BF: What sparked your interest in the sea? DG: My interest in the sea started very early as a little boy growing up in the seaport town of Parham. At a young age, my family left Parham Town and moved to Fort James where I was minutes away from the sea and had a bird’s eye view of the Deepwater Harbour channel. While living at Fort James, I became especially fascinated by the ships traversing the waters in the area and I wanted to know and learn more about them; this fascination with ships led to my first job at the Antigua Port Authority after leaving high school. And, the rest as one would say is history. BF: Why was a law degree important in your pursuits of continuous education? DG: A law degree was essential not only to increase my marketability and independence, but also augmented my acumen of qualifications given the legal framework in which ship registries must operate internationally, regionally and nationally.
Further, the acquisition of the requisite formal education, knowledge, skills, development, training, professional expertise and experience have contributed to ensuring my ongoing success. In addition, I am fortunate, in that, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has given me the necessary exposure and opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the maritime sector. Finally, to employ common parlance, I never say die and I am a firm believer in the adage: once the mind can conceive it, it can be achieved. BF: What are some of the positions you have held at the Regional and International levels? DG: I currently serve a Chairman of the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding (CMOU) on Port State Control; an organization which has been in existence for 14 years and comprises 15 member States and five observer States within the Caribbean Region.
The business of ship registration is rigorously regulated and this regulation stems from the various legislation governing merchant shipping and ship registration and international maritime conventions established by the International Maritime Organization.
I am also presently serving my country as the Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the International Maritime Organization (IMO); a specialized agency of the United Nations which ensures the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of maritime pollution by ships. The IMO comprises 170 member States.
My legal education, comprehension of international law principles, and training as an attorney have enabled me to effectively interpret and apply the maritime conventions involved in the international maritime conventions governing this global industry thereby enhancing the mandate of ADOMS.
At the 25th General Assembly of the IMO in 2009, I was elected Vice Chairman of the Committee convening the said Assembly and in 2010, I was elected Vice President of the Diplomatic Conference on the Revision of Standard of Training and Certification of Watch-keeping Convention (STCW).
BF: To what do you credit your success in the maritime field?
BF: You hold several local and regional maritime positions. How have these contributed to your personal development and the growth of ADOMS?
DG: Without question, my family background and the love and support of my family—these are key to and instrumental in contributing to my ongoing success. My family and background have been the drivers in my motivation to succeed thereby enabling me to acquire the passion for and execute a vision of the maritime sector of Antigua and Barbuda. My success is also due to the passion for the career I chose and the work I do, always having a vision for success and an indomitable spirit in executing that vision.
DG: My personal development and the growth of ADOMS are interconnected. These are interconnected because the positions I hold have assisted me to broaden my perspective about the policies to implement and expand the focus of ADOMS beyond the business of ship registration. I am also strategically placed to apply the knowledge obtained from these positions to inform the national maritime policies of Antigua and Barbuda using the Department as the driver. (For example,
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