As the 55th Organisation of American States (OAS) General Assembly draws closer next month, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the OAS, Sir Ronald Sanders said that the summit would mark the first opportunity for newly elected Secretary-General Albert Ramdin to present his vision for the hemispheric body.
During an interview with Observer media, Sir Ronald noted that the assembly will be significant as it comes at a critical juncture for the organisation.
“The important thing about this General Assembly is that it will be the first time at which the public will hear the views of the new Secretary-General, Albert Ramden, on what his vision is for the organisation, and what role he sees himself playing in all of this,” Sir Ronald said.
The Secretary-General elect, who will take office on May 26, will have to contend with a fractured regional institution with several observers reporting that the United States — which is the largest financial contributor to the OAS — could reduce its contribution to the OAS for “specific funds” for projects related to counterterrorism and fighting organized crime and drug trafficking.
“Today we are very much a divided area ideologically, a very divided area as well in terms of people’s approach to a number of questions,” Sir Ronald noted.
“His job, his real job will be to try to bridge the divide between the member states, to build consensus amongst them, so that the organisation can go forward on a consensual basis,” he added.
However, Sir Ronald emphasized that while the Secretary-General’s vision is important, the direction of the organisation would ultimately be driven by its member states.
“Sometimes it is mistakenly believed that organisations are run entirely by Secretaries General. People believe that of the Commonwealth, they believe it of the United Nations, they believe it of the OAS. But the truth is, all of these organisations are driven by member states, not by the Secretary General,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the OAS also elected a new Assistant Secretary-General, Ambassador Laura Gil who is expected to take office on July 17.
Ambassador Sanders described the Colombian diplomat as “a very dynamic lady” with a background in journalism.
“She understands not only the importance of communications, but the importance of providing information in a timely fashion,” he said. “She would be very responsive to the media from that standpoint.”
The assistant secretary-general, who is currently serving as Colombia’s ambassador to the UN offices in Vienna, impressed OAS member states during her presentation to the Permanent Council.
“She was exceptionally good. I think that it was everybody’s judgement that she knew what she was doing, that she had done her homework, that she has an understanding of the organisation and what it did, and was ready to do the job, which is why she got elected with such a large majority,” Sir Ronald explained.
When asked about what Caribbean nations could expect from her leadership, particularly regarding regional issues, he emphasized that it was too early to make predictions.
“The proof of a pudding is always in the eating,” he said. To pre-judge somebody’s performance before they actually start the job is not a sensible thing to do. Years of diplomacy and this kind of activity has taught me best to wait to see what people do before you make a judgement.”
Sir Ronald also provided an update on preparations for the upcoming 55th OAS General Assembly scheduled to be held on June 25, stating that while logistical planning continues on the ground here in Antigua and Barbuda, much of the substantive work in the lead up for the conference has already begun, with several declarations and resolutions debated in preparatory committees.
“They have been settled with the recommendation that at the General Assembly in Antigua they be adopted. Others are still in the process of negotiation, and this will be a continuing process right up until the conference lands in Antigua,” he added.
The assembly will also feature elections for various OAS bodies, including the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Inter-American Court on Human Rights, the Administrative Tribunal, and the Audit Committee.
