Brian Corbett of CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa; the art work in hole 18 was done by Tommy Webster – and numerous contractors assisted in putting the property together.
Matthew continued: “In the future we will be giving tours at the Big Spring and we have already started the process. We are just going through some red tape before this happens. As you can see, the walls are up and we are almost there. We want to offer tours to tourists and locals. We are going to provide parking and restrooms. It is going to be a nice, clean environment.”
The Anguillian and developer, who indicated that it is a big investment – added: “This is still a family business and it is a major investment, the amount we will not like to disclose. It was something that could have been done in the United States, but my wife and I chose to do something back home. Regardless where we are, we always have Anguilla in our heart and on our mind, and we want to leave a legacy behind. We are professionals and have business in the States, but we want to do something back home and that we can be remembered by.”
