Dona Regis-Prosper

We have only just begun in Antigua

Dona Regis-Prosper has skilfully combined roles in the maritime and tourism sectors. As a result, she has secured top positions across the Caribbean; working for port authorities, cruise terminal operators and national tourism organizations. Dona now uses her wide-ranging experience to run Antigua Cruise Port – a fast expanding, privatelyrun facility that following the pandemic hiatus has taken the lead in re-introducing cruiseships to the region. Here Dona speaks to Caribbean Maritime about her stellar career and her interests.

Q. Where were you born and where did you grow up?

A. I was born in the city of Castries on the island of St Lucia in the Eastern Caribbean. I grew up in a wonderful tight-knit community called Gesneau about 30 mins from the capital city of Castries. I moved to Trinidad and Tobago for college when I was 16 years old so I would also say that I grew up in the land of steel pan, calypso and soca music.

Q. How big an influence were your parents on your early life?

A. I grew up in a single-parent household and was raised by a strong and loving mother who taught me the value of education and hard work from an early age. She

was a huge influence on my early life and continues to support me today. I was also blessed with a big extended family who all looked out for my siblings and me.

Q. Where did you go to school and then to university? In which subject(s) did you graduate?

A. I attended the St Joseph’s Convent in St. Lucia where I focused on business subjects. I went on to Caribbean Union College in Trinidad & Tobago, an affiliate of Andrews University in Michigan, where I graduated with an Associate degree in computer science and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration ( BBA) with a focus on accounting. I then attained an MBA from Durham University, United Kingdom. My thesis was on the sustainable development of the cruise industry in St Lucia. I also pursued several courses in port management, travel, and tourism. I am also a certified marketer, customer service trainer and image consultant.

Q. What was your first job on leaving fulltime education?

A. My first job after leaving university was at a hotel in St. Lucia where I worked as a duty manager. I was also a part-time business studies lecturer at a night school on the island where I taught, business accounting and computer literacy.

Q. When did you join the St Lucia Air & Seaports Authority (SLASPA) and why?

A. I joined SLASPA in 2000 after working in an accounting capacity with an international company for two years. While I enjoyed working with the company, I knew that accounting was not my calling and that I belonged in a more dynamic industry where I would be more creative and develop as a young manager. Therefore, when I got the opportunity to join the maritime and tourism industries I happily accepted.

Q. You have held various senior positions with the St Lucia Tourism Authority and subsequently for organizations based in the BVI and Jamaica. What experience did you gain for these various roles?

A. While maintaining my position as director of marketing and product development with the SLASPA, I simultaneously served as a board member with the St Lucia Tourism Authority for three years. I was appointed as the chairperson of the Cruise & Yachting Committee as well as a member of the Marketing Committee. I moved to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) in 2015 after being offered the role of chief executive officer of Tortola Pier Park Ltd, the company that managed the cruise port in the BVI.

After three years in this role, I moved to Montego Bay, Jamaica, to take up the role of business development director with Margaritaville Caribbean Group. Each of those roles was related but offered unique experiences.

Firstly, the fact that they were all in different geographical locations afforded me the ability to learn different cultures both socially and in business practices. In addition, these roles allowed me to work in different capacities within the maritime and tourism space. In St. Lucia, for instance, I worked with cargo, cruise, yachting, ferry, airport operations, aviation and the hotel sector. In the BVI, I had the privilege of leading the team charged with the responsibility of building a cruise experience from inception to completion. This experience was life changing for me because it was my first experience in an executive role and I had to perform in an unfamiliar country as well. So, I built on my experience from St Lucia and understand the many facets of this industry.

Jamaica was yet another perspective where I worked with a very dynamic company focused on the food and beverage sector and entertainment with 80% of its clientele being cruise passengers. With this experience I felt that I had come full circle in the industry from a regulator to a port operator to a port user.

Q. In 2019 you moved to Antigua and joined Global Ports Holding (GPH) – the world’s largest cruise port operator. At the time, GPH had just won a 30-year concession to manage Antigua’s cruise facilities. So how did you feel about joining a company that was comparatively new to the Caribbean region?

A. Being born and raised in the Caribbean and working in the cruise industry for over 20 years, I am both personally and professionally happy to be part of Global Ports Holding. I share the vision of the company for development of the cruise industry in the Caribbean which includes the development of world-class cruise facilities that will ensure the overall development of the regional ports and the great people which live and work in the region.

Q. Antigua has always been a popular cruise destination, but what did GPH believe it could offer in terms of enhancing the island’s attractiveness?

A. Antigua is not only a popular cruise destination but is also a cruise port with huge growth potential. Our plans include tapping into this potential by making both investment in infrastructural development as we have done with the fifth berth and investment in the upland development. We have only just begun in Antigua. We are in the early stages of developing a master plan for the cruise port which will transform Antigua Cruise Port into one of the most sought-after destinations in the southern Caribbean – not just as a transit port but also as a homeport. We have also stayed true to our commitment to invest in the people of Antigua and Barbuda despite the pandemic, by recently launching training programs and certifications for a variety of stakeholders – from our internal team to our taxi operators and tour guides.

Q. How has the global pandemic and the effective halting of the world’s cruise industry impacted on GPH’s plans in St John’s and, more widely, on the local economy?

A. Undoubtedly, the pandemic has been a difficult time for the entire industry. In spite of the extensive loss of life, livelihoods, and simple freedoms that our global community, and our individual ports and nations have experienced, we can still find so much to be grateful for if we look for the opportunity. The fact that we completed the US$30 million cruise port project in the middle of a pandemic shows that we are moving on with our plans. We are now working on the upland development to receive the Oasis-Class vessels this year and are also moving ahead with the master planning process for Antigua Cruise Port. These developments will have a major impact on the local economy.

Q. How much has GPH invested in Antigua and are there still more investments to make?

A. We are so grateful for the opportunity to work with the Government and people of Antigua in the development of such a wonderful cruise destination with so much growth potential. Thus far GPH has invested US$55 million in Antigua and intends to invest another US$25 million in the commercial development which include an entertainment, food and beverage and retail experience at Antigua Cruise Port.

Q. GPH now has three key locations in the Caribbean: Havana, Nassau and Antigua & Barbuda. Is GPH looking to expand its Caribbean portfolio in the near-to-medium term or has the global pandemic altered the company’s strategy for the region?

A. The global pandemic has impacted the destinations of the Caribbean significantly, especially given its reliance on tourism. However, we at GPH remain very focused and optimistic about the cruise industry in general and about the Caribbean in particular. We are continuing our discussions with several countries in the region and expect to begin supporting other cruise destinations soon. Stay tuned! Q. How satisfied are you with the completion of the new Pier 5 and the fact that Antigua can now handle the world’s largest cruise ships?

A. I am very satisfied with the completion of the fifth berth, in particular the fact that we were able to complete on time and on budget and in middle of a pandemic is nothing but amazing. We are looking forward to leading Antigua’s cruise tourism into its next phase by accommodating the world’s largest cruise ships. This is certainly a game changer for Antigua. We have not only increased the passenger capacity but also the berthing capacity.

Q. What differences have you found living and working in Antigua when compared to life back in St Lucia?

A. Over the past six years I have worked across the region: St Lucia, BVI, Jamaica and now Antigua. During my journey across the Caribbean, I have realized that there is so much more we have in common than we perhaps think. I have worked with some of the most talented and amazing people in the Caribbean and I was privileged to feel quite at home in all those islands during my tenure. However, each island is unique in its own way and so Antigua is very personal to me because my husband is Antiguan by birth, and so I have an extended family here. I really do enjoy Antiguan cuisine, beaches, perfect climate and the fact that the country is a safe place to live and work.

Q. What are your main interests outside of work?

A. I have really simple tastes, if I may say so myself. I’m very passionate about health and fitness, fashion, personal branding, image building and branding. I also love traveling and discovering new cultures.

I grew up in a single-parent household and was raised by a strong and loving mother who taught me the value of education and hard work from an early age