Election of Albert Ramdin as new OAS head a historic moment for Caribbean – Foreign Secretary

…says Guyana will continue work with body to uphold regional stability

Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud, has described the election of Suriname’s Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin as Secretray General (SG) of the Organization of American States (OAS) as a historic one for the Caribbean, marking the first time a Caribbean person has held the post.
Ramdin was nominated by the Republic of Suriname for the position of Secretary General of the OAS. On Monday, during a session of the assembly, Ramdin was elected to succeed Paraguay’s Luis Almagro as Secretary General.
Ramdin’s election came after Paraguay withdrew its own candidate, Foreign Minister, Rubén Lezcano, from contention. Ramdin will now serve a five-year term as OAS Secretary General, from 2025 to 2030, at a time when pivotal events are occurring in the hemisphere.

These include the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy, currently engaging the attention of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Only last week, the ICJ had recognized Guyana’s request to prevent Venezuela from proceeding with elections in the Essequibo region, a territory that comprises two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass.
On Thursday, the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry said it has filed in the Registry of the ICJ, a request for the indication of provisional measures in the border controversy case currently before the court concerning the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899, which determined the boundary between the two South American neighbours.
Guyana has contended that this action by the Spanish-speaking nation “flagrantly violates” provisional measures issued by the ICJ back in December 2023 when the Guyanese Government was forced to approach the World Court against Venezuela’s aggression.

The OAS has consistently supported Guyana when it comes to the defense of its territorial rights. In fact, following the appearance of a Venezuelan Navy ship in Guyana’s waters on March 1st, the General Secretariat of the OAS had issued a statement in which they unequivocally condemned the actions of the Venezuelan naval vessel and slammed the Spanish speaking nation for being in violation of international law.

Reactions
In a statement on his social media account on Monday, Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud congratulated Ramdin for his ascension and expressed optimism at the prospect of working with the Surinamese official. According to Persaud, this historic moment heralds a chance for Guyana to continue its work with OAS to ensure the stability and prosperity of the hemisphere.
“Warmest congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Albert Ramdin on his election as Secretary General of the OAS, a proud and historic moment for the Caribbean. We look forward to working closely with you in upholding the principles of the OAS Charter and in ensuring the stability and prosperity of our hemisphere. Best wishes for a successful tenure and impactful leadership of the organization,” Persaud said.

Best wishes also came from Suriname Ambassador to Guyana, Liselle Blankelle. In a statement through the Surinamese Embassy, she noted that Ramdin’s election represents a shift by the OAS to greater inclusivity. Further, she noted that it marks a turning point where the ever-increasing role CARICOM nations are playing on the global stage, receives due recognition.
“Today for the first time in the history of the OAS, a representative from CARICOM has been elected by acclamation as Secretary General. This is a groundbreaking moment, not just for the Caribbean, but for the entire hemisphere. It signals a shift towards greater inclusivity and recognition of the vital role that CARICOM nations play in regional and global affairs.”
“This milestone reflects the strength, leadership, and diplomatic excellence of our region, and we look forward to the positive impact this leadership will bring to the OAS and beyond. We wish Minister Ramdin all the best with his new responsibility,” Blankelle further said.
Also, a statement on his social media, Bahamas Prime Minister Phillip Davis also congratulated Ramdin, describing his election as a proud moment for the region. As a matter of fact, Davis and CARICOM Secretary General, Carla Barnett, both pointed out in their messages of congratulations that Ramdin is the very first Caribbean national to hold this position.