Profile: Milaika Capella Ras

Milaika opens a new chapter

Just the right person

Incoming CSA General Manager Milaika Capella Ras has big shoes to fill, but the Association has found just the right person to replace long-serving Fernando Rivera. Milaika forms part of a fresh and younger CSA generation and brings to her new role extensive knowledge of the maritime sector as well as enviable numeracy and linguistic skills.

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

A. I was born and raised in Curaçao, a beautiful Island in the Caribbean.

Q. What language did you speak at home as a child?

A. At home I spoke Papiamentu. Papiamentu is my native language. My maternal grandparents came from Venezuela, so with them I spoke Spanish. The instruction language at school was Dutch, which is the other official language of Curaçao, besides Papiamentu.

Q. What did your parents do for a living and how big an influence were they on your life?

A. My Dad was born in Aruba, but he left the Island at a young age to travel as a ship engineer. At the age of 27, he settled in Curaçao, where he met and married my mother within a year of his arrival. In Curaçao, he worked at the drydock for many years, and later as a plant maintenance supervisor for a local contractor. My Mom was an Elementary Teacher and at young age I thought that I would also go into Education. My career choices were not necessarily impacted by my parents. I received a lot of love and support growing up that empowered me to choose my way.

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