Deborah Elizabeth Mortis

Deborah Elizabeth Mortis, born on September 28, 1969, embarked on a distinguished career with the Customs Department, joining the team on April 18, 1989. Throughout her tenure, she has undergone several international training programs focused on Customs Procedures, enhancing her expertise and contributing significantly to her field.

Over the years, Deborah’s journey has taken her to various key stations, including the Santa Elena Corozal Border Station, Benque Viejo Border Station, Phillip Goldson International Airport, and the Tourism Village. Her commitment and leadership were further demonstrated when she served as Surveyor Shipping and played a pivotal role in initiating the Sail Clear System, marking a significant advancement in Customs operations.

At the age of 19, I approached my job as a Customs Officer with enthusiasm and quickly dedicated myself to learning everything I could about Customs and Excise Regulations and Procedures. Along the way, I gained valuable insights into organizational dynamics and the interactive challenges of gender and age differences. Much of what I learned has been instrumental in my later career success.

Working in a male-dominated field, I often felt the need to put up a strong front so that my male colleagues wouldn’t perceive me as weak. I constantly acted tougher than I truly was, instead of being my authentic self. This facade was exhausting and contributed significantly to the mental stress I experienced during that period of my life. Throughout my career, I found myself working with male supervisors who would often delegate their tasks to me. After having my first child and working night shifts, life became even more challenging. However, I never considered giving up, because doing so would have meant giving up on the potential future I envisioned for myself and my two children.

Over the years, I toughened up even more. I encountered rude and discriminatory comments, but I took them with a grain of salt. Rather than making me angry, these comments fueled my motivation to work harder and demonstrate the skills I had acquired. In the service industry, the customer is always right, and it is an employee’s duty to meet the customer’s needs while creating the best atmosphere for everyone. One must choose their battles in life, and I decided that engaging with grumpy, discriminatory individuals wasn’t a battle worth fighting. I am grateful for the opportunity to work in a male-dominated field. Today, I can confidently say that I am a strong, devoted, and God-fearing woman. A big thank you to the men who helped toughen me up.

In conclusion, I want to say to any woman seeking to enter a male-dominated field: don’t be afraid to speak up and speak your truth. Passion and perseverance are key—you need plenty of both to endure and succeed.

Beyond her professional achievements, Deborah is also a devoted single mother to two children. Balancing the challenges of her career with the responsibilities of motherhood, she has shown incredible resilience, love, and strength. Her story is one of dedication, not only to her work but to her family, as she strives to provide a better life for her children while making a lasting impact in her field.