Esther Ayuso

Esther Ayuso
Born Esther Josefina Ayuso
November 1958
Caracas, Venezuela
Nationality Belizean
Other names Esther Ayuso Ramirez
Occupation architect, architectural theorist
Years active 1983-present
Known for first female Belizean architect

Esther Ayuso (born November 1958) was the first female Belizean architect. She is known for her designs to improve hospitals in Belize including Belize Medical Associates, the Cleopatra White Polyclinic, Matron Robert polyclinic, the Hoy Eye Clinic and the PICU/NICU wing of Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital due to be completed in 2015. She has served as a Senator and as the Chair of the National Women's Commission, as well as the Belizean delegate to the Inter-American Commission of Women. In 2015 she was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for contributions to the community.

Biography

Esther Josefina Ayuso was born in November 1958 in Caracas, Venezuela, to Josefina (née Medero) and Oscar Ayuso, who was a Belizean national. Shortly after her birth, the family returned to Belize. Ayuso attended St. Catherine’s Academy in Belize City and went on to complete her university studies at Universidad Central de Venezuela, earning a five-year technical architectural degree. Returning to Belize in the early 1980s, she was unable to find work and went back to Venezuela in 1983. She met and married a fellow architect in Venezuela and worked there until the 1992 Venezuelan coup d'état attempts. Coming home to Belize, Ayuso began work initially at Professional Engineering Services, where she remained until 1995 when she and her husband opened an architectural practice. Besides residences, Ayuso is known for her public works projects which include the expansion of Belize Medical Associates from a clinic into a hospital, remodeling of the Cleopatra White and Matron Robert polyclinics, and work on the Hoy Eye Clinic and several branches of Atlantic Bank. During Hurricane Keith in 2000 Ayuso's practice was devastated and she shifted her business into construction consultation.[1]

In 2006, Ayuso was appointed by Prime Minister Dean Barrow to serve as a Senator.[2] In 2008, after serving only two years of the five-year term, Ayuso was no longer serving in the Senate, but rather as chair of the newly organized National Women's Commission (NWC).[3][4] That same year she was also appointed to serve as Belize's delegate to the Inter-American Commission of Women,[5] a post she still maintains.[3] Under her leadership of the NWC, the commission undertook a study to update the National Gender Policy,[6] held several symposia on developing a Gender Studies program in Belize,[7] and conducted a Women in Politics Project to educate women about politics and holding elected office.[8]

Ayuso was one of the founding members of the Belize City Local Building Authority that was organized in 2009. The Authority was created to stabilize building code enforcement and help the city council draft safety regulations.[9] In 2011, ground was broken for a Pediatric intensive care unit at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital,[10] which was designed by Ayuso. It is projected that the construction will be completed and the PICU and NICU wings will be fully operational by December 2015.[11]

In 2015 Ayuso was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for contributions to her community and dedication to women's rights.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Trailblazer Tuesday's brings you Belize's first female architect Ms. Esther Ayuso!". The Guardian. Belize City, Belize. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  2. ↑ Alfonso Noble (4 October 2006). "UDP Names Three New Senators". Belize City, Belize: 7 News Belize. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  3. 1 2 "About CIM » Member States". Organization of American States. Washington, DC: Inter-American Commission of Women. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Ramos, Adele (23 December 2008). "New National Women's Commission inducted". Amandala. Belize City, Belize. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Inter-American Commission of Women". Organization of American States. Washington, DC: Inter-American Commission of Women. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  6. ↑ "National Gender Policy Consultation Report" (PDF). Belize City, Belize: The National Women’s Commission. April 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "Development of Gender Studies in Belize Symposium Held". UNDP. Belize City, Belize: United Nations Development Programme in Belize. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Women in Politics graduate". Belize City, Belize: Love Television. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "Inaugural Meeting of the Belize City Local Building Authority". The Guardian. Belize City, Belize. 30 July 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  10. ↑ Williams, Shane B. (16 June 2011). "Children Intensive Care Unit at KHMH". The Guardian. Belize City, Belize. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  11. ↑ "New Pediatric & Neonatal Intensive Care". Caribbean Today. Miami, Florida. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "Four Belizeans Bestowed the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire". The Guardian. Belize City, Belize. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
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