First Lady recognised for advancing women in maritime sector

May 20 2026

The Office of the First Lady on Tuesday announced that First Lady Arya Ali was honoured with the Maritime Ambassador Award by the Women in Maritime Association Caribbean (WiMAC) Guyana in recognition of her office’s contributions to Guyana’s maritime and blue economy sectors.

According to a statement from the Office of the First Lady, the award acknowledged ongoing initiatives aimed at increasing opportunities for women within the maritime industry through training and educational programmes.

The First Lady noted that more than a year ago, her office partnered with Tidewater Inc. to provide scholarships for ten female cadets to pursue specialised training in ship navigation and engineering.

In addition to the scholarship initiative, the Office of the First Lady, in collaboration with the Atlantic Alliance Maritime and Offshore Training Institute, also facilitated Basic Safety Training (BST) and Ship Security Awareness Training for sixty young women from Regions One, Seven, and Nine.

The statement further disclosed that training for an additional forty women is already scheduled as part of continued efforts to strengthen female participation in the maritime and offshore sectors.

The Office of the First Lady said the programmes form part of a broader commitment to empowering women and expanding access to opportunities within Guyana’s growing blue economy.