Rosina Romeo participates in Women In Maritime Association Regional Sustainability Workshop

SURINAME--Rosina Romeo, representing St. Maarten, participated in the Women in Maritime Association, Caribbean (WiMAC) Regional Sustainability Workshop held 3–5 November in Paramaribo, Suriname. Romeo attended at the formal invitation of WiMAC President, Mrs Evette Smith-Johnson, and with full sponsorship and support from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Her participation marks an important step in St. Maarten’s intention to establish its own WiMAC national chapter and join the growing network of Women in Maritime associations under the IMO. Romeo is the Manager of Terminal Operations at Port St. Maarten and the only woman in St. Maarten with a degree in Port Management and extensive experience in the industry.

The workshop brought together 34 maritime professionals from 12 countries for focused sessions on strengthening WiMAC’s long-term sustainability and enhancing the leadership capacity of women in the Caribbean maritime sector. Participants explored practical strategies for building resilient chapter operations, with a strong emphasis on financial planning, gender-responsive approaches, and effective resource mobilization.

In addition to chapter development, participants benefited from a dynamic Public Speaking Masterclass delivered by keynote speaker and global futurist K.D. Adamson. The training emphasized confident, persuasive, and authentic communication, equipping attendees with stronger tools to represent the maritime sector at national, regional, and international levels.

In an invited comment, Romeo explained that while in Suriname she met with representatives from Aruba and Curaçao, who are also in the early stages of pursuing their own WiMAC chapters. Together, the Dutch Caribbean delegates agreed to maintain close coordination and ongoing collaboration as they work toward formal integration into the regional WiMAC structure. This shared effort is expected to contribute to a stronger and more unified presence of Dutch Caribbean women within the maritime sector.

WiMAC is part of the IMO’s wider Women in Maritime programme, which supports the development of regional associations worldwide. These include:

• WIMA Africa (WIMAFRICA)

• Arab Women in Maritime Association (AWIMA)

• Pacific Women in Maritime Association (PacWIMA)

• Women in Maritime Asia (WIMA Asia)

• Women in Maritime Association Mediterranean (WIMA Med)

St. Maarten’s future participation would place the country alongside this expanding international framework dedicated to empowering women in maritime industries.

Romeo extended her appreciation to WiMAC President Mrs. Evette Smith- Johnson for the invitation and guidance throughout the workshop. She also expressed her sincere gratitude to the IMO for fully sponsoring her participation and enabling her to take an active role in regional maritime capacity development.

This workshop offered invaluable insights and strengthened my commitment to bringing a WiMAC chapter to Sint Maarten,” Romeo stated. “The opportunity to connect with regional partners and to learn from experts in sustainability, leadership, and maritime development will support our path forward. I thank the IMO for their investment and WiMAC President Mrs. Smith-Johnson for her confidence and support," Romeo said.

The outcomes of the Suriname workshop are expected to support WiMAC’s continuing evolution and reinforce broader international efforts, guided by the IMO, to advance women’s roles across every dimension of the maritime industry.

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