The idea of the Women in Port Initiative was borne from a subcommittee of the Inter-American Committee on Ports of the Organization of American States called the Subcommittee on the Participation of Women in Port Affairs of the Hemisphere that was created in December, 2007. 

The main objectives of the  Women In Port Initiative – Belize  Chapter are:                                   

1. To promote and encourage the participation of women in port affairs;
2. To make all levels of professional opportunities in the port available to women including operative, administrative and financial areas;
3. To update and improve the women in port portal including information on training and education
4. Develop special plans for the integration of women in the sector and
5. To establish a network for the creation of a data bank on women in port of each Local Point of Contact to the Initiative.

Members of the  Executive body:

 Acting President / Chairperson  –  Franzine A. Waight – Port of Belize Ltd.

Assistant Secretary/Treasurer     –  Ms. Yariela Lopez – Lopez Equipment

Women Development Officer     –  Ms. Violet Castro – Belize Estate Co. Ltd.

Treasurer                                   –  Ms. Rosanne Constantino – Coastal Zone Management Authority

Secretary                                  -  Ms. Mirna Lara – Eurocaribe Shipping Services Ltd.

National Coordinator                  -  Mrs. Shirlet Martinez – Belize Port Authority

Public Relations Officer             -  Mrs. Emelda Cocom-Hyde – Custom Department (not in picture)

  The Women in Ports Initiative executive body held a Meet & Greet  on December 04, 2009 at the Coastal Zone Management Authority conference room in order that its twenty – five (25) members along with other employees of Port related sector  had a chance to socialize and familiarize with each other.  It also gave the executive body an opportunity to recruit additional members and  brief background  on what the Women in Ports represents.