Empowering women in the maritime sector
ITAKE great pleasure in joining with the world in the celebration of World Maritime Day 2019. The theme, ‘Empowering Women in the Maritime Community’ means a great deal to women in our sector, as sometimes we feel the road to gender parity is a lot further away than in less male-dominated sectors.
It was this feeling that drove the establishment of the Women in Maritime Association Caribbean (WiMAC). WiMAC aims to manage this glaring gap for Caribbean women and to work inclusively for the sustainable development of a sector that is critical to everyone. In 2015 when we held our inaugural meeting, our vision for a vibrant, relevant and successful association was guided by the views of Caribbean women in the maritime sector. We wanted to hear the issues faced at different stages of the professional journey and by women across all industries that form part of the maritime sector.
We heard from the crew of vessels, women at all levels in ports and maritime administrations, marine pilots, Coast Guard officers, ship chandlers, vessel inspectors, women in shipping agencies and private sector ancillary industries, among others. Our mandate translated into making each experience of discrimination, prejudice, harassment, abuse or unequal treatment a valid departure point for achieving shared gains for gender parity in a complex industry.
I am also very proud to highlight the launch of our local chapter mentorship programme on World Maritime Day, today, Thursday, September 26. The programme aims to provide the needed support for the range and complexity of challenges facing women in the sector. The project, which was formally launched at WiMAC’s 2018 conference, is being developed with support of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Labour Organisation and is expected, among other things, to engage and empower women within the maritime sector to have fulfilling careers and lives. I look forward to the involvement of men and women in every sector of this industry, as mentors, as we seek to attract, support and encourage women to increase their participation and contribution to the maritime sector.
Finally, I take this opportunity to thank the IMO for their unrelenting efforts to integrate women in what may be described as a traditional and male-dominated industry, through their various technical assistance programmes, thereby highlighting the significance of women in the maritime industry, and for giving support to the numerous activities undertaken by WiMAC. I also must acknowledge the wonderful women who have committed to pushing this mandate of continuous empowerment and upliftment of their sisters.
CLAUDIA GRANT Inaugural President, Women in Maritime Association Caribbean Deputy Director General, Maritime Authority of Jamaica