A Push to Get More Women Into the Maritime Industry

As the world observes International Women in Maritime Day, Belize is drawing attention to a shift in one of its most critical but traditionally male-dominated industries.

A rising leader who has helped shape the Women in Maritime Association of Belize is Jada Sutherland. What began as her personal vision has now grown into a national platform aimed at giving women greater visibility, support, and access within the industry.

Her work and influence were highlighted at a recent maritime summit, where officials described her as part of a new generation helping to reshape the sector from within.

Kaylon Young, Ports Commissioner at the Belize Port Authority, says he has witnessed Sutherland’s professional growth firsthand, noting that Sutherland’s interest in the field developed despite not initially having a formal maritime background, but rather through experience and exposure on the job.

“Someone that has never really studied the maritime sector but came into the field, fell in love with it, and sees the opportunities that are here, not just for herself, but for Belizeans, for females,” he said.

According to Young, increasing female participation is not only about equality but also about improving the sector itself. “All of us have a part to play in the maritime space, and having more women involved gives a different dynamic to how we see things… Different points of view allow us to expand more, to do more, to be more.”

Tune in to News 5 Live tonight at 6 for the full story.