Bahamian Women in Maritime are making their voices heard

The Bahamas was pleased to have had two representatives, Stacy Davis, Registrar in The BMA Nassau office and Lonna Bethel, Assistant Port Controller of the Nasssau Port Department attend the Women in Maritime Caribbean’s (WiMAC) 6^th Annual General Meeting and Conference.   

The conference, themed Navigating Horizons: Mobilising stronger networks for Caribbean women towards a sustainable maritime industry’, was held in Jamaica in early October.

Maritime plays a pivotal role in the economic and social development of the Caribbean region and, as a result, there are efforts to ensure that women participate, contribute and take a lead in what has previously been a male-dominated field. The conference therefore discussed the challenges, opportunities and strategies that are available to enhance women’s engagement in the sector. This supports the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5, gender equality.

Capacity building and education are particularly important to the Caribbean region and great efforts are being made to equip women with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in a maritime career. In fact we are already seeing year-on-year increases in the number of female cadets signing up to The Bahamas Maritime Cadet Corps.

In addition, the conference addressed such diverse subjects as: environmental protection and how shipping practices can be made more sustainable in the future; technology and innovation including those aspects which are providing new opportunities for women in the industry; and the importance of building stronger networks, partnerships and mentoring programmes to support the growth of women in the sector.

Among the speakers leading the debate, was Lonna Bethel, who spoke about those women in The Bahamas who are leading the maritime sector there.  She highlighted the importance of being prepared so that when opportunities present themselves, they can be embraced. 

The Bahamas is proud to part of a region which is determined to make UN SDG 5 for gender equality a reality for the girls and women of the Caribbean.

Pictured are Stacy Davis, Registrar in The BMA Nassau office (right), and Lonna Bethel, Assistant Port Controller of the Nasssau Port Department (left).