The Liberia Maritime Authority has joined the global community in celebrating the International Day for Women in Maritime with a colorful program held at the Monrovia City Hall.
The event brought together government officials, maritime stakeholders, development partners, and women professionals in the maritime sector to recognize and celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in advancing Liberia’s maritime industry.
Delivering the keynote address, Retired General Geraldine George, Minister of National Defense, spoke on the global theme, “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender for Maritime Excellence”.
Minister George emphasized that the observance serves as a reminder of the remarkable achievements of Liberian women who continue to break barriers across various sectors, including maritime. She noted that excellence knows no gender, and urged greater commitment toward creating opportunities for women to thrive within the maritime industry.
According to her, the global theme resonates deeply with Liberia’s aspirations for inclusiveness, equal participation, and sustainable national development. She further encouraged women and girls to pursue careers in maritime and other male-dominated professions.
Representing the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), Abraham Avi Zaidenberg highlighted the longstanding and productive relationship between LISCR and the Liberian Maritime Program. He disclosed that more than 7,000 ships are currently registered under the Liberian registry, making it one of the largest and most respected ship registries in the world.
Also speaking at the program was Liberia Maritime Authority Chief of Office Staff, Darlington Cheeks, who represented the Commissioner/CEO, Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe Sr. Cheeks underscored the critical role women continue to play in strengthening the maritime sector and emphasized that teamwork remains essential to achieving institutional and national success.
The celebration reaffirmed the commitment of the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) and its partners to promoting gender equality, empowering women in maritime, and fostering an inclusive environment where women can excel and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Liberia’s maritime sector.
