The new Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Surinamese Albert Ramdin, said he would take an “action-oriented” approach when dealing with beleaguered Haiti during his assumption of office speech on 30 May 2025. He said he was committed to shaping an OAS that is more agile, cost-efficient, responsive and impactful.”
Ramdin was elected on 10 March. He had served as assistant secretary general from 2005 to 2015. Ramdin had championed the case of Haiti when he was assistant secretary of the OAS.
Ramdin’s assistant secretary general will be Laura Gil, of Colombia.
At the time of his appointment, he had been serving as minister of foreign relations for Suriname.
He has ample experience with the OAS. After serving as Suriname’s permanent representative to the OAS from 1997 to 1999, Ramdin was principal advisor to OAS Secretary-General César Gaviria of Colombia from 2001 to 2004. And from 2005 to 2015, he was assistant secretary-general of the OAS under Chile’s José Miguel Insulza.
His official OAS press release on his assumption states:
“Our compass must remain fixed on unity, peace, and opportunity. In my first year in office, I will focus on four key areas to strengthen the OAS and advance our mission across the Hemisphere:
(1) a much stronger robust and aligned internal organization, including synergy building communication structures, an amended organogram and revised budget allocation. All proposals requiring the close engagement with the member states.
(2) a more involved and impactful strategic media outreach program, with roles and responsibilities beyond the Secretary General and the Assistant Secretary General, as well as actions in country and with the respective target audiences;
(3) a better aligned and expanded external relations approach, including an updated resource mobilization strategy and more efficient process and financial management of programs and projects and
(4) an action-oriented approach towards immediate needs and political developments, such as Haiti and monitoring developments in Venezuela, and other countries where elections will take place soon and where the OAS can make a meaningful contribution.”
Media reports on his speech, pinpoint that Ramdin declared: “Nowhere else on the continent are democracy, the rule of law, security, human rights, and development more threatened than in Haiti. Haiti will be a priority for us.”
To address the crisis, he announced the reactivation of the “Group of Friends of Haiti,” a coordination mechanism for international aid, and expressed his intention to strengthen cooperation with other regional and global partners, including CARICOM and the United Nations.
Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council is set to expire in February. “We do not have much time,” he warned, stressing the urgency of taking action before this crucial political deadline.
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Diario Libre
CTN Info
2 June 2025